How Confetti Castle Grew Fast: Networking, Hiring & Pricing

If you’ve ever wondered how some balloon companies scale quickly without burning out (or burning cash), this conversation with Tiffany from Confetti Castle will give you just that insight. In 2019, she put $10,000 into a brand-new balloon business, moved from her house to a shared warehouse in two months, and within two years was operating from 3,500 sq ft with a lean team, strong systems and a list of happy clients. 

Doing Everything Yourself (and Still Not Growing)

Tiffany started where many of us do... solo, at home and buried in tasks she didn’t even like doing. The house filled with balloons, her inbox filled with inquiries and growth hit a ceiling. On top of that, her pricing felt murky and hiring sounded intimidating.

Real Relationships, Clear Roles and Confident Pricing

Tiffany bet on relationships instead of ads. She built a genuine circle of women-owned, local businesses: florists, charcuterie, artists, bakers; and referred clients both ways. That single decision created a steady stream of right-fit work without boosting a single post.

Inside the business, roles were formed: Tiffany led design and assembly; her full-time assistant took over production; her husband fulfilled odds and ends work full-time in the company; a part-time inflator handled prep. With multiple people able to run installs, the team could split and cover busy weekends much easier.

On pricing, she moved from fuzzy estimates to a simple model clients understand and her team can quote quickly. Result: fewer emails, faster bookings and healthier margins.

The Playbook You Can Steal

1) Network like a real friend (not a marketer).
Recommend vendors you truly love (and have tried). Ask your clients, “Do you have flowers? Catering? Cookies?” then connect them. Reciprocity beats advertising every time.

2) Hire for the tasks you avoid.
List out the things you delay every week (email, calendar, prep, cleanup, inventory). Your first hire(s) should take those things off your to-do list. Tiffany’s assistant started with admin, then grew into production and installs... proof that the “right” first hire is the one that frees you up.

3) Make pricing obvious and scalable.

• Base organic: priced per foot, with consistent numbers of each size balloon used.

• Add-ons: also per foot.

• Minimum order amounts before delivery/install

• Delivery: charged by the mile.

• Install: a percentage of the order (which captures time, logistics and planning).

4) Take deposits earlier.
For custom work, busy weekends and weddings, lock clients' dates in with a non-refundable deposits before spending too much time on the design. It filters tire-kickers and respects your time.

5) Compete the right way.
Hold industry-standard pricing and nurture peer relationships. Under-cutters fade; pros share jobs, lend inventory and even collaborate on installs. Your reputation is like currency; protect it.

The Bottom Line

Confetti Castle didn’t scale because of a hack. It grew because Tiffany focused on relationships, hired her weaknesses and priced with clarity. If you’re stuck doing everything and fielding bargain requests, try this trio of changes. Your future self (and your margins) will thank you.

Listen to episode 37 of The Bright Balloon Podcast to hear my full conversation with Tiffany.