We were lucky to catch up with Sierra & Angel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sierra & Angel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?
During a recent job, we were prepping and realized a tool we’ve used on every job was suddenly missing essential parts. This realization occurred one day before the event with just enough time to meet the overnight shipping deadline. The arch arrived on time and the client never knew how panicked we briefly were. We quickly learned that crazy things happen no matter how much you prepare, and you must adapt. No matter the outcome, you are able to get better and refine processes.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Through our involvement in 4-H we developed a passion for creativity and DIY projects. 4-H coupled with our many family celebrations full of love helped us hone our passion for creativity within balloon design. In 2021, we decided to stop paying others for things we enjoyed doing, and that is when The Balloon Experience NC was born.
It began with various basic concrete tasks such as researching balloon terminology, perfecting our new craft, creating inventory lists, developing logos and establishing a social media presence. Once we got serious, it was a surreal moment because we have been manifesting starting a business together and we were finally making it happen.
As business owners we are most proud of being able to create, celebrate, and share in the joy of some of the most memorable moments in our client’s lives. We recently did birthday décor for our dear aunt who is battling cancer. It’s been our most memorable moment having the opportunity to utilize the talents, she’s seen in us for so long, to celebrate her. Our aunt regularly tells us how proud she is that we took a leap and started our balloon business, so being able to create a backdrop, columns, arches, and centerpieces for her was an amazing feeling. Creating for our family, aunt, and other families across RDU is what makes us the proudest. We will continue to remember our motivation in this business and create the best balloon experiences for many to come!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
We believe our humble spirit and hospitable personalities helped us maintain our respected growth in the market. We genuinely care about each client’s special event and enjoy collaborating to figure out ways to make the clients event pop. We pride ourselves on our customer service skills and our ability to make the balloon process as simple and stress free for the client.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Initially, our source of clients came through referrals. We told family and friends to spread the word and that’s just what they did! Having a positive support system was integral in our ability to maintain and grow the business. We were never asked for friend/family discounts and on occasion received more than expected. My cousin told her friend we were balloon stylist and she immediately booked us to decorate her brother’s birthday party. We made 2 columns and a banner for her; our prices starting out were much lower. When sending her payment, she sent the balance plus double with an encouraging note; Angel and I couldn’t believe it! We took that money and reinvested it into the business for supplies. This support gave us the motivation we needed and pushed us to start networking and marketing to event spaces. I googled spaces and created an introductory email pitch and sent it to 20 spaces in the RDU area. Out of that 20, 3 spaces responded and allowed us placement on their vendor list. The C3 Event Center in Raleigh, NC, took a chance on us and offered a spot to showcase ourselves at their monthly networking event. This event went very well, and C3’s manager sent us our first booking via our event space collaborations. Can you say WIN!
Contact Info:
- Website: theballoonexperiencenc.com
- Instagram: @theballoonexperience_nc
Image Credits
Photos: Sunny Barnes Photography Instagram: @sunnybarnes