Episodios

  • In this second curated episode by Let Nicole Help, we’re hearing from Emily of 17hats who is in charge of all things Marketplace. If you’re not familiar, it’s a place where 17hats users can buy and try all sorts of templates for their account!

    Emily tells us more about the kinds of templates available and how they can help both new and long-time users. We go on to talk more about the very specific balloon-related templates ready for purchase, how installation of the templates actually works and how templates and template sellers are vetted.

    I even found myself making a list of items that I wanted to search for while Emily and I were talking! Then lastly, I also loved hearing that nearly every 17hats employee is (or was) a small business owner themselves. I think it speaks a lot to their insight on our needs. I’m excited to hear how this Marketplace is just the start of what they have planned because I have a lot of respect for 17hats’ dedication to small business owners.

    And in the UGlu Hotline, hear a tip for reusing latex balloons!

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

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    Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    Let Nicole Help 17hats Marketplace listings | letnicolehelp.com | @letnicolehelp

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  • In this episode I’m chatting with my friend Nicole, who helps a lot of people with their 17hats CRM, but also with other aspects of the customer experience. I’ve said this before, but the more I do balloons the more I think that balloons are about 20% of the equation and the rest is how you run your business.

    So we chat about some ways to give your customers a good experience, like:

    How to become known to prospective customers in the first place Using your leads’ own words Ways to help yourself get solid leads Ways to nurture your leads & stay top of mind Elevating their experience while fulfilling the service Making yourself look professional in the way you collect info from your customers How to take care of your customers after the job How all of these things come full circle

    Then as we wrap up, we focus in on three specific actions that you can take to get a jump on improving your customer experience today.

    And in the UGlu Hotline, hear a good tip for site visits!

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

    NEW! 2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    5-day Customer Experience Email Course | @letnicolehelp

    Car sickness glasses (they worked!)

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  • In this interview we’ll hear about what it’s like to stop providing balloon decor. Melody announced on Instagram a while back that she was no longer going to be doing installations, and in fact was beginning to count down the days to her last one.

    She tells us how she was having her best year ever, in terms of sales and the clients she was working with, but behind the scenes was struggling physically with an old injury that progressively got worse. Hear about all of the options she considered, and why she opted for an actual announcement over quietly closing down the business. Then she also tells us what she’s up to now, in the short term, as she discovers what her next big thing is.

    Other topics we talk about included:

    Hiring and training Managing growth The physical nature of the job Comparison and relationships Personal branding & her content plan

    I really appreciated Melody’s openness and honesty about this decision and the process, and since I know we all feel burnt out every so often, there’s likely some parts of her experience that you’ll relate to as well.

    And in the UGlu Hotline, get a tip for when you’re participating in a parade!

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

    NEW! 2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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  • In this episode I’m interviewing someone who has been in balloons for the same amount of time as me… it’s my husband! Someone on Instagram had suggested the idea and we rolled with it. After all, he’s had a front row seat to Wisconsin Balloon Decor (and all my business ideas) from the very beginning so it was fun to have him share his experience.

    And since the idea originated on Instagram, I went back to the source for questions I should ask Zac, and I think anyone who also has a spouse or significant other along for the ride will enjoy hearing his perspective.

    Zac and I talk about:

    Where he feels comfortable and wants to help How he’s learned my installation style and standards His favorite and least favorite things about being married to a balloon decorator What it’s like when I travel If he ever had any doubts about the business … and a few of my own questions for him!

    Bear with us in the beginning as we fight through a bit of awkwardness, but we share openly about running the business while juggling kids and so much more. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions!

    Then in the UGlu Hotline, you’ll hear about a banking option that has helped one artist implement the Profit First method.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

    NEW! 2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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  • Max has been all over my Instagram lately so I was so happy to chat with him in this episode about some of the ways he aims to stand out from the crowd… including how he is starting to become a one-stop shop!

    His fascination with balloons started when he was young and the store he would visit became an early inspiration for him. Then he came back to balloons for entertainment as times got tough… not knowing that he would one day start his own balloon business.

    After getting degrees in hospitality and event management, the pandemic then halted that career and led him to finally take the leap into business ownership. Hear about his first paid jobs that really let his creativity lead the way. Now, he’s got a small team and has incorporated quite a lot of rental items into what he offers so he can serve his clients in the way they need.

    He shares with us the strategy for purchasing those items and growing his inventory… not just for the sake of growing his inventory, but with unique items he’s not seeing others around him offering. Then we chat even more about finding ways to differentiate ourselves in our areas and how he’s starting to put his event management skills to the test!

    Then in the UGlu Hotline, hear a tip for renting marquees out to other vendors.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

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    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    momentsbymax.com | @momentsbymax_ | Moments By Max; Balloon Décor

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  • This week’s episode is a little different because it’s another group interview - this time with the ladies of the mastermind I’m in. If you’ve been listening to the bonus episodes you have probably heard a little bit about the idea of a mastermind, and today, we’re sharing everything about ours!

    You’ll get the name of the book that inspired it all, how Tiffany (Confetti Castle) determined who to invite, how many of us are in the group, how often we meet and details on the actual structure of our discussions.

    Several in the group mentioned how they had some self doubt about whether they could contribute in a meaningful way, but you’ll hear how that quickly diminished as our conversations got going. And we’re honest about it… sometimes the group needs to give some constructive criticism to our partners and I think we’re all so glad that we have the respect for one another to receive that feedback without getting upset. I share a couple of challenges I’ve had with being a part of the group and how I plan to adjust my approach for our second “round”.

    It was really fun to recap some of our biggest takeaways thanks to the accountability and ideas shared in our mastermind. I really hope this episode inspires you and provides you with some good tips for creating your own masterminds! They really can be a powerful tool and safe space for taking your business to the next level with like-minded people who really understand your situation.

    In the UGlu Hotline, hear about a great way to secure your garlands to the floor.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

    NEW! 2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    The Common Path to Uncommon Success by John Lee Dumas

    Coming soon: Balloon Garland Kit Guide from Hip Hip Array

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  • Have you seen the massive sorority balloon installs from Arkansas? Well this episode’s guest is Maggie of Presley Paige and she and her team are the ones behind so many of these mind-blowing jobs. She also has a retail store that you’ll hear about! I learned so much from this interview and know that you’ll pick up some gems as well.

    Her business actually started as a retail shop and over time they added balloon decor services because of all the customer requests. Hear about how she learned technique and why her team was so crucial as they grew quickly.

    Then we dive into the sorority installs that went viral for her in 2022. If you haven’t seen them, check out her Instagram to see entire mansions dripping with balloons! She also shares with us a really unique way that she was able to do these incredible installations for sororities with smaller budgets, plus how she uses them as marketing.

    Maggie goes on to share more about her corporate and private jobs, what actual tools they use for the huge installations, some additional things she’s started doing to help her manage bid day work and the amazing benefits she’s able to offer her team.

    But you’ve also gotta hear how she positioned herself to be debt-free from the get-go! Huge kudos to everything Maggie has done to dream, establish and build a very cool business.

    Then in the UGlu Hotline, hear a good tip for removing dashes when they’re feeling extra sticky.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

    2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    @shoppresleypaige

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  • In the final installment of our month of interviews curated by BalloonCoach.com, we’re hearing from Dori of Total Party. There’s a good chance that if you’ve been a part of any online training in our industry, you know Dori because she’s so generous with her knowledge and experience and she loves to learn!

    She tells us about the party business she had as a teenager and how her experience with project management in the corporate scene melded together to transition her into corporate events, which then led to Total Party. Hear about the niche she started with and how it’s since changed.

    Dori also shares some of the difficulties she had transitioning from being the event coordinator, to providing all of the decor herself, to then focusing solely on balloons. With my own personal experience in discontinuing services, I know how hard that can be so I was thankful she was willing to share her experience, too.

    We then chat about the benefits of being able to reach certain milestones in your business, what types of things can attract new customers, doing our best to practice work-life balance and the importance of being willing to ask for help or seek out solutions that are already available to us.

    It’s no surprise that this conversation with Dori was a total delight - she’s got so much to share!

    And in the UGlu Hotline, we have a tip for all the balloon stuffers!

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

    2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    @totalparty | Total Party LLC | www.total-party.com

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  • In our third of curated interviews from The Balloon Coach, we’re hearing from Sheena of Dream Big Balloons. Sheena has done so much to take her business education into her own hands, and as you’ll hear, it was often before she felt “ready”. But wow, has it paid off!

    We’ll hear about how balloons brought joy back into her life, how she has more than 10x’ed her business from two years ago and many of the things that got her there… all the while juggling two other jobs and being a mom and wife.

    Some of those things included:

    In-person events Making relationships with other artists Hiring contractors for the business side of things And generally being a great student!

    She also tells us about her space, her help, her transportation, how she experiments with new ideas, the kind of marketing she does AND even her garland recipe that I personally believe totally stands out as one of the fullest-looking, signature styles.

    Then in the UGlu Hotline, we’ll hear a great tip for a water weight replacement.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

    2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    @dreambigballoonswaco | Dream Big Balloons Waco | dreambigballoonswaco.com

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  • This week we have another guest curated by BalloonCoach.com, and it’s Allyson from Pop Studio Balloons in Connecticut! She tells us all about how she started Pop Studio Balloons as a side hustle and has since taken herself and her husband full-time in the business. More importantly, though, she shares with us how they’ve intentionally built the business in a way that works for their life.

    Hear about her hilarious first “paid” customer, the first item she sold and how she quickly dialed back her offers so that she could focus on being great at the best-sellers.

    We also chat about our similar backgrounds in teaching, going to conventions as new balloon artists and of course how Balloon Boss Mastermind has helped our businesses, not just because of lots of help and advice, but mindset shifts as well.

    It was so fun to hear the details of Allyson’s business growth… everything from the transition from Covid drop offs to event installations, to her branding and process improvements, to earning repeat business through great customer service and experiences, to the tipping point that allowed her husband to join her full-time. Our conversation is lengthy, but jam-packed with so many things to learn from! Thank you Allyson!

    Then in the UGlu Hotline we get a tip for a good Amazon source!

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

    2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    popstudioballoons.com | @popstudioballoons

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  • In this first of four episodes sponsored by Balloon Coach in September, we hear from the Balloon Coach herself, Joette. We have an honest conversation about what she would have done differently knowing what she knows now.

    She’s actually one of the few in our industry who has purchased a balloon business, grew it and later sold it. So it’s very interesting to hear about all these phases of business that she’s experienced.

    We also chat about:

    Imposter syndrome Solopreneurship and teams Referral networks Business recommendations that stand the test of time Old designs becoming new again Email marketing Pricing and confidence Regrets & mistakes

    Then I ask for her opinion on what the best steps are to take a part-time, home-based business to full-time and $100k in sales. She offers equipment, staff and technology-related suggestions, according to a person’s situation and goals.

    It’s always a pleasure to have Joette on the show, and once again, it’s an episode packed full of good advice and encouragement.

    From the UGlu Hotline, we get an idea for sticking foils together.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    PremiumConwin

    2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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  • We’ve never had an episode like this one! Jordanne from Julep Publicity comes on the show to tell us all about one marketing aspect I know almost nothing about. She talks about how publicity works, plus what actual resources we can explore to get other people to amplify our businesses. It gave me so many lightbulb moments!

    Jordanne breaks down for us how and where publicity fits in the umbrella of all things marketing. Then she expands upon all the ways publicity happens (media features, influencer collaborations, brand partnerships, etc.) and the credibility that comes along as a result.

    She offers tips about setting publicity goals, whether you’re reaching for just your local market or beyond. We talk about developing relationships with influencers, some ideas for getting the conversation going and she drops a great tip about getting an estimated cost for influencer services, too!

    The conversation was so eye-opening. Whether you’re going to try doing your own PR or work with an agency like Jordanne’s, you’re going to get so much information about how to best prepare for publicity and what exactly is involved!

    Then in the UGlu Hotline, we have a tip for buying and using bulk rubber bands.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    ‬Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    PremiumConwin

    2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    Julep Publicity | @julep_publicity

    Qwoted.com | connectively.us | sourceofsources.com

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  • I met Chrissy at the 2023 Glow Retreat and think I can speak for everyone who was in the room when I say we were shocked at the scale of her business… she is the #1 Etsy seller for balloon garlands! She also does installations, has become almost a mini distributor and has a team by her side that she manages.

    As we get to talking you’ll hear how the same exact Pinterest image that was an inspiration for each of us so many years ago. Then Chrissy takes us through how that spun into the garland kits that have since made her the #1 seller in her category on Etsy. We’ll hear about her product photo shoots, her experience with retail, her team and how she got them, plus releasing control and even being ok with employees being the face of the business.

    Other things we talk about include:

    her biggest decisions along the way how she added installations onto her already successful Etsy shop her business analyst background and how it continues to serve her the Etsy market and trends her clusters and the math behind them how she can help you keep more control over your inventory how she and her installation team use 17hats

    I find Chrissy’s ownership style so unique and very fascinating! I’m so blown away by all she’s managing and there’s a ton to learn in this episode.

    Then in the UGlu Hotline, there’s a tip for getting your binder clips and clamps to blend in with your decor.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    ‬Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    PremiumConwin

    2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    Real Life Photos of Balloon Colors Canva Template

    Balloon Clusters (save 20% with code BRIGHT)

    @blushballoonevents | @blushballoonpartyshop

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  • Ifrah has made a big impact on my business over the past few months, specifically in terms of my branding and my website. So I knew I had to bring her on the show to share her photo shoot planning process!

    Before we dive in, we’ll hear about how Ifrah’s business blossomed to the point where she decided to leave her job she otherwise loved. She even hopes to return to it after she’s grown Wowlloons enough to take a step back and let others keep the business running.

    Then we dive into why she considers branding photo shoots to be so important for her business. She tells us what three outcomes she wants from each of them and the kind of impact they’ve made. I share how moving the “about me” piece of my website to a more visible spot, like she’s done, has helped people feel more connected with me right from the start.

    When we start chatting about product photo shoots, you’ll hear how she plans for trends, scale and best-sellers. We also dive pretty deep into the customer and ordering experience on the website. Hear about the background she opts for, what steps she took to decide which products belong on her website, how she turns her photos into content and where she got the inspiration.

    We also chat briefly about Instagram versus real life, and I’m guessing you’ll nod your head and get a little chuckle when you hear it!

    Then in the UGlu Hotline, we get a tip and a great example of why you should consider interacting with other local businesses.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    ‬Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    PremiumConwin

    2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    wowlloons.com

    The ultimate guide to planning a stunning brand photoshoot - Balloon Business Magazine

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  • Today’s episode is about an unfortunate situation. Rachael of It’s Your Day Balloons had a vendor relationship go south and we hear what happened, why and how she was able to learn from the experience. I appreciate her coming on the show to tell her story and I know there is a lesson for us all in it.

    Before we dive into the relationship gone south, you’ll also get to hear how she transitioned into balloons from being a real estate agent and how that job has now become her side hustle! She also shared how she spent some time renting out furniture for events but has since discontinued many of those offerings.

    Then we dive into the hot topic…

    Rachael tells us how a new and budding partnership even turned into running promotions together, before suddenly she noticed her partner posting about more and more jobs with balloons that Rachael hadn’t done. Then came broken promises and undercutting prices.

    In the end, she swallowed the hard truth that things like this are sometimes just part of business - to which I can totally relate. She’s since moved on to work with a different vendor and offers some good thoughts for doing what you can to prevent negative situations like this from occurring, plus how to move on emotionally.

    I really appreciated Rachael’s openness and honesty about this whole scenario because things like this are hard to relive and share.

    And in the UGlu Hotline, we get a calendar-related tip for tracking your rental items!

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

    17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

    Balloon Suite

    Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    ‬Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

    PremiumConwin

    2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

    ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

    The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

    @itsyourdayballoons

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  • You may know Jesy for the very cool way she combines her floral and balloon artistry. And in this episode, you’ll hear more about that creation process, plus mindset shifts, some tangible things you can do to reach your goals and how she’s fallen in love with teaching in our industry.

    Jesy offers a nice reminder that everyone has to start somewhere, and to not compare yourself to people at another stage of the journey, including the process of becoming an instructor! She shares how she first discovered there might be an avenue for her as instructor and how it’s since blossomed into a bilingual experience for her students.

    Then we dive into her passion for developing and strengthening a strong business owner mindset. She shares some of the practices she’s implemented that have made a big difference for her in both the big picture and day to day.

    When we talk about her signature arrangements, you’ll hear about the inspiration, how she worked with manufacturers and some of the ways the arrangements can be used. I find product invention and manufacturing a mysterious but really intriguing process so I loved hearing all about it!

    It was so fun to chat with Jesy and I know you’ll be uplifted from her positive outlook as well.

    In the UGlu Hotline this week, we’ll hear a good tip for removing UGlu dashes!

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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  • Jeff is one of the new owners of the company that creates the most valuable tool in my toolkit: my magnets! I had the pleasure of meeting him briefly at FLOAT and was happy that he could come on the show to tell us more about how he and his business partner made their way into the balloon community through Clik-Clik. I loved his openness and honesty and it was really a delightful conversation!

    You’ll get to hear a bit of surprising Clik-Clik history, how he and his business partner chose it over other businesses, where else you might see Clik-Clik out in the world and a bit about their plans for the future. You may also get a bit surprised to hear about the size of their team!

    I can tell that Jeff is here to support balloon decorators for the long haul. He emphasizes how the products are all about keeping us safe on the job while helping us look very professional. He tells us about who else has been a huge part of their success thus far and how they’re looking to make their products more accessible to a wider range of businesses and decorators.

    I’m looking forward to watching them grow!

    And in the UGlu Hotline, you’ll hear about a cool way to donate balloons!

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

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  • Back by popular demand is Courtney of Courtney Lynette Creative Co! And this time, we’re chatting about her website services and how she can help your business take root with a permanent internet home that doesn’t rely on social media.

    Websites are her bread and butter service, and the event industry is her sweet spot. With a history working in events, she knows how to create websites that are fun and inviting while legitimizing your business and making it a place to store the kind of info your clients need.

    We talk about function, what should live on each page and how a good website can warm leads for you. Then, Courtney offers her opinion and a few reasons for why a business should not run on social media alone.

    Personally, I know that having my prices on my website helps me remember what I charge for certain items… and of course it’s a huge asset for my virtual assistant, too. To take it a step further, I’d also say that it gives me confidence to stay away from quoting things that aren’t part of my services page. This keeps me focused and streamlined.

    Part of my conversation with Courtney also touches on how much actual content belongs on a website (specifically regarding images of our work) and how this content should make it clear to your clients that you have the experience and skills they’re looking for.

    Lastly, you’ll hear about how you can work with Courtney for your website needs, what the services include and a little more about her personally!

    From the UGlu Hotline, there’s a nice tip for solopreneurs who want to record more videos.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

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    Ep. 200 - Brand Consistency | Courtney Of Courtney Lynette Creative Studios

    courtneylynette.com | @courtneylynette

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  • I’ve felt my business grow over the past couple of years, but there have also been some life changes that kind of made things feel a little out of whack. So in this episode, I share how I’m trimming the “fluff” and tuning up my business by going back to the basics!

    This process is actually inspired by my previous time as a 6th grade art teacher. So much of what we would cover was foundational principles. And I always found that without them, troubleshooting becomes much more difficult. So, I took this mindset and applied it to my garlands, framework, clutter, inventory, product offerings and finances.

    In some cases, I had introduced too many variables to the task. In others, I just didn’t even notice the buildup. And in one scenario, the changes were a little bit out of my control. Listen in to hear what changes I made to my recipes and offerings, the bags I use at install, what I’ve committed to never using again, some good advice I got about retraining and my next step in this process.

    So far, I now have less clutter, more efficiency, better consistency and more reliable profit margins. Plus, another resource for you!

    And from the UGlu Hotline, we have a tip for always having your contact info readily available.

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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    Balloon Suite

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    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

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    Basic Bases

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  • Travis and I purchased our marquee letters from the same vendor at about the same time, and in this episode we share our thoughts about the upsides and downsides of owning marquees.

    We start with all the good things about our marquees, including:

    How they help us land more corporate and convention jobs How they’re a good anchor for balloons & serve multiple decor purposes Why they’re an easy sale that can help you break even pretty quickly How you can actually charge per day for the rental That there’s no franchising involved How there’s virtually no prep time needed

    Then we cover the downsides with complete honesty. Here’s where this part of the conversation took us:

    The physical labor involved Electricity needs Transporting them Needing to return for pick up Troubleshooting on site Inventory tracking

    If you’re in the spot where you’re considering adding marquees to your offerings, this will be a good, honest episode for you to hear!

    And in the UGlu Hotline, we get some tips for transporting our framework so that it can be easily put back together onsite.

    Thank you to PremiumConwin for sponsoring our monthly "throwback" episode!

    RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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    Balloon Suite

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    UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin’ A Party with code BRIGHT)

    Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

    ‬Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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    Ep. 145 - Local networking with Travis Green

    @squeakballoondecor