Why I only use Quality Balloons in the décor I produce.

Today I have completed 2 jobs, one on behalf of a very big company who subcontract work to Balloon Companies like mine and one where I worked for the client direct.

With my client, we took time to discuss what they wanted to achieve with the décor, making sure that it followed the clients brief, matching their brand colours and creating an eye catching, funky entrance to their company dinner and dance.

I knew exactly the room it was taking place in and what suited the layout. I was able to liaise with the venue staff (thank you S.I.V for all your help) and the décor was installed with the minimum of time and fuss. Not one balloon burst and the funky columns looked quality.

Contrast with my first job of the day. Opening décor for a large furniture retailer.

I was given the job late Thursday afternoon, with the minimum of instructions, ‘they want a 25ft helium garland arch and 20 floor standing arrangements and oh it needs to be in place by 9am on Saturday morning. We will send you the balloons and ribbon etc you just provide the helium and labour’.

Ok I thought, shouldn’t be too much of a problem, I knew where the store was as I had passed it the week before, I had a job in Sheffield anyway, so why not?

I arrived at our workshop at 6.50am along with a colleague and we set about inflating the garland arch and 20 floor standing arrangements. Pop, pop, pop not a sound I am used to as I use the finest balloons in the world in my décor, Qualatex. They may cost more but they are worth every penny. You achieve consistent results with the minimum of popage, I have used these balloons my entire career and normally I wouldn’t be seen dead using anything else. But because of the short notice I had to use the balloons I was provided with.

We eventually completed the arch, making it slightly longer at 30ft, loaded everything into the van and we arrived at the store at 8.35am ready to install. We had to wait because they wanted a photo shoot with the GB Volleyball team outside, ok, no problem. We took the floor standing balloons inside as it was blowing a gale and in my opinion would be better served in the windows inside.

Eventually we were able to get the garland arch out, I went to put it inside the door and was told they wanted it outside. I challenged this as I have just said it was blowing a gale and we were in a wind tunnel. But they were the clients technically and I always try to exceed expectations. We put it outside and were told they wanted it bigger. We had to take it back in and extend the arch, no mean feat once its made! We added an extra 10ft and took it back outside and we nearly took off as the wind lifted the arch and beat it about. I explained to the PR guy that as a professional I couldn’t do this, it was a hazard and I would prefer to take it away and come back with 2 big columns that they could place in their entrance. All the time the balloons were popping and I was so embarrassed, this is not what I do. He agreed and off we went back to the workshop.

We swiftly made 2 columns on our metal poles and topped them off with lovely balloon inside a balloon. We took them back to the superstore and put them inside the doors, they looked much better. We were also surprised to see that the balloons that we had put outside were still there, but we had wrapped them around the plants and buried the weights in the soil for extra support!

The moral of this story is, always use quality balloons, make sure that you know where the balloons are going and that they are appropriate for that situation. They then look fantastic and add to the occasion.

New Year Party Balloons and Decorations

New Year Sparkle

What does 2012 hold for you?

Are you going to see 2011 out with a party?

Ultimate balloon can create magical New Year balloon decorations.

From giant 4ft numbers for 2012 to the all-important exploding balloon at midnight.

This giant 3ft balloon, filled with 100 mini balloons and 100’s of pieces of flutter-fetti can explode over your guests to welcome the New Year.

Sparkle is always popular for the New Year and Ultimate balloons can create sparkle table centre’s and how about a champagne arch to welcome your guests.

We can follow the champagne theme through with table centerpieces and even down to the table confetti.

Why not give us a call on 01709 789333 so we can chat about your sparkling New Year decorations.

Thinking About Planning Your Christmas Party?

Many companies are now staring to think about their Christmas party and often members of staff come up with a theme for the evening to make it more interesting.

Here at Ultimate Balloon we are often asked for ideas and one of the most popular themes is winter wonderland.

From ice blue to silver we can create a magical atmosphere for you and your guests.

Fabulous futuristic balloon columns can lead the way into your themed room that sparkles with silver shimmer balloon centrepieces, icicle ceiling décor and the ultimate exploding balloon over your dance floor.
If you would like help with planning your Christmas party décor please call me on 01709 789333 and I’ll happily talk through your ideas. We could also meet at your venue where I can show you some of our innovative designs.

Stand out from the crowd and get your own printed balloons!

For corporate events
Whilst many of us relate memories of balloons with birthday parties when we were children, printed balloons can also be used in a more grownup environment. The use of printed balloons can actually be very beneficial in the business world.

Exhibitions
Anybody who has had a space at a corporate exhibition will know just how much competition there is for space and quite how hard everybody tries to bring potential customers in their direction. If you employ the standard methods of marketing to your exhibition show you will discover that you need to spend a lot of time, and normally lots of money, to truly stand out.

Advertising potential
If you are making use of helium filled balloons to help advertise your organisation then you will be immediately at an advantage. As we all know, helium filled balloons are lighter than the air around them and will float upwards. With the appropriate amount of string attached to the balloon you will be positioning your corporate identity in a space over and above the reach of regular advertising. We can also use giant 5ft balloons or create sculptures depicting your logo or organisation ensuring that you stand out from the crowd.If your competitors are not doing the same, you will have that space to yourself.
Just like printing your logo or company message onto carrier bags or other packaging, branding onto balloons offers a mobile marketing space that you don’t have to carry around yourself. Every time you hand out a printed balloon to a visitor at the exhibition, you are effectually giving out a promotional item for your firm that will be relocatingaround.
Another great benefit of using printed balloons as a corporate advertising application is the price tag. No matter what condition the overall economy may be in, firms are continually looking for the most cost-effective ways to promote themselves, and printed balloons are undoubtedly one of these methods. For a relatively low fee you can get hold of a good number of balloons, all printed with your bespoke message.

Balloon printing options
There are two primary kinds of balloon that can be printed on; latex balloons and also foil balloons.
Latex balloons are the most common type of balloon. They are the teardrop shaped balloons that are slightly rubbery in texture. They nowadays come in a broad range of colour options, and you can even get balloons that are semi-transparent or have a metallic finish. All latex balloons can be printed on but it is well worth bearing in mind the base colouring of the balloon when creating a design.
Foil balloons are actually made from mylar, and instead of being formed of one single piece of material they are more typically made by sealing two individual pieces together. This hemming process allows for a wide range of different designs, including stars and hearts. Combined with their glistening finish, foil balloons have become very popular for printing personalised messages for special events.

The environmental impact
Balloons are a consumable item, therefore people are often concerned about the effect they have upon the environment. The good news is that balloons are actually quite an eco friendly product and using them will not have a detrimental effect on the natural world. Many studies have been carried out that support this view.
Latex balloons are made of a material called natural rubber latex (NRL) which is collected from trees in tropical regions. The trees are simply tapped for their rubber rather than chopped down, and the cultivation of rubber tree plantations actually helps to avoid rainforest deforestation.
They are also biodegradable and can even be used on the compost heap! Latex balloons will decay at different rates depending on the circumstances they are left in, although testing has shown that they will usually decompose entirely within 6 months. This is the same period of time as oak leaves take to decompose.

Get your own printed balloons
I hope this article will have pointed out a few of the scenarios that printed balloons are well suited to, and perhaps you are already thinking about an upcoming occasion where balloons would make a great statement.
If you would like to learn more about getting your own customised printed balloons, give us a call on 01709 789333 or email us sales@tubcl.co.uk for a quote and some friendly advice. Once you have seen how well balloons help to set off your party you will want to make use of them again and again!

Corporate Hospitality and the Age of Austerity

Corporate Hospitality was one of the first casualties of the recession in 2008, BUT events are still being staged and now the initial panic is over, many organisations and companies are re entering the market as they realise that a good event can be a vital tool for boosting morale, generating publicity and obtaining new business.

It is true to say that the days of unlimited budgets and vanity projects have disappeared and indeed competition is greater than ever. However, this means that the events industry has to adapt to customer needs and offer innovation and value for money.

Undercutting the competition is not the answer, offering something impressive, practical and value for money is.

This is where balloons make their mark. Pound for pound there is no better decoration for filling space and adding the wow factor to your event.

If you would like to give your event the wow factor call me on 01709 789333

Themed Balloons & Decorations – Oscar Night!

There’s a new, hip way to watch the Oscars and spending the night over a bowl of popcorn simply will not do.

Your guests receive the official invitation to your black tie affair. Inside the invitation is a ballot where they can confidentially vote for their favorite celebrity and film of the year. Upon arriving, a celebrity look a like greets them at the door and collects the secret ballots. Your menu is designed with a collected balance of theme and color.

Creative mixes for menu development are movie titles with traditional theatre goodies. Music is collated with the music of past Oscars. Special contests through out the evening adds a fun factor into such an affair. Best Dressed, Best Support, Best Drama, Best Performer and so on. Guests are encouraged to see the films prior to the Oscars. Oscar’s décor environment are displayed through out your affair.Oscar statues, Director Chairs, Movie Posters, Film reels and clapboards, red carpet, flowers and of course gold stars are seen and….

And the Oscar goes to !

Many award ceremonies create the perfect opportunity to role out the red carpet and celebrate their highest performers. As guest walk by all the paparazzi over the red carpet flanked with oversized potted palms, they enter into a setting which is breath taking. Formal dining tables are draped with Gold fabric.

Chairs are adorned with a star with the guests name on each. Displayed at each place setting is the ballot, with the evening menu and the programs cast of characters. Center on each table is a custom theme Oscar centerpiece. The room simply glistens with suspended stars through out the room. A black twinkle light stage curtain with a 10’tall Oscar brings the evenings heightened anticipations to reality.