We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Allison Dunning a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Allison thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear your thoughts about family businesses.

Family business is the heart of my world—both personally and professionally. Balloon Art by Merry Makers and Merry Makers LLC has been family-owned and operated from day one. My husband has worked alongside me since the very beginning, and all three of our children have been part of the journey. They’ve been balloon strikers, face painters, cashiers, people organizers—you name it. They grew up in this business, sometimes literally at my side while I delivered bouquets or built balloon arches, and I even nursed my youngest in a sling while working a wedding show.

Today, my middle daughter works full-time with me and is a vital part of the daily operations. My husband is still part-time, and while my oldest and youngest have pursued other paths, the influence of growing up in a family business will always be part of who they are. I also support my brother’s business—European Motor Cars Inc. in Fort Collins—which is another example of a family-run company grounded in hard work and shared values. You could say my whole life revolves around family businesses.

What works well is the deep trust, shared purpose, and unspoken understanding that come from working with people who know you on every level. There’s also a legacy component—seeing your kids grow up with an entrepreneurial spirit, a strong work ethic, and a front-row seat to what it takes to build something meaningful.

Of course, there are challenges. Boundaries between work and home can blur, and business disagreements can sometimes spill into family life. But overall, the benefits outweigh the pitfalls—especially when mutual respect and communication are strong.

Would I want my daughter to take over the business? Only if she’s passionate about it. We have a goal, in 4 years she gets to decide if she wants to take over, if so, she has me for 5 more years to help and slowly move all the responsibility to her. If not, then we will work to get the company ready to sell. Ultimately, I wanted my kids to witness what it means to care about your work and your clients. I know the values they learned here will serve them wherever they go.

My experiences have taught me that a family business isn’t just a business—it’s a way of life. It’s messy, magical, hard, and deeply rewarding.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Allison Mitchell Dunning, the founder and creative director behind Balloon Art by Merry Makers and Merry Makers LLC, a family-owned company based in Northern Colorado that has been bringing joy, creativity, and color to events for over 24 years.

Our business actually has two vibrant branches. Balloon Art by Merry Makers specializes in large-scale custom balloon décor—think dramatic arches, immersive freeform garlands, branded installations, elegant dance floor canopies, corporate logo builds, and high-impact event experiences. Whether it’s a grand opening, school dance, gala, or marketing activation, we help transform ordinary spaces into unforgettable celebrations. I’ve taught balloon design at conventions across the country. My daughter Rowan now works full-time with me in the balloon division, helping clients bring their creative visions to life with professionalism, style, and precision.

The other side of the company, Merry Makers LLC, provides high-quality event entertainment—from face painting and balloon twisting to caricature artists and the move beloved characters, Santa and Mrs. Claus. We’re a trusted partner for community events, company parties, school functions, and private celebrations. Our team of talented entertainers has been carefully selected and trained to deliver family-friendly fun that’s professional, reliable, and engaging. Over the years, we’ve helped create magical moments for thousands of children and families, and we continue to be a go-to resource for organizations that want entertainment they can count on.

What sets us apart is not just what we do, but how we do it. We show up with heart, creative excellence, and a commitment to making our clients shine. We’re known for being easy to work with, always prepared, and full of solutions that make planning easier and the end result spectacular. We’re also proud to operate responsibly—we never do balloon releases and we’re official partners of the Coalition for Responsible Celebration.

This business has always been deeply personal. My husband has worked alongside me since day one, and all three of our children grew up working in various roles—from balloon crew to face painting to event support. Today, it’s still a family-run operation, and I take tremendous pride in how we’ve grown while staying true to our values.

What I’m most proud of is that we’ve built something lasting—something that’s brought joy, beauty, and fun to thousands of events over the years. Whether we’re delivering a stunning balloon installation or sending in a team of talented entertainers, our mission is the same: to elevate your celebration and create moments that people remember.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

In the early days of my business, keeping in touch with clients was a fully manual process—literally handwritten. I used a paper journal to track every phone call, every conversation, every detail I could think of about each event. To stay organized, I developed my own flag system: red for Merry Makers LLC (entertainment), blue for Balloon Art by Merry Makers, yellow for “in process,” green for booked, and orange for to-do’s. Once a gig was done, I’d fold down the page with a deep sigh of relief. It was organized chaos—but it worked… for a while.

Eventually, I discovered Google Calendar, which made things a bit smoother. But as the business grew, I realized I needed something more robust—a system that could grow with me. I began testing out CRMs (Customer Relationship Management software) and, honestly, I think I tried every one out there. My office manager at the time would tease me for never using them consistently. They just didn’t feel like the right fit—until I discovered 17Hats.

17Hats was life-changing. It took some time to set up, but now I truly can’t imagine running either side of my business without it. It helps me communicate clearly and consistently with clients from the very beginning. I use it to gather details, send quotes, deliver contracts (customized by event type), and walk clients through workflows that keep everyone on the same page. It also prompts me behind the scenes, ensuring I don’t miss a beat—from follow-ups and prep tasks to post-event thank-yous and even annual check-ins months down the road.

That kind of consistency builds trust. Clients know I’m on top of things. They feel cared for and supported from inquiry to event day and beyond. It’s one of the many ways we foster long-term loyalty—by making the entire process smooth, thoughtful, and professional.

I recommend 17Hats to every small business owner I meet. If you’re looking for a system that can support your customer communication, booking, contracts, and automations all in one place, it’s worth the investment. I even have a referral link for 50% off your first year:
👉 https://referrals.17hats.com?r=Allison

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience has shown up in my journey more than once, but two major moments really define it: the pivot I made during COVID-19, and the two-year journey of bringing the Big Balloon Build to Greeley, Colorado.

When COVID hit, my entire business model had to change overnight. Suddenly, indoor events vanished and celebrations as we knew them were canceled. But people still needed joy, still wanted to mark milestones—and balloons could do that in a safe, creative way. So I pivoted. I reimagined my offerings and moved everything outdoors—front yard marquees, porch garlands, balloon drive-by parties, custom displays for birthdays, graduations, even gender reveals. It was a completely different way of working, but it kept us going and helped spread light during such a heavy time.

Fast forward a few years, and I took on one of the biggest challenges of my career: hosting the Big Balloon Build Colorado. This was a two-year journey from the moment I applied to be a host city to the moment the final balloon popped. The Big Balloon Build is a nonprofit that travels the world creating massive balloon installations—usually involving over 125,000 balloons and 80+ balloon artists from around the globe—all to benefit a local charity. In our case, we partnered with Life Stories, Child and Family Advocacy in Greeley.

For about eight months leading up to the event, I poured everything I had into promoting the build and supporting Life Stories. As a solopreneur, that meant stepping away from my own business to give this project the attention it deserved. I believe in the pipeline theory—you’re either filling your pipeline with future business or working what comes out of it. But during those eight months, I wasn’t filling my pipeline. I wasn’t marketing or growing my business. I was giving back.

When the Big Balloon Build wrapped up, I was emotionally fulfilled—but my business was struggling. I had just done this extraordinary thing for my community and for a cause I deeply care about… but it came at a cost. I ended up taking out an SBA loan in early 2024 to keep my company afloat. It was humbling, but necessary.

And here’s the resilience part: In May 2025, my company finally made it back into the black. After surviving COVID, pivoting my entire business model, stepping up for a global nonprofit build, and carrying the weight of both passion and sacrifice—I’m still here. My company is stronger, wiser, and more grounded in purpose than ever before.

Resilience isn’t just about surviving—it’s about believing in what you do even when it costs you something. And I wouldn’t trade those lessons for anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.balloonartbymerrymakers.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/balloonartbymerrymakers
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BalloonArtbyMerryMakers
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merrymakers/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/BalloonExpert

  https://www.balloonplanet.com/balloonartbymerrymakers/

Image Credits

Allison Dunning – Myself took all photos except the 2 I am in.

Addie Knott – Addie Knott Photography – Did the DREAMS shoot with the flower wall. It has a picture of me and then a picture of me with my daughter Rowan.