balloonbusiness

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

Balloon Artist Agreement

Website Legal Bundle

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enMarch 12, 2024

201. Expanding & considering financial risk | Tiffany of Confetti Castle

It's hard to believe that it's been over two years since we last heard Tiffany on the podcast! So needless to say, she has a lot of updates about Confetti Castle's expansions to their staff and offerings. And it was so nice to hear how she's done it while outsourcing, meaning she's been able to grow the business without having to put more in her own workload.

Before we talk about the financial considerations around adding marquees into the business, we also talk about what kinds of sales can cover expenses, raising prices and renting vs. buying space.

Then Tiffany and I realized some of the same struggles that can happen when working at the mercy of other marquee providers and she shares with us some of the financial analysis she did to determine that marquees should become a part of her business, too. She also had a great idea about how to work marquees into donation requests!

Our conversation about staffing and outsourcing was really interesting, too. We talk about micromanaging vs. giving people autonomy, finding ways to save time and identifying which tasks will turn into the most profit - for both the business owners and employees.

Then we wrap up with some thoughts around exit plans, which I've recognized as something not talked about in our industry enough.

Thanks so much to Tiffany for coming back on to share more of her experience and wisdom!

And in the UGlu Hotline, I answer a question about working in environments with a lot of static.

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

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

@confetticastle

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enMarch 07, 2024

200. Brand Consistency | Courtney of Courtney Lynette Creative Studios

This week's guest works with creative businesses to make sure their branding is consistent across all platforms. From logo, to website, to email and social media, Courtney helps you bring your brand presence across all platforms in a cohesive way. And don't miss your chance to win a VIP day with her - further down the show notes!

In the episode we hear about her own background in the event industry and how your branding can affect the trust your customers have with you. She urges us to think not only about our ideal clients as we consider branding, but our own preferences at the same time.

She helps clients find their own personal branding style instead of trying to fit into the mold of the latest trend so that your branding always looks and feels authentic. She's also got a great tip for using Chat GPT to help polish your "About us" and other website language!

Courtney definitely knows her stuff when it comes to branding and has several ways to work with her so that you can nail down the visuals and voice you display to your customers.

In the UGlu Hotline this week, I share my own tip about planning meals at conventions!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Brand Consistency Checklist

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

Giveaway - VIP Branding Day ($1250 value) which includes:

New Brand Board including: logo trio (main logo, secondary logo, submark, fresh font pairings, color palette & mood board)
4 Social Media Canva templates using new branding + Instagram Highlight covers
Updating branding on social media where needed (Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc)
Email Signature with new branding
One marketing material (thank you card, business card, one sheet, etc)
Logo, color and font updates on current website

To enter the giveaway, following both @thebrightballoon and @courtneylynette on Instagram and enter here!

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enMarch 05, 2024

balloonbusinessbranding

198. Where I spent my money in 2023

In this episode I'm telling you all about where I spent my money in 2023... including which category I spent more in than my entire eight-year history! I'm talking about where I overspent, where I underspent and what I'm paying for to make my business run smoothly.

Listen in as I take you through how my spending landed in these categories:

courses
technology
paid apps & software
balloon-specific subscriptions
paid services
automation tools
insurance
upgrades
rental products

I'll also share how this reflection has motivated me to create a budget for the year ahead - something I've never taken the time to do before! I hope by listening in, you'll be able to identify areas that could use improvement or upgrades in your business.

In the UGlu Hotline, I share my thoughts on when and how to implement bulk pricing.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Balloonpro.co Design Tool

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

My Balloon Toolbox

Fiore Accounting & Tax Services

Flodesk (get 50% off your 1st year)

Later.com

Ep. 162 - Protecting yourself and your business | Erin from Country Financial

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enFebruary 27, 2024

196. Working with "competitors" | Katie, Kristen & Yonnie

This episode will feature two different conversations! First, we'll hear from Katie and Kristen about how they run their businesses independently, but help each other out as needed. It's a really interesting strategy that I think we can all learn from!

Then I'm also chatting with Yonnie, who shares what she's loved about her journey in the balloon industry so far. Both of the conversations felt really refreshing - I hope you enjoy them!

Key points from the chat with Katie and Kristen include:

the boundary conversations they had when first getting to know each other
how they continue to navigate the big jobs when more than one artist is needed
how great it is to find your own "coworkers" when you're otherwise running your business by yourself
what their favorite parts of Balloon Boss Summit are

Then Yonnie shares:

the mind-blowing way she was introduced to balloons
her process for officially registering her business
what it was like to take the CBA
how the size of Summit is beneficial
her local "competitor" and how they've created their relationship

And in the UGlu Hotline this week, we get some ideas for making your sticky things even stickier!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

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enFebruary 20, 2024

194. Tough love about email marketing

I've heard the reasons that you're not sending newsletters to your customers... why you don't think it works... how you're afraid of the unsubscribes... and how you're not even sure where to start, so in this episode I'm aiming to eliminate those objections so that you can experience the kinds of benefits I've had from email marketing.

First, a little tough love for the objection that "it doesn't work, because I always delete all the emails I get". I disagree! Sure, some emails might be an automatic delete, but I know there are some you click into. Think about why and this will help you think about how you can become the company that is an automatic open.

Next I'll talk about the fear of getting unsubscribes. The thing is, not doing something because you're afraid of people not liking the thing that you're not doing... it just doesn't make sense. Isn't it better to connect with those who would love to hear from you? Listen in to hear how I've changed my mindset around getting unsubscribes.

Now when we think about the cost associated with email marketing, I have some more friendly pushback and share what kind of response I got from my last newsletter... including sales numbers. It's very easy to see how a small investment in a platform makes you your money back.

Then, the only objection that I can get behind: "I don't know what to send". I get it! But I'm confident that with 30 focused minutes thinking about what kind of value you could give your customers through email, you could have an entire year planned out. I share a few ways to jumpstart this planning session in the episode.

Next I chat about the objection of who to send newsletters to. I promise you that you have previous customers who are cheering you on and want to see you succeed. Start there! Then work towards getting new leads excited to join your email list by offering some kind of free download.

The last piece of the email marketing puzzle is the tech. If you're ready to reap the benefits of email marketing but feel overwhelmed by the tech, join me for a webinar March 6, 2024, simply by grabbing the 50 email marketing ideas download below. That will get you on my email list where I'll be sharing the registration link.

As you'll hear, I'm pretty passionate about email marketing and I'd love to help you finally tackle this thing that's probably been on your to-do list for quite a while!

And in the UGlu Hotline this week, I share how I decided to make the switch from face painting to balloon decor and why I may go back to it one day.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

Flodesk (get 50% off your 1st year)

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enFebruary 13, 2024

192. Giving yourself a chance | Stephany of The Balloon Stuffer

It was so nice to meet Stephany and hear about her journey to becoming a product creator! From jumping into the balloon industry after doing her child's first birthday party, to serving high-end clients internationally, she's done things few people get to do because she decided to give herself a chance.

We hear what it's like to work mostly with event planners in New York City, and how she's fortunate enough to have professional photographers at almost all of her installations. Then she shares how those event planners often request a custom color palette... which led to the creation of her Balloon Stuffer. There's no doubt that product creation is not for the faint of heart, so I give so many props to Stephany and all of those who do it!

I also ask a pretty raw question about how fellow balloon artists might feel following her Instagram, and Stephany shares some encouragement and what it was like for her to start and grow this business that has helped her find a new, powerful and unapologetic version of herself. She also shares a few great tips for getting started with Instagram reels while out on the job!

Wow, you're going to feel so encouraged after listening to this conversation - I know I sure was. Thanks, Stephany!

In the UGlu Hotline, I share my thoughts on how to prepare a booth for a wedding expo and some ideas for the actual wedding decor!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

@paperandfringe

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enFebruary 06, 2024

190. Growing pains and hiring help | Ali of Charming Garlands

Last time Ali was on the podcast, she was still operating as a home-based business with very little help in terms of employees. Now, she's rocking her business out of a warehouse with a fleet of vehicles, but unfortunately has experienced some difficulties in hiring the right staff. We'll hear about some of those difficulties she's faced, and also:

how her vehicles and warehouse have dramatically changed the way they can do business
how the warehouse shifted the entire mindset about their operation
what it's meant to her to have balloon friends lend a helping hand when needed
how her past work experiences have contributed to her success as a balloon artist
how teaching impacts her business plan
whether she does any classic decor
what's in the future for Charming Garlands!

I really appreciated Ali's openness and honesty in this conversation and wish her the best in finding the staff she needs to accomplish her business dreams!

In the UGlu Hotline, I answer a question about using adhesives on outdoor surfaces.

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

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

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enFebruary 01, 2024

189. Creating a global brand | Matteo from Gemar

Matteo is the Marketing Manager for Gemar USA and when we met at Balloon Boss Summit I learned so much about their long history and how they've created such a global brand. We covered a lot in our conversation, but two big things you won't want to miss are the new colors they have coming out and their very cool software that helps with design and production planning!

You'll also hear about:

the cute way the company name came to be
how they brought the business over to North and South America
the fascinating difference in trends and styles that exist across cultures
how Gemar contributes to and invests in balloon artist education through classes, conventions and their design software.

It was such a pleasure to have Matteo on to represent a brand that has definitely made a huge mark in the industry!

In the UGlu Hotline this week, I share how I use adhesives only between my balloons and avoid using them on customer surfaces if at all possible. Instead, I use a few common rigging products instead.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

Gemar Creator

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50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

enJanuary 30, 2024

187. My rebooking workflow | Step by step process

The rebooking workflow that I'm going to share with you in this episode has made me more money than any advertising, networking or updates to my website. It's one of the most critical updates I've made to my business in the last year and I'm sharing all the details about it!

But first, what is a rebooking workflow and why is it important?

For many years, I used to complete my service, archive the project and then hope that those customers would reach out to me again... leaving the ball entirely in their court. This is a problem for a couple of reasons:

they may forget they used my services
in the case of corporate clients, contacts may leave their role and the new contact may not even know I exist!

Taking more of an offensive approach to rebooking your jobs means you're less likely to fall through the cracks. And, I'd say it makes you look really professional and protects you against a recession much more than working without a rebooking process ever could. (Plus, we all know that working with repeat customers is much easier than onboarding new customers.)

Now, it's no surprise that my workflow runs through 17hats, but it could likely be implemented in other ways, too. Listen in for the exact steps, exact timing and exact language I use to make this all happen!

I hope you'll take action and implement these steps today so that you can take advantage of the jobs and money waiting for you.

And from the UGlu Hotline, we get a friendly reminder about an easy networking action, and I give my take on the various ways you can bring help into your business.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

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enJanuary 23, 2024

185. How to start a balloon business

For this episode, we're going to go back in time and I'll share how I would have started my balloon business knowing what I know now. After about 8 years in business, I've seen how I've gotten lucky, what I've screwed up and where I overthought. And while I don't think there's any one "right" way to start a business, I do think the order in which I'm going to go through things is probably the easiest.

Here's the high-level overview:

plan your business name
get a free email account
set up your own photo shoots
get your Instagram and Facebook profiles set up
create a form so that people can contact you
get networking and seek out your customers
seek out groups and education
create a website
register your business and get insurance
set up your business finances
set some long-term goals

So there you have it! The basic building blocks for a very solid business foundation if you're starting from scratch or are fairly new. I hope this episode has helped you learn what to focus on, and what things can wait.

And in the UGlu Hotline, we get some ideas for warming up your UGlus so that they can properly stick in the cold!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

Ep. 162 - Protecting yourself and your business | Erin from Country Financial

Ep. 90 - One year after two big changes

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enJanuary 16, 2024

183. Planning a $45k install | Tabitha of Animated Art Balloons

Tabitha and I met randomly at FLOAT years ago when each of us were brand new to the balloon decor industry and both currently working as face painters. It's been so neat to see our businesses grow in their own ways (and in similar ways) since then. In this interview, Tabitha talks about some of that growth, but also the logistics of her legendary sorority install.

First, we talk about how we both relocated our families to give room for our booming balloon businesses, and the inspiration that got us there. Then we move on to talk about her staff and the roles they play. She's set up a super impressive production system that gives each of them clear roles in the process.

When we move on to chat about her sorority builds, you'll hear about the level of planning and surprise that's involved! Tabitha shares with us a big lesson she learned about pricing in the process because sometimes these huge jobs don't just multiply the level of work, they can actually exponentially increase it.

Tabitha rented a storage space specifically for these sorority builds and tells us how that relationship has since benefitted her business, too. Huge kudos to her, her team and those who came in to help for this event! If you're interested in joining the experience this year, stay tuned to their Instagram as the details are worked out.

And in the UGlu Hotline this week, there's a tip for creating free-standing arches when you're otherwise working with a difficult installation surface.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

@animatedartballoon

____________________________

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enJanuary 09, 2024

181. Creating an Instagram Service Strategy | Lilly of The Creative Heart Studio

I always love having Lilly on the show! In this episode, not only do we get to hear about some new products she has available for balloon artists, but we also chat about some best practices for Instagram, with quick and easy updates you can make while listening!

First, we talk about your Instagram bio and how to make it appealing and informative for your audience. Lilly shares her "who, where, what and how" approach for her profile setup and we chat more specifically about the "where" and "how" because this is where we see the most room for improvement in profiles.

Those things then lead us into talking about what kinds of things we should actually be posting. Lilly brought up great points about pictures vs. reels and what kind of content will make followers want to share and engage with.

Finally, we get to hear about the exciting new products available to us in time for Valentine's Day and at FLOAT!

And in the UGlu Hotline we get a great tip for rescuing our hands when they get damaged from the work we do.

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

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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

thecreativeheartstudio.com | @thecreativeheartstudio

Ep. 1 - Does your Instagram bio have these three things?

Other episodes with Lilly:

Ep. 102 - Product Development | Lilly from The Creative Heart Studio

Ep. 61 - Getting Organized with Lilly, The Creative Heart Studio

Ep. 34 - The Creative Heart Studio with Lilly Jimenez

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enJanuary 04, 2024

180. Explosive growth & managing a team | Jo Jo of Designs by Jo Jo's Creations

I'll admit - I was not prepared for all of the great advice Jo Jo gave in this interview! She and her team do all things event decor... tents, rentals, linens, chairs and of course balloons. She's built an incredibly successful business with her supportive connections in the community and I have no doubt you'll get inspired and learn something by listening to her story.

Jo Jo tells us a bit about her background and how the business has grown to 13 employees and a brick and mortar location within just three years! We also get to hear about

all they offer for both installation / delivery and storefront options
the very cool rotating schedule she uses with her team
how she utilizes 17hats to assign workflow tasks to her employees
her calendar and inventory platforms

And you won't believe how much time she's been able to take away from their shop! She's able to do this by leaning on a couple of key positions: her part-time manager and her lead designer. Another thing that has contributed to her ability to step away is having her recipes right on the invoice for her team... an idea I totally want to steal!

When I ask Jo Jo's opinion on what rentals to start with, she not only delivers on that question but gives an amazing tip on how to properly charge for any rental items you're selling.

I was simply blown away by the success she's experienced and am looking forward to watching her business continue to excel.

And this week from the UGlu Hotline, we get a cool tip for creating free-standing arches when the installation surface is otherwise really difficult to attach to, such as stucco or brick.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

____________________________

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enJanuary 02, 2024

178. 3 new strategies to plan your best year

I'm taking a unique approach to planning the year ahead and thinking not just about my business goals, but family and personal life goals and how they all tie together.

The first planning strategy is one I saw in my Instagram feed over and over before finally clicking in to learn more. It's all about finding one thing that is going to define your year, so that you can plan your personal and work life around and for it. Then, taking the time to schedule in mini-adventures that keep your energy and focus high, and finding a few new healthy habits to try along the way. The whole idea here is that if you don't actually plan in these highlights to your year, they're far less likely to happen.

Thinking about planning finances now, I went through an exercise as a 17hats ambassador that had us do a bit of reverse engineering. It's all about finding the actual number of work days you have in the year, deciding how much you want to make and then figuring out how much you need to bring in each week or month. This approach is totally rooted in practical, numbers-based ideas and was pretty eye-opening.

Finally, the last technique is all about marketing your business. Amy Porterfield suggests pushing only one thing a quarter, and I like this because decision-making about marketing gets very easy. And the fact is, that people need to see something over and over before making a decision. So promoting the same thing for a few months is not a bad move!

Listen in for more detail on each of these strategies. I hope that at least one of them inspires you to make some plans for a memorable and profitable year ahead! And I'd love to hear what they are!!

And on the UGlu Hotline, I share some thoughts about how far to go with diversifying your service offerings... how to balance ease and streamlining with showing customers all that you can do.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Plan your year in 20 minutes!

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

____________________________

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enDecember 26, 2023

176. Balloon industry gold standard | Tommy & Scott of Balloons by Tommy

I am so thrilled to have Tommy & Scott of Balloons by Tommy on the show for the final 2023 interview! I've always held them in my mind as the gold standard of balloon businesses and appreciate even more how kind each of them are with their knowledge and experiences.

Tommy's balloon dreams started very young and he has never swayed from those dreams. We hear how he ran and grew his business while going to school, until Scott came along and they became this dynamic duo that started to scale rapidly. They tell us about the ups and downs they've experienced along the way as they've built their team and managed production, time away, etc.

You'll also hear what actual technologies they use to run the business, including group chats, their CRM, email management and mockups. And don't miss the tips they share about New Year's Eve bookings!

We wrap up the conversation by hearing how they plan their years, make goals for the business and think long-term about their direction. These two are clearly leaders within our industry and it was such an honor to have them on the show.

From the UGlu Hotline, we have a question about whether to use contracts in donation work. I share not only my guidelines on donating services, but also my approach for making the service happen.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

Balloons by Tommy

____________________________

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enDecember 19, 2023

174. Top 3 reads of the year and how they changed my business

Today I'm sharing how a few of the books from the book club have changed my business this year! It was such a nice refresher to look back on this list and have another think about all that we covered.

And I can't even say that all of the books in my top 3 were the most enjoyable to read, but they've definitely helped me make some great changes. Without further ado, here they are:

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Virtual Freedom by Chris Ducker
Clutter Connection by Cassandra Aarssen

Rich Dad Poor Dad gave me some new ways to think about assets and liabilities. It also gave me the courage to go after a commercial property! In the end, it wasn't the right decision but I gained some great insights in the process. I'll also tell you what type of rental items I've incorporated into my business because of this read!

Virtual Freedom had me make three lists to freedom, and here's what I've outsourced because of it:

social media
podcast editing
sales

These are all major changes for me and I'm so thankful I went forward with them!

Clutter Connection was all about identifying your organizing preferences and tendencies. (What you see on Pinterest might not necessarily be what works for you.) Through reading this one, I figured out what changes to make with my balloon storage and why some things work as well as they do.

I hope by hearing my takeaways, you're encouraged to see how these books can help your business, too!

On the UGlu Hotline this week, I've got some tips for installing in super dry and staticy environments.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Virtual Freedom by Chris Ducker

Clutter Connection by Cassandra Aarssen

____________________________

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enDecember 12, 2023

172. Ending a chapter in your business | Melody from Feathered Fox / Foxx Creative Share

In this episode we are checking in with Melody to get an update on her educational platform as well as her decor business. In particular, we'll learn:

how changing her minimum has changed her business
the kind of impact her disco ball wall has made to her income and business plan.

It was so nice to hear how Melody is thriving!

Listen to Melody's episode about not waiting for permission here!

And in the UGlu Hotline I'm sharing my top advice for brand new balloon businesses, plus my biggest mistake from the early years of running my business.

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

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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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enDecember 07, 2023

171. Behind the scenes of a distributor | Austin of Havin' A Party

I've already had the pleasure of chatting with Larry and Joe from Havin’ A Party, but in this episode we get to round out the trifecta and connect with Austin to hear about some exciting things coming next for this distributor family!

First, Austin takes us through the moment he made the decision to jump into the family business and how they all quickly realized that roles needed to be assigned in order for the business to operate at its highest efficiency.

Then you'll hear about the mastery they have within this industry when he tells us how they're able to supply customers' new retail stores with just the right amounts of product according to what's expected to sell in their particular region.

And did you know they actually design products in house?! I am so excited to get my hands on some of the items Austin mentions are in development and are set to be released at FLOAT!

Finally, we also talk about how they follow their values to determine which events to attend and what products to carry. This family is so genuine and it's obvious how much they want to take care of their customers. I've loved chatting with each of them and have so much respect for them all.

And from the UGlu Hotline, we get a tip for making sure your sticky items are sticky enough!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

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enDecember 05, 2023

170. The Balloon Guild

Two experienced balloon business owners come on the show in this episode to tell us about their balloon decor recipe membership! Johnathan Gerber of Party People Events and Jonathan Fudge of YTE Events & Balloon Decor have come together to provide a super helpful resource to fellow balloon business owners looking for step-by-step instructions for balloon decor, from the basic column to elaborate sculptures.

Their experiences in the industry are remarkably similar; we get to hear about how they were first introduced to balloons, how they acquired their own businesses, how they've grown them and how The Balloon Guild came to be.

We also get to talking about how recipes can help you build a team, which is something I've experienced myself! It might actually shine a light on some holes in your business at first (in terms of pricing and production), but once recipes, processes and expected build times are established, that's where real growth will start to happen.

And then, when life changes such as pregnancy, injuries or caretaking come up, your business won't get hit quite as hard because you've taken the time to move things out of your own brain and onto paper.

Whether you're looking for some creative inspiration for yourself, or you want to train a team with some great recipes, The Balloon Guild can help!

And from the UGlu Hotline, we get a cool tip about how to help keep your balloon deliveries a surprise!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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