Why Cheap Tape Could Be Costing You Clients

Why Cheap Tape Could Be Costing You Clients

I’ll be honest—I never thought I’d dedicate an entire episode to how cheap tape could be costing you... but here we are.

In episode 372 of The Bright Balloon, I had the opportunity to chat with Nicole and Steve from ProTapes, one of the most trusted names in adhesive products for the balloon industry. You might know them as the team behind UGlu—but there’s so much more to their story and their products than I realized.

The PAIN: The Wrong Tape = Wasted Time & Lost Clients

If you’ve ever had a rig fail or had to refund a client because your garland didn’t stay up—you already know how crucial tape is to our work.

So many balloon pros rely on whatever tape they can grab at the store, but the wrong adhesive can cost you hours of troubleshooting... and worse, your reputation.

Nicole and Steve broke down how ProTapes started supplying florists, event pros, and now balloon artists—because the balloon world started asking for better solutions. And once I heard how their tapes are tested, manufactured, and even weathered for outdoor use, I realized just how little I knew about adhesives.

The VISION: Fewer Failures, Happier Clients, More Profit

What if you never had to second-guess your installs again?

Nicole explained how different ProTapes products are engineered for specific surfaces—which is why they hold so well, and why you won’t find them on many standard retail shelves. Cloth Tape, for example, is great for rigging on the ground or under tables, while UGlu creates strong, clean adhesion for balloons and signage.

The best part? They’re not just selling tape—they’re supporting balloon artists and our whole industry by actively listening to what we need.

The SOLUTION: Smart Rigging Starts with Better Tools

I walked away from this conversation with a few key takeaways:

• Use the right tape for the job (don’t just default to one kind)

• Avoid buying adhesives from big-box stores—they’re not made for our work

• Look for resellers in the balloon industry who carry ProTapes for easier access

🎧 Listen to the full interview, Episode 372. “Why Cheap Tape Could Be Costing You Clients”, here.