Brittany and Patrick of Main Street Balloons turned a $300 side hustle into a full-time balloon business—and they did it while navigating new parenthood and while also working in their healthcare careers.

In this episode, they share their inspiring journey, how they manage their roles as a couple in business, and what it really takes to grow a profitable balloon company without burning out.

You’ll learn:

• Why they finally stopped talking themselves out of starting

• How they’ve grown the business with zero debt

• The way they divide work between admin and installs

• How social media (and a little Disney magic) fuels their brand

• What they did to prepare for maternity leave

• Why working in healthcare actually helps them run a balloon business

This candid conversation is full of insight, humor, and practical advice—especially for balloon artists who are trying to grow while balancing family life.

In the UGlu Hotline, hear what one listener wishes he had implemented earlier in his business.

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@mainstreetballoons

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In this episode, I chat with Blenda, the powerhouse behind Balloon Construction Company that's scaled to multiple employees, multiple buildings, and massive goals — all without burning out.

Blenda shares how she transitioned from inflating balloons herself to leading a full team — while keeping the creative vision and client experience intact. Whether you're just starting out or already booked every weekend, this episode breaks down the exact roles you’ll need to hire (and in what order) to finally step out of the day-to-day.

You’ll Learn:

• The first role Blenda hired — and why she went full-time after her employee did

• How to structure a sales team that sells without you

• The system her production manager uses to run events like clockwork

• Creative strategies for scheduling installations and strike teams

• How Blenda keeps her team motivated (and insured — hello, dental!)

• Why she believes entrepreneurs should hire earlier — and better
  
  

If you’re ready to run your balloon business like a business — not a side hustle — this episode is for you.

In the UGlu Hotline, hear one listener's tip for helium negotiation.

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@balloonconstruction

iheartballoons.com

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What does it really take to work with celebrities, luxury brands, and global companies as a balloon professional? It’s not just about the balloons.

In this episode, I sit down with Sean Edwards — “The Balloon Guy” of Los Angeles — to uncover the customer service secrets and creative mindset that have helped him land jobs with Porsche, Soho House, Hollywood premieres, and more.

You’ll hear:

• The role of communication and flexibility in winning high-end clients

• How Sean turned small-town balloon twisting into a big-city balloon decor business

• Lessons learned from installs gone wrong (and how to fix them on the fly)

• Why great customer service is your most powerful marketing tool
  
  

Whether you’re looking to break into luxury events or simply serve your clients better, Sean’s story will inspire you to raise the bar in your own business.

In the UGlu Hotline, hear a tip about branding and labeling your rental items for piece of mind.

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Presenting sponsor: 17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

@balloonguyla

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This interview with Carolina is jam-packed with not just corporate sales strategies, but also actionable tips and resources for how you can up your corporate sales game. Carolina has it mastered… so much so that she no longer takes private / social parties and only works with corporate!

I was so motivated to seek out more corporate relationships after this conversation and I think you’ll feel the same way. We covered:

• Niching down and the “risk”
• How to get started and let it be messy
• Carolina’s secret sauce
• Conquering self-limiting beliefs
• Job titles and industries to look for
• What types of decor her corporate clients are choosing

Then Carolina shared her exciting new offer to help us get more corporate - and even government - jobs. Don’t miss her mindset tip at the end and how she helped me find a positive affirmation for myself!

In the UGlu Hotline, hear why black sand bags are the preferred choice for one of our listeners.

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Balloon Element

thecorporatecashflow.com

Ep. 302 - Business credit | Sheila of The Balloon Squad

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In this episode I’m chatting with Natalie of Illiano Events and she’s dishing out tons of ideas and advice for us to network in a way that feels organic and natural. Networking is not something that comes natural to me so I was so happy to have her on and hear her ideas.

Natalie shares the specific ways this approach has grown her business, the time commitment involved and so much more. She offers great advice for working your way up to commitments like the Chamber of Commerce, for example, as well as conversation starters that help you and your business get involved.

I was sure to ask about donations, and when or if there’s ever a conflict of interest through participating in these groups, and Natalie shared helpful pointers on those things as well.

We go on to cover ways that you can utilize your own personal network, or even start your own group, too! Huge thanks to Natalie for sharing so many tips that make networking (now also known as friend-making) feel so much more approachable!

In the UGlu Hotline, hear a tip that Dante of Dream Factory Balloons shared at Balloon Boss Summit 2024 that made a big difference for me in my huge Balloon Adventure installation.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Presenting sponsor: 17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

@illianoevents

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In our final interview recorded live at The Tuftex Experience, I’m chatting with Michelle and Sean of Lush Balloons about growth, efficiency and taking care of clients.

We kick off by talking about the efficiencies they’ve incorporated into their business in order to reduce their number of staff and get higher profit margins… inflation and production, material organization, limiting offers and more. Then I always have to ask how people are able to come to conferences while their business stays home, and Sean and Michelle share how they’ve trained their employees to handle production and deliveries while they’re away.

They also share some nuggets about the class they taught at Tuftex - Cracking the Corporate Code; and we chat about how you just never know whether a small birthday bouquet could turn into a huge corporate referral.

It was really neat to hear their story about market timing, standout designs, social media presence and client appreciation - thanks to them both!

In the UGlu Hotline, hear a tip for using White-Out on your marquee letters.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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@lushballoons

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Get ready for some positive, infectious energy from this episode’s guest, Patricia of StickUp Artistry and Design! I had the opportunity to sit down with her live at the Tuftex Experience and she’s sharing how she believes adding some deco-twisted elements in your decor can really impress your clients and make you stand out in a crowded market.

She walks us through her decision-making process for incorporating deco-twisting into her offers and shares how there’s room for everyone’s style and preferences in the industry. She’s also a big proponent of being willing to try anything because you just never know when you’re going to need to use a particular skill or method. Lastly, Patricia shares her thoughts on how and why it’s important to avoid burnout and practice community over competition.

In the UGlu Hotline, I’m sharing my little “insurance policy” tip about leaving some extra supplies behind.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Presenting sponsor: 17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

@stickupartistryanddesign

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

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In this interview recorded live at the Tuftex Experience, I get to hear from Meg some of the really cool behind the scenes info about their products, the event and more. I always love how transparent Tuftex is and this interview is no different!

Meg actually ran a balloon decor business of her own at one point, and you’ll hear why her other background experiences make her the right fit for her role at Tuftex. Then we chat a little bit about:

• Their Canadian factory
• How they evaluate the Tuftex Experience
• What it’s been liking getting into the twisting side of balloons
• And how some balloon color names are literally part of the family!

It was really fun to hear how they plan the event and how it’s already evolved and changed in its second edition.

In the UGlu Hotline, I’m sharing my foil storage system that works with my organizational type.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Presenting sponsor: 17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Save $50 on FLOAT 2026 registration with code SARA

Stay Booked

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

DM @thebrightballoon on Instagram to ask a question or leave advice for the UGlu Hotline!

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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On the Bright Side (Apple) On the Bright Side (Patreon)

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@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube