Can we all just agree on one thing?
Buying balloons is far too easy.
I tell myself I'm only ordering what I need for this weekend's jobs, then somehow another few bags find their way into the basket because, "I might need those one day."
Sound familiar?
I'll be completely honest, I'm terrible for over-ordering. I'd much rather have too many balloons than stand in the middle of an installation wishing I'd bought one more bag of White Sand.
It's my comfort blanket.
The good news is I know I do it, so I build it into my pricing. I'd rather factor in a little extra than be caught short halfway through a job.
My Stock Room Has a Mind of Its Own
In an ideal world, my stock room would look beautifully organised:
- Every open bag would be at the front
- Every new bag would be neatly lined up behind it
- Everything would be colour coded
- I'd know exactly what I had
Lovely idea.
Reality is slightly different.
When you've got several jobs on the go, you're travelling, teaching, answering enquiries and trying to remember what day it is, organisation sometimes goes out of the window.
I somehow end up with five opened bags of exactly the same balloon.
White 5-inch balloons, I'm looking at you.
Instead of finding the bag I already opened, I order another one. Then another. Then I find all the others six months later.
Stock Equals Money
Every bag of balloons sitting on your shelf has already been paid for.
That isn't stock. That's money waiting to make you more money.
The quicker you can turn that stock into installations, the healthier your business becomes.
One day I'll probably sit down and create a proper Excel spreadsheet. Will today be that day? Probably not. But I can definitely do a better job of organising what I've already got.
Balloons Don't Live Forever
This is something people often forget. Latex balloons are biodegradable. They're not designed to sit on a shelf forever.
Keeping them somewhere cool and dark definitely helps, but older balloons will eventually start to degrade. I've learnt this the hard way.
If balloons keep popping while you're inflating them, and you're not overinflating them, there's a good chance they've reached retirement age.
Sometimes it's your stock. Sometimes it's the supplier's stock. Sometimes it's just one unlucky bag. Unfortunately, these things happen.
The Wedding That Nearly Sent Me Grey
Years ago, before I became a Sempertex ambassador, I was decorating a huge wedding.
Everything was going brilliantly. Until it wasn't.
Three bags of 12-inch balloons started popping. Not the odd one. Almost every single one.
By this point there wasn't much I could do except improvise. Luckily I'd over-ordered, which, for once, actually saved me. I ended up swapping to 18-inch balloons just to get the installation finished. It wasn't ideal, but the client never knew.
Meanwhile, I think I'd aged about ten years.
Can You Tell If Balloons Are Old?
Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, absolutely not.
Here's what I've noticed over the years:
- Older balloons often feel harder when you first take them out of the bag
- They can also have a really strong latex smell
- Cold balloons can feel harder too, so that alone doesn't mean they're old
Experience teaches you little things that no instruction manual ever will.
If you genuinely think you've received old stock, speak to your supplier. Good suppliers want to know if there's an issue.
Stop Buying Every Pretty Colour
This one hurts. Because I LOVE new colours.
Every new launch makes me think, "Ooo… I need those." Do I? Probably not.
It's very easy to convince yourself you need every single colour in every single size. Trust me, you don't.
A new colour mixed with colours you already own often creates an even better palette. Use the exciting new colour as your feature, then let your existing stock do the hard work.
Your bank account will thank you.
My Ride or Die Colours
There are certain colours I'll always keep in stock because they earn their place:
- White
- Black
- Gold
- Silver
- White Sand
- Pastel Dusk
- The Silk range
Everything else depends on the season and what's coming up.
Suppliers Matter
I mainly stick with the same suppliers because relationships matter.
If you've built trust with them, they're usually happy to help when you're in a last-minute balloon panic. And let's be honest, we've all had one of those.
Having suppliers who know you and your business is worth far more than chasing the cheapest price every single time.
My Expensive Reflex Red Lesson
One Christmas I ordered loads of Reflex Red for a large installation. Then the client cancelled.
Because they were a regular client, I didn't ask for a deposit. Lesson learnt.
Luckily it was Christmas, so I managed to use most of the balloons elsewhere. Had it been a random colour that only gets used once in a blue moon, I'd probably still be looking at it every time I opened the cupboard.
These days I think much more carefully before ordering large amounts of specialist colours.
You Don't Need to Own Every Balloon Ever Made
I think social media has convinced us that we need every new release the minute it comes out.
We don't. Our clients certainly don't know every colour that exists.
If they ask for one shade but you've got another that's just as beautiful sitting on your shelf, tell them why it'll work. They're paying for your knowledge. Most clients actually love hearing why you've chosen a particular palette. It makes them trust you even more.
Final Thoughts
If there's one thing I've learnt over the years, it's this. Running a successful balloon business isn't about owning the biggest balloon collection. It's about making your balloons work for you.
- Use what you've already bought
- Keep your stock organised, or at least slightly organised
- Don't feel pressured into buying every shiny new colour
- Build relationships with good suppliers
- And every now and then, go into your stock room and remind yourself what you've actually got before clicking "Add to Basket"
Your future self, and your bank balance, will both be very grateful.
Written by Audrey Parsons
Denise & Audrey — DnA Events | The LAB