Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mariana Blanco. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mariana , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
Taking a risk is always scary, I will always think on doing something very important but I am one of a kind person that thinks too much and won’t do it because of the cons, most of the time I tend more towards the bad things that can happen instead of focusing in the good positive things. But one day when I started noticing that I was getting busier than last year I took the risk, thought about it and couldn’t get that out of my head so I did it… I quit my full time job to really work on my business!!! so this year 2023 my business its been my full time job and believe it or not is not as bad as I thought for many years. I love having the time at home to see my kids, and be bale to really enjoy them, My daughter is 16 now and my son is 10, for the last 14 years I wasn’t fully dedicated to them and I am still not but I can really say that been my own Boss has given me the opportunity to embrace very minute we spent together because I work from home and when they are home we talk, we play, we make jokes, we cook together, I drop the off and get to pick them up from school or activities and I think they love it. My husband is very happy too, he also helps me a lot when I need to build new backdrops when needed.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
How did I ended in the balloon business industry? well when I was in high school I knew I wanted to become a teacher, once in collage I wanted to be photographer, so at the end neither were my options I wanted to do something fun and creative, In every family party I was the one making invites, coming up with ideas for table settings, candy bars, etc. every thing related with parties. Then I started my own family so for my daughter in very celebration I was doing everything but the cake, and my friends were always complementing my decorations. One day one of them asked me if I could be their decorator I was no way, I am not a decorator nor I do this as business, but she convince to do it, I remember it was a party for two of her children so I had to manage and come up with something for both boy and girl, I was nervous at first but once I got the /picture in my head I got down to work. The was Frozen, I took Elsa and Olaf as main characters, I did the invitations, tables center pieces, cut snowflakes as table clothes, a beautiful balloons arch with two columns and helium arch, and candy bar, she was very pleased and after I was paid I say to my self oh this can be a really profitable side hustle. After my first more friends started hiring me and with that is how I started investing in my tools. I had no intention on leaving my full time job at the time, so that also helped me to invest in more resources, tools, materials, and all needed to get the best out of my creativity.
While in my job (baby sitter) the family I worked for knew about my small business they immediately supported me and stated helping me find a name for it. I was really that serious but the girls were happy to help, so their Auntie helped us too to find me the perfect name. After we narrow a few lists and only three names were the last three standing I had to decide, And Magnificent Mari’s became my brand. I have no intention to rebrand it, I love it, we love it and we are going to keep it for ever. Really this name brings me all those memories with my other family and their support that I will for ever cherish.
Magnificent Mari’s has grown so much with al the words of mouths from friends and family. and now with new customers that also pass our info along its been such a blessing.
Magnificent Mari’s is home base business balloon decorator company offering a range of high quality products to celebrate any type of event or occasion. Our mission is to provide al the most beautiful balloon set ups, or decorations to make each one of your celebrations more festive, fun, and so much memorable. Whether you are turning 21 or 91, or your little one is turning one, or just planning a new baby arrival, we can help you create memories with your love ones.
I take my business seriously, I have to have the time to just work on it while at home and really focus in finding new customers. I would like to expand our vision to other areas like a pro, but I had to start little by little. For example I would like o create packages for big events/celebratiosn like weddings, Quiceañeras, sweet sixteens, corporates, etc. I have done a few not many Quinceañeras and weddings but people think that our services are not needed because they haven’t really look into how pretty and festive a celebration of that magnitude looks like with our decorations. so that a goal I am setting to have by the end of the year.
once we grow more we plan to have or shop/studio for everyone to have a public space to do pick ups, or be able to come and create your own balloon bouquets, or to come and see the balloon colors in person and choose your pallet.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Word of Mouth has been building my reputation. I have too many great references that keeps me going. In Balloon Industry you never know if you will make it or not because it is saturated. Sometimes I feel that I don’t need to advertised my business because every order that comes through is because word of moth. not from Facebook, not from instagram, not from my website, is always from someone that already used our services and is passing my info along because we did a great job. Magnificent Mari’s really takes the time to talk to clients. Communication is a key. I have always making sure I listen to their vision, specify what they want and how I am going to accomplish it. most of the time I am able to text my clients at anytime or vice versa for any questions.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
My resources are the most important keys for my entrepreneurship. Once I decided I wanted to have a business like this I knew had to pay a course or many in order for me to be professional. And I did, I started looking around everything related with balloon decorations, balloon stores, balloon videos on you tube, everything that is out there I used. I invest in education with many great artists around the USA. I was sponsored to attend Balloon Boss Summit in 2021in Orland Fl. which was a lot to take in and I am still working on what I learned there, this summit is too much motivation to accomplish your goals towards your balloon business and I took it seriously, therefor little by little I am following the path I am building to succeed. Friends and colleagues are also my resources because once we build a good relation ship we help each other, no doubt about it. If someone helps me I will repay the favor, I am great full to have great relationships you never know when you will need a hand, so I tried my self to alias be good and support others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://magnificentmaris.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnificentmarisbymb/?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MagnificentMarisbyMB
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdyVEr9TDHzssqXrJlpSMPg