Florist News

I currently do foil balloons on their own or with flowers and also do latex party balloons and both are doing really well and making me think that balloons are making a comeback (good for the till ching ching). I have just started to do balloon bouquets and balloons in a box and wondered if anyone had any advice on this. I was going to stay local with it first of all with a view to sending them out nationally eventually - has anyone ever done anything like this and if so could you offer any advice on pros and cons. Sometimes i can get a little involved and struggle to see things from a customers point of view!! Thanks guys

Hi there
Like you, we just sold the odd add-on foil balloon but my daughter was very interested in learning how to make balloon arches etc. She found that the best website was Qualatex and that they do a Balloon Design Artist course via DVD. You pay a sum and get three DVD's which you watch and take notes and then take three tests, one after each DVD, online. Once you have passed them you can go forward and take a practical exam to gain your CBA.
She has just passed the first part and has already had a couple of orders - one a wedding - which have proved quite lucrative.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards
Heather - LilyLady

thanks lily lady, i already do arches and cloud nines etc but you are right qualatex site is very good. I actually learnt with my floristry. I was thinking more along the lines of balloon bouquets maybe for a gift in hospital instead of flowers of for the birth of new baby etc... Just wondered commercially how these sold and if they were worth getting into. thanks very much for your reply

Not a problem Tulips. With so many hospitals now refusing to take flowers for patients it does seem that a balloon bouquet is the better option.

Recently I had an order for a balloon bouquet to be delivered to our local hospital which went down really well. I attached the greetings card to the balloon as well as our business card and a couple of days later got a visit from one of the nurses who then ordered a bouquet (flowers)!!

I think in these current times we all have to diversify to make ends meet!

LilyLady

just a few balloon pics

balloons at haslemere flowers

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thats a cool site great pics and designs
i wanna learn so gonna try qualatex site
another string for me bow - can't hurt

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thanks fly for that site. Wendi i am sure you can take the basics of balloon artistry with a c and g floristry level 2, what level are you doing??

Have a look at the Qualatex site if your Floristry course doesn't include balloon design. With Qualatex you can work at your own pace and the tests don't have to be taken all in one go (ie like exam conditions). My daughter took the whole day on the Balloon Basics!

I think its definitely a good idea to look into. Good Luck

LilyLady

lilylady how much do you think would be ok for a bq of balloons consisting of 3 normal latex, 2 patterned latex and 2 foils on a nice holder? i was thinking £15. Do you think this sounds ok? Dont want to make it too expensive but dont want to price myself out of the market either! pm if you dont want to discuss public. thanks

Sounds about right. We would sell a 5 latex balloon bouquet for £10 or a 4 latex 1 foil for £12 so what you have quoted is right on the dot.