We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cynthia Vele. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cynthia below.

Cynthia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

In 2018 I decided it was time to leave my retail life and start a new adventure. I created a simple logo and had the idea for a small crafting business since I have created door wreaths, custom Christmas trees, cards or small projects for friends and family for many years. A close friend asked me to decorate for her daughter’s communion event. I knew how to create placards, centerpieces, etc. But during the process I came across Organic Balloon Garlands online and become overwhelmed with the creative look of the balloons and process! I decided to incorporate a balloon garland in my friends event (and of course it was 4 days before the party, lol) but she gave free creative control and trust to go for it! Luckily, it worked out and I created a few more for friends and then paid clients at the end of 2018. The rest is history!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Having a background in retail management, a bachelors in studio art and a high quality of customer service gave me the tools I needed to succeed as a business owner. I have always loved creating for others, whether it was wrapping a gift, to creating a centerpiece for a family event or decorating for any holiday. Loving the process of making something special for someone to/have see has always been in my heart. How someone reacts to something I created is pure joy. Big smiles or happy tears gets me every time. This business started with just organic balloon garlands but has moved onto providing balloon centerpieces, photo backdrops, balloon sculptures, dessert tables, helium bouquet deliveries and so much more! Every unique theme from my clients pushes me to create so many special looks. I love a challenge!

Starting this business fully in 2019 was getting my name and business across to as many people as possible. I decided it was a great idea to install balloons for business as much as clients. The balloon garlands last almost 3 months in a temperature controlled environment inside a store. I thought, what a great idea to provide a service for a business which gives fun chatter for their customers and it spreads my name across to reach more clients. That word of mouth spread across to local businesses and new customers. This increased my social media and put me on the mark in Westchester County, NY. Balloon garlands was a small niche at the time and grew with a huge popularity to this day!

When 2020 and the pandemic hit, I was concerned like any other for what would come. But I was beyond fortunate for that year to be my busiest. My build up client list in 2019 knew I had helium or could create something special with air-filled balloons while the big helium retailers closed. The business was pushed toward providing contactless helium bouquets and delivering to clients homes, creating contactless works of balloon art on their front lawns or the front of their houses. What a bitter sweet time it was for me to see those smiling faces of joy delivering to children or adults during such a devastating time. Something my heart will never forget.

As the years moved on this business has grown to provide balloons to hundreds of clients, businesses, venues and companies. Always offering the best in professionalism and creativeness I can give to each one. Every balloon display and installation is a reflection of me as an artist and I treat every project as if it was my own event. Each balloon placed perfectly to the biggest critic around, me! But my clients deserve the best, easy going experience they can have. Having their trust means the world to my business to create the perfect look for their special moment to cherish a lifetime. I am very lucky.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A story of a girl who loves everything art and was able to make that into a career.

Art was always my passion, I tried to sway but it was impossible to get rid of the feeling to create with my heart, hands, mind. I was very lucky to get to study art in college and have a Studio Art degree, Feeling lost to what that degree could do I traveled into the retail world. Working in merchandising, ordering to upper management to my last stop as an Area Manager. I always loved retail but as I would grow in the company the creative control would move out and become people and numbers. While I loved overseeing stores in a company and that was satisfying, I always missed the creative role.
I chose to make an abrupt career change, leaving a company that was a great fit but I wanted more. No more room to climb that management ladder I chose to leave, start something of my own.

Feeling unsure that moment it was a horrible decision, I was out of work for almost 2 years with small jobs here and there, holding on that I will make my mark. Fast forward to my close friend whom opened the door to my creative flow! Now running a business that strives on creativeness and artist ability floors me everyday, I feel extremely lucky to have found a career that pushes my art background and customer service/management ability.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

A reputation is so much more than a client clicking a great review on google, or leaving a comment on a posted social media photo, or how many likes I receive in a post. A reputation starts with when you pickup the phone for a new client, when I walk through the door of an installation at a customers home (always offer to take your shoes off), when I greet the restaurant manager with such thankfullness as they allow me to install for a client at 8a or for making sure I recommend the businesses that recommend me to keep the small businesses alive. These are just small examples of building a reputation which has pushed my business in a small community. In 2021, I was voted Best of Westchester by Westchester Magazine for Best Balloon Artistry. This was a great achievement of mine to know my reputation was providing what I stand for: great customer service and beautiful balloon products.

Contact Info:

• Website: creativecraftingbycynthia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creative_crafting_by_cynthia/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativecraftingbycynthia