We recently connected with Olu Taiwo and have shared our conversation below.
Olu, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The idea for BalloonPlus Events LLC wasn’t something I sat down and planned one day. it grew out of life experiences, a passion for creating beauty, and a deep desire to bring people joy during life’s most meaningful moments.
It all started with a simple birthday party I helped plan for a close friend. We didn’t have a big budget, but I was determined to make the space feel magical. I took on the decorations myself, balloons, florals, table setups and by the end of the night, guests couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful everything looked. That night, I felt something click. There was joy in seeing others light up, pride in what I created, and a sense of purpose I hadn’t felt before.
At the time, I was already working in the health field, helping individuals with mental health challenges, which I still deeply care about. But I realized that designing events gave me an emotional release, a space to express myself creatively and bring comfort and celebration to others in a different way. It wasn’t just about parties; it was about making people feel seen, special, and celebrated.
What really pushed me to start the business was the number of people who began asking, “Who did your decor?” or “Can you help me with my baby shower?” I saw a clear demand, especially in my community, for personalized, affordable, and high-quality event design services. Many event decorators were either out of reach price-wise or lacked that personal, heartfelt touch. That’s where BalloonPlus Events LLC found its place offering not just décor, but a unique experience tailored to each client’s vision.
The name BalloonPlus was intentional because it’s not just about balloons. It’s about everything that brings an event to life. From backdrops to centerpieces, every element we design is meant to elevate a moment into a lasting memory.
What excited me most was the chance to blend artistry with celebration. I wasn’t just solving a logistics problem. I was solving an emotional one. People want to feel joy, connection, and beauty in the moments that matter most to them. And that’s exactly what we bring to the table.
Today, we’ve grown from decorating small birthdays to styling weddings, corporate events, and baby showers. Each event we touch is a reminder of why we started: to create spaces where joy can bloom.
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?
Hi! My name is Olu, and I’m the founder and creative mind behind BalloonPlus Events LLC, an event decorating and planning company based in Minnesota. I wear many hats, I’m a proud new mom, a mental health case manager, and a passionate entrepreneur with a love for creating unforgettable event experiences. My journey into the events industry was born out of love, passion, and a deep desire to celebrate life’s special moments in beautiful, meaningful ways.
How I Got Into the Industry
My first taste of event decorating came from planning a simple birthday celebration for a close friend. With little money but a lot of creativity, I pulled together balloon arrangements, florals, and a themed setup that surprised everyone. The joy on people’s faces lit a spark in me. That spark quickly became a calling. Word of mouth spread fast, and I found myself getting requests for baby showers, bridal showers, graduations, you name it. I realized that I had not just a talent but a responsibility: to help people create magical moments that leave lasting memories.
What We Do at BalloonPlus Events
BalloonPlus Events specializes in event decorating and design for all occasions, baby showers, weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, graduations, and more. We provide custom balloon garlands, elegant backdrops, centerpieces, flower walls, dessert tables, and full event styling. We also offer rentals like marquee letters, sequin walls, and props that bring any event vision to life.
But what really sets us apart is our heart. We don’t believe in cookie-cutter designs. Every event we create is personalized, intentional, and done with love. We listen to your story, your vision, your vibe and then we build something beautiful around it.
The Problems We Solve
Our clients are often busy people, parents, professionals, brides-to-be, who want a beautiful event but don’t know where to start. Some are overwhelmed by Pinterest inspiration, others have no idea how to work within a budget. We step in and take that pressure off. We handle the design details so you can focus on enjoying your moment.
We also fill a gap in our community by offering luxury-inspired design that’s still accessible. You shouldn’t have to break the bank to have a stunning event and with us, you don’t.
What Sets Us Apart
What truly sets BalloonPlus Events LLC apart is the blend of creativity, professionalism, and empathy we bring to every event. With my background in mental health, I understand the importance of feeling seen, heard, and celebrated. That insight flows into how I treat clients, each person matters, and every detail of their event matters too.
We don’t just decorate, we elevate. We turn your celebration into an experience.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m proud of how far we’ve come, from decorating friends’ parties to now running a growing brand that clients trust and love. I’m proud of the clients who come back to us year after year, and the referrals that keep us going. And I’m most proud of staying true to our values: love, creativity, and service.
What I Want You to Know About Us
If you’re looking for a decorator who truly cares about your event, your happiness, and your vision, you’ve found the right team. At BalloonPlus Events, we don’t just create beautiful spaces, we create moments you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
We’re excited to help bring your next event to life!
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
What helped me build my reputation within the event design market was a combination of consistency, excellence, authenticity, and word of mouth.
From the very beginning, I made a commitment to show up for every client no matter how big or small their event, with the same level of passion and attention to detail. I treated every event like it was my own, and that care translated into results people remembered and talked about.
Consistency was key. I made sure every setup, from a simple baby shower to a luxury wedding, reflected high standards. People began to trust that when they booked BalloonPlus Events LLC, they would receive quality service, beautiful work, and a smooth experience.
Word of mouth played a huge role. Happy clients shared their experiences with friends and family, and that personal trust built momentum. Many of my bookings came from referrals, someone saw our work at an event and wanted the same magic for their own celebration.
What also helped was being reliable and responsive, showing up early, staying late, listening carefully, and delivering what I promised (and often more). In an industry where last-minute surprises can happen, I became known as someone who stays calm under pressure and gets the job done.
Lastly, I believe what truly set me apart was my genuine love for people and celebration. Clients feel that energy. It’s not just décor, it’s a full experience, built with heart.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Building my audience on social media for BalloonPlus Events LLC didn’t happen overnight. it was a journey of trial, error, learning, and showing up consistently with content that resonated.
In the beginning, I started with just posting photos of the events I decorated. They weren’t always perfect or professionally edited, but they were real. I shared behind-the-scenes moments, time-lapse videos of setup days, and heartfelt captions about each client or event. I noticed people connected more when I told the story behind the design, not just the final look. That authenticity started attracting attention.
As I grew, I became intentional about branding, using consistent colors, fonts, hashtags, and editing styles to make my page feel cohesive. I also leaned into engagement, responding to comments, reposting stories from clients, tagging vendors, and collaborating with other small businesses in the events space. That helped expand my reach and build community.
What made the biggest difference, though, was showing up consistently, even when I felt like no one was watching. I posted highlights, shared client testimonials, promoted upcoming deals, and celebrated milestones with my followers. Over time, people began to see BalloonPlus as trustworthy, creative, and approachable.
My advice for those just starting out:
1. Start with what you have. Use your phone, your personality, and your work. Don’t wait until everything is perfect to begin.
2. Show the process. People love seeing how things are made. Behind-the-scenes content often performs even better than the final product.
3. Be consistent. Whether you post 3 times a week or once a day, just keep showing up. Consistency builds trust.
4. Engage with your audience. Respond to comments and messages, ask questions, and make your followers feel seen.
5. Use local hashtags and tag your location. That’s how people in your area will find you.
6. Collaborate. Partner with other creatives, vendors, or businesses. Shout each other out—it helps you reach new audiences.
7. Be patient and authentic. Growth takes time, and people connect more with your why than your what.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.balloonplusevents.com
- Instagram: @Balloonplusevents
- Facebook: @balloonplusevents