If you’ve ever looked at your business bank balance and thought, “I think I’m doing okay?”... same. For a long time, my day-to-day money tracking was basically: check the account, see if there’s enough for the next balloon order and hope taxes don’t…
Etiquette isn’t about fancy forks or being “perfect.” In my conversation with Jules Hirst, etiquette coach and fellow 17hats ambassador, she reframed etiquette in a way I think every balloon business owner needs to hear: it’s simply a set of tools t…
If you were running your business during the big balloon shortage, you know the feeling: refreshing distributor sites, buying whatever you could find and crossing your fingers your staple colors would magically reappear. That’s why I loved sitting …
If you’re feeling tired just thinking about another weekend install, I promise you, you’re not alone. At the Sempertex International Balloon Convention, I finally got to sit down in person with Loretta of Perfectly Popped Balloons, and she’s proof y…
If you’ve ever felt squeezed by last-minute requests, impossible color matches, or delivery windows that wreck your schedule, you're in the right place. In episode 49 of The Bright Balloon Podcast I sat down with Joette (The Balloon Coach) to talk a…
One of the biggest mistakes I see balloon business owners make is offering too many options. Too many colors. Too many products. Too many ways to customize. It feels helpful, but in reality it creates friction. In a replay of a bonus episode of On …
In episode 48 of The Bright Balloon Podcast, I sat down for part two of my conversation with Ali from Charming Garlands to talk about creating scalable offers with grab-and-go balloon garlands, plus, building genuine relationships with other balloon…
For episode 398 of The Bright Balloon Podcast (recorded live at the Sempertex International Balloon Convention) I finally got to sit down in person with Elisabeth from Pop of Color Arizona, and this time we chatted about profitable organic balloon d…
Vendor showcases are one of those marketing opportunities that can feel intimidating, especially if you’re a new balloon business or feel like your brand isn’t “ready” yet. But my conversation with Ali from Charming Garlands will help you understand…
When people hear “million dollar balloon business,” there’s a tendency to assume a perfect plan, flawless systems, or some kind of secret shortcut. That wasn’t the story that came through in this panel conversation at all. In episode 397 of The Bri…
When I think back on what it felt like the first time I was hiring help in my balloon business, I laugh a little because it wasn’t what I thought hiring would look like at all. For the longest time, hiring help for my balloon business felt complete…
When you run a balloon business, regulations probably aren’t top of mind. Most of us are focused on clients, installs, staffing, supplies and getting through busy seasons without burning out. Policy conversations can feel far removed from the day-to…
As business owners, we’re constantly trying new tools, systems and strategies. Some stick. Some don’t. And over time, you start to notice that it’s not the flashy business changes that matter most... it’s the small, practical shifts that quietly mak…
I’ll be the first to admit it: for a long time, I used AI like a smarter version of Google. Proofread this. Write me a caption. Fix this sentence. And while that’s helpful, it barely scratches the surface of what AI can actually do for a balloon …
As I swapped out old images and uploaded new professional photos of myself on my website one day, I realized I’d never actually talked about how I got these professional branding photos, or why I think they matter so much for balloon business owners…
If you’ve ever sat down to set goals for your balloon business and immediately felt overwhelmed, you’re not alone. I hear it all the time, and honestly, I’ve been there myself. In episode 392 of The Bright Balloon Podcast, I sat down with Joette of …
When I first thought of stuffed balloons, I had a very specific picture in my mind: a teddy bear inside a clear balloon with a bow on top. Cute… but not exactly groundbreaking. After sitting down with Marlene Potts of Balloon Masters, my perspective…
As busy business owners, sometimes we need a reminder to not let the basics slip. Not because we don’t know better, but because sometimes survival mode kicks in. Slow Down Your Emails (Just a Little) When inquiries are coming in fast, I tend to…
As balloon business owners, we spend most of the year focused on what’s right in front of us: upcoming installs, client emails, supply orders and busy weekends. But in episode 390 of The Bright Balloon, I'm making the case for something many of us a…
Making your first hire can feel intimidating, especially when you’ve built your balloon business entirely on your own. In episode 41 of The Bright Balloon Podcast, Erin from Young and Wild Balloon Company shares what pushed her to finally make her f…
Carolynn Hayman has spent nearly two decades building a balloon career that’s anything but ordinary. She’s the creator of Conrad the Unicorn, a balloon costume that went viral around the world, gained hundreds of millions of views and reshaped what …
One of the absolute best investments I've made in my balloon business is purchasing a van. It quickly changed my business in ways I didn’t expect. Like so many of us, I spent years thinking, “One day I’ll get a van… eventually.” And for five yea…
When Jessica and Dae walked into Balloonathon last June, they had no idea the weekend would spark a brand-new chapter in both of their businesses. They were already friends, already collaborating, and already cheering each other on... but the indust…
If organic pricing has ever felt like guesswork... same. For years I tried quoting garlands by linear feet and it rarely felt good for me OR my customers. Now I use a simple, visual system that’s faster to bill, easier to explain, and harder to unde…