Balloon myths that are costing you
"Balloons are cheap." "A full calendar means you're making money." Sound familiar? Some of these balloon myths come from customers, but some come from us... the decorators who really should know better.
Either way, they shape how we price, how we pitch and how we grow. So I sat down with Heidy of Decor by Heidy, to sort fact from fiction.
Balloons Are Not Plastic
Latex balloons are made from natural latex that comes from trees, which makes them a biodegradable product. They aren't plastic and they aren't releasing harmful toxins into the world.
The real issue is disposal. Nobody throws a cup into the woods; balloons deserve the same treatment. Take them down, pick them up and throw them away properly.
"Balloons Are Cheap" Will Sink Your Pricing
Quality balloons aren't cheap, and neither is everything that comes with them. Heidy shared that materials alone on a regular project can run her team $500 to $600. I recently spent $350 to $400 on a U-Haul just to get one install an hour away.
- Uncertified balloons save pennies and cost you in the final look
- Gas, overhead, inflation time and pickup all belong in your price
- Pitch balloons as the wow moment, not the budget option
Training Is How You Scale
Anyone can make a garland for a backyard birthday. Can you build 50 of them outside in the sun and finish on time? Free tutorials are a great start, but in-person classes teach the techniques, equipment and problem solving a growing business needs.
They also grow your network. Heidy opens her classes by telling students to swap numbers, because those local decorators are who you'll call on a Saturday when you need an extra pole.
Weather Isn't an Automatic No
In my experience here in Wisconsin, direct sun is a bigger problem than heat, especially with dark colors. Heidy won't put black balloons outside in a Miami summer. Cold, on the other hand? Think of your van like a refrigerator for the latex balloons.
Helium outdoors is a different story; wind turns it into a floppy mess. Whatever the conditions, tell your client the risk up front. I put a disclaimer right in my invoice.
Booked and Busy Isn't the Same as Profitable
A packed calendar can hide the fact that you basically paid to decorate someone else's party. When every dollar goes to staff, transport and materials, what was the point?
One well-priced event can do more for your business than a week of underpriced ones. And please stop comparing yourself to Instagram; you have no idea whether those posts are recent, donated or profitable.
Heidy and I also dig into whether you need to be artistic to have a successful business, what hiring really looks like and whether you can go full time in a smaller market. Listen to the full conversation here!
