The Bright Balloon

What happens when a former social worker, a military veteran and their soul sister decide to go all-in on balloons? You get one of the most creative business models I've seen in a while. In this episode I'm sitting down with Heather and Brian from Soul Sisters Creations in Marysville, Ohio; just outside of Columbus. These two (plus their third partner Megan) went from doing nine events a week out...

Ever feel like you're leaving money on the table without even realizing it? In this episode, I'm breaking down eight ways I've found free money hiding in my balloon business; from credit card points to reusing balloons to rental items that practically print profit. Whether you're just getting started or you've been in the game for years, these strategies can help you squeeze more juice out of the...

In this episode I am joined by Shelby who is the owner of Sunny Day Party Art and we are talking about self care and mental health. This was a great interview - a lot of relatable conversation, but also with helpful tips and practical strategies that Shelby is sharing… not as a therapist, but as a fellow balloon decorator, to deal with the stress that comes with this job. We talk about parenthood,...

She went from making her first balloon mosaic with Party City balloons to decorating the Rogers Stadium for the World Series. And the strategy behind her growth? Simpler than you think. In this live episode from the International Balloon Convention, I sat down with Ana Karina of AK Balloons. She is originally from Venezuela, now based in Toronto, Canada, and came to the balloon industry from the c...

Ever wondered about the people behind the balloons you use every single day? This episode is one of those career-highlight conversations you don't want to miss. I sat down with Leo and Marcela of Sempertex at the Sempertex International Balloon Convention in Orlando. Leo is the CEO and Marcela, the VP of Sales and Marketing. We talk about the incredible 87-year history of this family-owned company...

If you run a balloon business by yourself, you might get to the point where you just can't do it all alone anymore, and that can be a very overwhelming place to be. So I sat down with Jessica, the owner of Balloons by F&F, and we had a very honest conversation about hiring:  Who to hire first, The little details about hiring that are easy to forget, What tools are helpful for tracking the work, So...

If your phone's camera roll looks anything like mine, it's just thousands of pictures of balloons, mixed in with screenshots of inspiration, mixed in with photos of my family… and no strategy or organizational method to the madness.    So in this episode, I'm talking with Dionne, a professional photo manager. She owns Captured Memories Photo Solutions and we are both 17hats ambassadors.    She sha...

What's actually working for balloon business marketing, and what's a waste of money? In this panel episode, I'm joined by Renisha of Chic Balloons and Alex of Blown Away Decor for a candid conversation about finding clients, spending wisely and what they'd tell someone just starting out. You'll hear our discussion about each of these marketing methods: Word mouth and local Facebook groups Chamber...

In this episode I'm joined by Jacqui, who has been in business for 33 years… so I think it's self-explanatory why I wanted to have her on the show . But you'll also hear about the very interesting work she did before balloons! We are talking about how to build and sustain a business that long, how to keep a passion for balloons, the secret to continuing to make money year after year after year and...

In this episode I am joined by Carolina, and we are going to crack the code on corporate sales! Carolina is the owner of Balloon Element and she is also the owner of Grow My Balloon Biz.  She takes us through her own trial and error in approaching corporate clients over the years, and then shares the method she found that actually made the biggest impact… which is simpler than you think!   Listen...

In this episode, we're talking about one of my favorite topics: outsourcing your admin work to a virtual assistant. I'm interviewing Nicole, who is my virtual assistant. She's also the owner of Let Nicole Help, and she offers many other services but for me, she primarily helps with sales. She is my client-facing, invoice-sending admin genius who has freed me up from computer work so that I can foc...

This was such a fun and inspiring interview. If you've ever felt stuck "just" doing balloons… wondering what's next, how to grow and how to start saying yes to bigger, more creative opportunities… you're going to love this conversation! I'm chatting with Lizeth and Oscar of Mom's Kloset.  They're a husband and wife team based in Atlanta who started with a bag of balloons and have grown into full-s...

This episode is a little bit different, but in a way that I think you're really going to enjoy. If you've ever felt confused about the brands that you're using in your business and wondering what's going on behind the scenes in the industry, you're not alone.  Most of us are just in our own businesses doing the work and not really sure what's happening in the bigger picture. But in this episode, I...

If you are someone who has either grown out of your home-based studio, or you don't even have a spot for a home-based studio, this episode is full of tips for you! I am talking with Heidy of Decor by Heidy about opening a brick and mortar store and some of the choices she made along the way that finally got her to her beautiful store located in Florida. She also shares a really smart idea about ou...

In this episode, we are talking about something I both love and deeply struggle with: organization.  If you're a creative entrepreneur, especially in the balloon world, you probably have a space full of color, sizes, bins, tools, samples, etc. (And let's be honest… at least one drawer of shame!)  So I invited Tammy to the show. She is a professional organizer who pivoted from interior design into...

This episode is a group panel discussion, and we're diving into something that I think is one of the biggest hidden struggles of running a balloon business: mental health.  As a decorator, no one really prepares you for the constant juggling, the inquiries that never stop, the pressure to perform, the comparison on Instagram, the late nights before installs and that creeping feeling of burnout tha...

In this episode, we are discussing the power of a product photo shoot. I went into a photo shoot with the goal of getting good photos… I had no idea how much it was going to revamp my entire business! It's a replay from the bonus channel, On The Bright Side, where I have 300+ more solo episodes. And it's so fun listening back because when I recorded this a year and a half ago, I hoped it would mak...

In this episode, we are talking about a marquee secret that might make you rethink everything. I'm talking with Jenna from Festive & Flair, and when she told me she made her own marquees, I fully assumed we were headed into DIY disposable territory. And then I went to her website and I zoomed way in and thought, there is no way she made these. I have to have her on the podcast. Her marquees are li...

If you've ever wondered what it looks like to build a balloon empire, this episode will show you. I'm sitting down with "the Carolina sisters", Haley and Alley of Carolina Balloons and Confetti, a second generation balloon powerhouse who quietly crossed seven figures in revenue with a team that is basically their family.  But first, thank you to this month's presenting sponsor, Tuftex, who selecte...

If you've ever wondered if your online presence is doing more harm than good, this episode is for you. It turns out that etiquette isn't just about fancy forks and putting books on your head. It is your secret weapon to making every first impression count…  both on and off screen.  In this episode, etiquette coach Jules Hirst spills the tea on modern manners that actually work in today's digital w...

For this episode I sat down with Loretta from Perfectly Popped Balloons in England, live at the Sempertex International Balloon Convention, and we dove into the world of deliverables…or in her case, pickups. As in, the grab-and-go, take-home balloon pieces that can add consistent revenue to your business. Whether you're brand new or years in, this conversation will give you practical ideas and fre...

In this replay of a bonus episode from On The Bright Side, I'm breaking down why limiting your options might be the most powerful move you can make in your balloon business. I walk through how simplifying your color inventory and menu of offerings can make it easier for clients to book, faster for your team to execute and significantly more profitable over time. This approach has helped me reduce...

This episode was recorded live from the Sempertex International Balloon Convention, where once again, I sat down with Elisabeth of Pop of Color (Arizona). This is her third time on the podcast, but our first time recording face-to-face!  We chat about organic balloons, how this style has earned its place in the industry and what it really looks like to run a profitable home-based balloon business...

Get ready for tons of inspiring lessons in this episode! It's a panel discussion with four million dollar balloon business owners, all who came on the podcast out of the goodness of their hearts & I'm so grateful. We talk about: What impacted their growth the most What positions they suggest hiring first Some big mistakes they've made along the way Owning / leasing their various spaces Loans, asse...

Imagine if tomorrow your city decided to close your business, and before you could even start a conversation, it was too late. It was already written into the law.  Right now, our industry is being talked about without us in the room. Decisions about balloons are being made by people who don't understand how professional balloon artists actually work, the care we take, the standards we follow, or...