The Bright Balloon is a podcast where Sara Meyer shares bright ideas for your balloon business. We help overwhelmed balloon artists more money, eliminate stress and grow our creative businesses together. Welcome to The Bright Balloon.
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380. How to make social media fun (and still get booked)
23:56
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23:56If you've ever groaned at the thought of making another reel, this is the episode for you. Curated by our friends at HI-FLOAT (and recorded live at the Sempertex International Balloon Convention) in this episode, I'm chatting with Maggie of Pop Charlotte—a balloon pro who not only runs a large, successful business but actually enjoys doing her own …
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378. Business and life hacks for solopreneurs
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47:45In this episode curated by our friends at HI-FLOAT I'm chatting with Victoria of Balloons by Victoria, and we're getting real about what it means to build a balloon business and hire help that supports your life—not the other way around. We cover: Why Victoria chose to stay home-based (and how she makes it work) How she got out of her own head and …
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What's it really like to run a family manufacturing business in the balloon industry? In this special in-person episode recorded at the Sempertex International Balloon Convention, I sit down with Andrea and Aidan from HI-FLOAT—the powerhouse mother-daughter duo helping lead one of the most beloved brands in our space. We chat about: How HI-FLOAT st…
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374. Live from The International Balloon Convention
20:31
20:31
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20:31If you've ever wondered what actually happens at a balloon convention—or whether it's worth the investment—this episode is for you. I recorded this recap live from the Sempertex International Balloon Convention while the event was still in full swing. I share what the experience was like, how it compares to other conventions, and why I left feeling…
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372. Why Cheap Tape Could Be Costing You Clients
22:16
22:16
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22:16If you've ever had a balloon installation fall (or had to refund a client because it didn't hold), this episode is for you. In this conversation with Steve and Nicole from ProTapes, we dive deep into the adhesives balloon artists rely on—and how using the wrong tape could be costing you money, time, and clients. We cover: Why ProTapes products are …
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370. How to Build Systems That Simplify Your Balloon Business
34:58
34:58
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34:58If your balloon business feels chaotic, it might be because you're missing one key ingredient: systems. In this episode, I sit down with balloon artist and business coach Danielle, aka Coach Danni D, to talk about how to simplify your business with smart, repeatable processes that save time, reduce stress, and create freedom. We discuss: The PACE f…
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368. How to Think Like a CEO in Your Balloon Business
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49:32Are you stuck in the day-to-day chaos of running your balloon business—constantly reacting, never really moving forward? In this episode of, I sit down with business coach Andrea Liebross, who helps creative entrepreneurs stop spinning their wheels and start thinking like CEOs. Andrea shares strategies for: Shifting from a reactive to a CEO mindset…
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366. How This Couple Built a Thriving Balloon Business With a New Baby at Home
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29:45Brittany and Patrick of Main Street Balloons turned a $300 side hustle into a full-time balloon business—and they did it while navigating new parenthood and while also working in their healthcare careers. In this episode, they share their inspiring journey, how they manage their roles as a couple in business, and what it really takes to grow a prof…
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364. Building a $1M balloon business: Who to Hire First
30:05
30:05
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30:05In this episode, I chat with Blenda, the powerhouse behind Balloon Construction Company that's scaled to multiple employees, multiple buildings, and massive goals — all without burning out. Blenda shares how she transitioned from inflating balloons herself to leading a full team — while keeping the creative vision and client experience intact. Whet…
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362. What Big Brands Really Want From You
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31:18
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31:18What does it really take to work with celebrities, luxury brands, and global companies as a balloon professional? It's not just about the balloons. In this episode, I sit down with Sean Edwards — "The Balloon Guy" of Los Angeles — to uncover the customer service secrets and creative mindset that have helped him land jobs with Porsche, Soho House, H…
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360. The Cold Email That Got Her $8K in Balloons
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31:38
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31:38This interview with Carolina is jam-packed with not just corporate sales strategies, but also actionable tips and resources for how you can up your corporate sales game. Carolina has it mastered… so much so that she no longer takes private / social parties and only works with corporate! I was so motivated to seek out more corporate relationships af…
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358. Organically connecting | Natalie of Illiano Events
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38:18
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38:18In this episode I'm chatting with Natalie of Illiano Events and she's dishing out tons of ideas and advice for us to network in a way that feels organic and natural. Networking is not something that comes natural to me so I was so happy to have her on and hear her ideas. Natalie shares the specific ways this approach has grown her business, the tim…
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356. Living the dream | Michelle and Sean of Lush Balloons
31:19
31:19
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31:19In our final interview recorded live at The Tuftex Experience, I'm chatting with Michelle and Sean of Lush Balloons about growth, efficiency and taking care of clients. We kick off by talking about the efficiencies they've incorporated into their business in order to reduce their number of staff and get higher profit margins… inflation and producti…
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354. Just try it! | Patricia of StickUp Artistry and Design
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27:07
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27:07Get ready for some positive, infectious energy from this episode's guest, Patricia of StickUp Artistry and Design! I had the opportunity to sit down with her live at the Tuftex Experience and she's sharing how she believes adding some deco-twisted elements in your decor can really impress your clients and make you stand out in a crowded market. She…
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352. Behind the scenes at Tuftex | Meg of Tuftex
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25:23In this interview recorded live at the Tuftex Experience, I get to hear from Meg some of the really cool behind the scenes info about their products, the event and more. I always love how transparent Tuftex is and this interview is no different! Meg actually ran a balloon decor business of her own at one point, and you'll hear why her other backgro…
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350. Building a million dollar business | Chris of Balloon Masters
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41:54
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41:54If you want to hear what it's like to grow to $1M in sales, this episode is for you! I interviewed Chris of Balloon Masters at the Tuftex Experience and he's sharing so many golden nuggets about what he and his wife Marlene did to grow their business over the last several decades. I really appreciate Chris' generosity of all the knowledge he shares…
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348. Negotiating tips and tricks | Nikki of Violet Pineapple Balloons
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33:39If you struggle with negotiating, or even the idea of negotiating, this episode is for you! Nikki of Violet Pineapple Balloons comes on the show to share some really helpful tips about negotiation, specifically for a rental space. We'll hear about what she was looking for in a space, the listing price, what she's actually paying for it and all the …
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346. Decorating for Hallmark movies | Jenny of Simply Jenny Designs
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30:43
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30:43This interview was a total treat! We'll get to hear from Jenny of Simply Jenny Designs all about her experience decorating for Hallmark movies, including how she landed the first job, what she's learned since and what it's like to be on set! She shares with us how quickly into running her business that she got her first movie set opportunity, the b…
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344. Small town, big business | Tricia of Noree Events
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34:32In this conversation, Tricia of Noree Events shares her journey of building a successful balloon decor business in a small community. She discusses the challenges and advantages of operating in a small town, the importance of community support and the strategies she employs to network and grow her business. She emphasizes the significance of person…
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In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact steps I take to help determine whether my constant business ideas are worth pursuing. I'll share some of the most recent things I've considered, what I almost immediately scrapped and what is still a possibility. I'm talking about: Gut checks on passion and ease Profitability Time, energy and bandw…
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340. Balloons as fine art | DJ of Balloons in Bold
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45:53
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45:53We're excited to have Kalisan curating another month of episodes for us, and to kick things off this time is DJ of Balloons in Bold. He is a fine artist who uses balloons as his medium, so it was cool to get yet another take on balloons as a form of art! He had worked as a balloon twister before turning to fine art as a form of emotional expression…
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338. Nightmare installations | Rachel of Evansville Balloon Company
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47:37If you've ever forgotten about a job, left your U-Haul door open when driving or gotten robbed at an installation… you're going to relate to what Rachel shares in this episode! She and I talk about some of our worst installations to date and, more importantly, how we handled them and kept moving forward. Even though the topic feels negative, Rachel…
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336. High-end clients | Chris of Balloon Design Studio
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36:03If you've ever wondered what it's like working with and attracting high-end clients, this episode is for you! Chris of Balloon Design Studio shares with us how he goes after the big jobs, his pricing and more. Before we get into those details, hear about his first balloon arch job he did in the sixth grade! He continued running his business through…
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334. Rebranding | Tracy of Joyful Party Co.
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40:01In this episode I'm learning from Tracy of Joyful Party Co. (formerly From Me 2 You Creations) about what it's like to rebrand after being in business for almost 20 years. She shares with us everything that was involved in the process, including the financial impact it had. Learn about the services her original business started with, how her initia…
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332. How I hit my sales goal 6 months early
36:43
36:43
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36:43In this episode I'm sharing how I track my numbers so that I know what's coming in and how I'm making my way towards my financial goal. Hear what keeps me focused, how I reverse-engineer all of my numbers to make a realistic plan and how I honed in on the exact type of customer I need to focus on. Then I'll talk through some of the main pieces of g…
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330. Simple ways to add value | Noeli of So Pretty Balloons
48:28
48:28
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48:28If you struggle with standing out in a saturated market, this episode is for you! Our curated sponsor HiFloat chose Noeli of So Pretty Balloons to come on the show and talk about how she's found a way to stand out in the crowded and very talented Miami market. Before we get into those specifics, we'll hear how she followed signals for what directio…
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328. Staying Lean | Elisabeth of Pop of Color Balloon Design
44:31
44:31
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44:31In another curated episode by HiFloat, we have another returning guest - Elisabeth of Pop of Color Balloon Design. Her and I are kindred spirits in the way that we want to build our businesses around our lives (and not the other way around). So in this episode, we're chatting about putting limits on our businesses as well as the advantages and disa…
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326. Shifting strategies | Jam of Garden Place Balloons
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49:50
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49:50In another curated episode by HiFloat, we're reconnecting with Jam of Garden Place Balloons to hear how he's pivoted away from the huge, luxurious installs and into deliveries… which have become the bread and butter of his business! He's still got local balloon friends who have been and continue to be a major support for him when the big jobs do co…
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324. Dos and Don'ts of HiFloat & HiShine | Phillip of HiFloat
36:00
36:00
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36:00In our first curated episode by HiFloat, we get to hear from the COO himself, Phillip… who is also a chemist! He shares with us some tips and tricks about using HiFloat and HiShine which I definitely didn't know before having this conversation. Learn how humidity, proper inflation size, transport bags and even 60/40 valves impact HiFloat performanc…
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322. Pricing transparency | Courtney of Courtney Lynette Creative Co.
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49:31
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49:31I LOVED this interview with returning guest Courtney! We're talking about pricing transparency and all of the objections and fears that might come with. But that's not all… we're also talking about website design, customer behavior and more. It was such a good interview with a bunch of nuggets like: Ways to pre-qualify your leads Why brand shoots m…
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320. Balloons at school | Darren of SoCal Balloons
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38:47In another curated episode by Kalisan, I'm reconnecting with Darren of SoCal Balloons and (among lots of other things) learned about a very cool arrangement he's involved in with some local schools to go in and teach balloon twisting to the kids! Darren twisted his first balloon dog when he was four. You'll hear how he started his business with his…
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318. So many ways to grow | Mauricio of Today's Balloons / Balloons 2 Go
55:24
55:24
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55:24Mauricio knows our industry from multiple angles, so I was really happy when Kalisan chose him as one of the guests in their curated month. In this episode, he shares with us where he found help in growing his business, how he made his pivots and more. We'll hear about his rapid growth as a twister, which included doing some jobs for celebrities in…
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316. Beating burnout | Katy of Bloom Inflatables
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46:41In another curated episode by Kalisan, we get to meet Katy of Bloom Inflatables. She takes us through some of the things that previously led her to burnout and what she's doing now to stay ahead of it. But before we get into all of that, you'll hear how an impulse purchase of a bounce house quickly turned into strategy and profitability for her com…
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314. Kalisan Intro | Kirstin of Create and Cherish Events / Kalisan
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30:35Kicking off this curated month by Kalisan is an interview with Kirstin of Create and Cherish Events / Kalisan! I met Kirstin quite a while ago at a Big Balloon Build, so it was so nice to have this opportunity to reconnect with her and hear about how she's still running her own decor business while supporting the folks at Kalisan as well. We'll hea…
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312. B Wise About Your Future | Bri of Elevated Impressions / BWise Consulting
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44:35
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44:35In this final curated episode by Bri of Elevated Impressions / BWise Consulting, I'm so honored to host her as she announces the launch of her new small business product! I know I'll be using it for my business and I hope you'll consider doing the same. We get straight to it and hear about why she's developed her new product, plus more about her ba…
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310. Inquire & Uplift | Bri of Elevated Impressions / BWise Consulting
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44:27
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44:27In this curated episode by Bri of Elevated Impressions / BWise Consulting, she is answering tons of questions that listeners wrote in with! We're talking about mistakes, retail, growth, organization and a whole lot more! We end with some rapid-fire questions and rapid-fire answers. Here are some of the highlights: What she'd do differently Pricing …
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308. Elevating the Industry, Together | Bri of Elevated Impressions / BWise Consulting & Jenny of Three Sparrows Balloons
53:23
53:23
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53:23In another curated episode by Bri of Elevated Impressions / Be Wise Consulting, we are talking about teamwork and friendship! Let's face it, sometimes we can get lonely, frustrated and feel isolated in this industry, so these two guests came on to share how they've created a support system in one another and how their different personalities prove …
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306. The Preferred Path | Bri of Elevated Impressions / BWise Consulting & Jamie of Cape Cod Celebrations
1:07:16
1:07:16
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1:07:16In this first curated episode by Bri of Elevated Impressions / Be Wise Consulting, we hear from her and her friend Jamie about creating mutually beneficial relationships with other vendors in the event industry. It's an episode full of tips like: How to initiate a connection What kind of traits stand out to event planners Industry research & immers…
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304. What's up at Anagram! | Molly, Kristen and Jill of Anagram
29:25
29:25
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29:25I love any time a manufacturer comes on the show to share some insight into what they have planned to help our industry! This episode was recorded live at Fulcrum 2025, and we hear about the new products, new people and new things happening with Anagram! My ears definitely perked up when they mentioned the number of new foil designs and new formats…
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302. Business credit | Sheila of The Balloon Squad
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37:57I knew nothing about business credit before this interview, so if you're in the same boat - listen in on how you can essentially grow your business using other people's money! Sheila and I also talk about retail, multiple locations, growth, advertising classic decor and so much more. I've met Sheila at Balloon Boss Summit but haven't been able to a…
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300. Freelance balloons | Jules of Party Perks
36:08
36:08
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36:08If you've ever wanted to hire a freelance balloon artist, or be hired as a freelance balloon artist, this episode is for you! I get all the details about how Jules travels and country and helps other balloon businesses while managing her own balloon business, too. We cover everything you need to know about this new perspective of balloon decorating…
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When I reflect on all the exciting things happening with the podcast, not only am I incredibly grateful, but it's also really fun to look back at how it all started. So in this episode, I'm re-listening to my first handful of episodes and asking myself, "Do they still hold up?!" I thought before listening that I had a pretty good idea of what I sai…
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296. Trends in the United Kingdom | Angharad of Angharad's Party Art
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32:43In our final curated interview from TUFTEX, I made a new friend in Angharad (AKA Annie) of Angharad's Party Art in the UK. I loved hearing about the similarities and differences we experience across the world! She tells us how when she started her business, she faced a very familiar issue that we do in the states - childcare. She continues to adapt…
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294. Main street boutique | Dolly & Eddie of Delloons
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59:51
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59:51In another episode curated by TUFTEX, I'm chatting with Dolly & Eddie of Delloons again! Since our last conversation with them, they've had another baby and moved into a boutique retail space… so needless to say, there's a lot to catch up on and I appreciated their honesty and openness. And don't miss a bit of behind the scenes info from them about…
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292. Large installs and lots of events | Tiffany of Confetti Castle
1:00:28
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1:00:28In another episode curated by TUFTEX, I'm chatting with Tiffany of Confetti Castle about the thrill and challenges of being tasked with large installations for large events. We talk about getting the jobs, staffing them, troubleshooting, logistics and more. She also tells us about how she's planning the decor for the TUFTEX Experience and how YOU c…
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Kicking off this curated month by TUFTEX, I'm chatting once again with Allison, the owner of TUFTEX! She's giving us a ton of behind the scenes info on their new products, plus where and how they've expanded since she last came on the podcast. First, I asked her to walk us through their acquisition of a balloon factory in Canada. I really appreciat…
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This episode is a list of wins people had from tips in the podcast interviews! I'm so grateful to the guests who shared those tips & congrats to everyone who put them to use & saw growth because of it! Episodes are listed below and are easily searchable at thebrightballoon.com/episodes! I also share what's in store for the podcast in 2025! In the U…
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287. Neon Nation | Tiffany of LED Marquee
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42:27Since recording this episode, I've had the pleasure of hanging out with Tiffany at Balloon Boss Summit and seeing her LED Marquees in action. Wow, are they cool! Listen in as we chat about this very neat option you may consider adding to your inventory. Tiffany tells us how her marquees were designed to give a different vibe than the traditional in…
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285. Competing to win | Edward Munoz
1:04:23
1:04:23
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1:04:23Edward is one of the kindest and most talented people I have ever met. In this episode he shares his inspiring story of bringing his balloon business to the U.S. from Venezuela, and all of the challenges he faced in the process. He's very generous with the techniques he shares on Instagram and I know everyone will have something to learn from liste…
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283. A wealth of balloon knowledge | Sue of The Very Best Balloon Blog
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55:53Sue was one of the first people in the balloon industry that I learned from online when I started. In fact, I would bet that you've come across some of her content, too! I loved the chance to pick her brain on all the things she's experienced in the industry, plus learn about BAPIA, a membership she runs that is available in the UK, and that I wish…
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