Hollywood Balloons

by OO7 on 11/01/2012

So…. I get an enquiry for a Hollywood themed party. I send the client a few photos including this balloon:

The client like the balloons and places an order for 74 tables. Now I find out the balloon is unavailable and discontinued. Sometimes this bloody balloon industry drives me crazy – why do manufacturers have to change their poxy catalogues every year (because the wholesales then need to buy 50 of every new design).

I phoned around and sourced 41 balloons, my only option was to buy these at £2.95 each!

Ridiculous muppetry.

david@balloon.co.uk

There are 7 comments in this article:

  1. 11/01/2012Matt JB Lewis says:

    Hi Sakes. I hear you but what you have to understand is this. If the manufacturer did not change styles and design we would never move on in this industry. Every year I visit the spring fair at the nec. I see new designs and new trends and apply these to my work. The foils you are looking for are about 10 years old and discontinued about 4 years ago. The net is great for info but some times its not quite up todate with discontinued lines. It was also a slow selling line. Go to the spring fair in February. Speak to suppliers. See whats hot and whats not. They also have a Starbucks there so coffee on you.
    Ps. Also check stock availability before quoting

  2. 11/01/2012Alycat says:

    David, I know you’re possibly less likely to lurk around on ebay than you would be to drink value range instant coffee, but don’t dismiss ebay – the discontinued ones you want are available from at least three sellers at £1.99 – £2.15 plus around 20p p&p each. Item nbrs 310370096502, 320793421261, 300615797963. More than you expected to pay for them sure, but less than the others and gets you the ones you want.

    Those stars have a Betallic logo on them – have you checked with Oaktree who I believe are still the main UK importers for Betallic, they surely won’t be charging £2.95 each – ouch!

    Matt, I know you’re like a stick of rock – cut you in half and it would read Qualatex! – but if these were discontinued four years ago how come Qualatex have them in their 2011 catalogue?

  3. 12/01/2012OO7 says:

    Hey Guys

    Yeah – somebody else phoned me last night and mentioned they were on ebay.

    Lucky for me it’s only the top balloon of the bouquet that needed to be Hollywood…. so I only required 50 once I’d found 41 from Balancebest (including 15 extra for burstage).

    As the job is Saturday I wanted a solution so I went for the 50 @ £2.95 option.

    Thanks for the Oaktree tip.

    I’d rather drink Tesco instant coffee than do to the Spring fair.

  4. 12/01/2012Matt Lewis says:

    Yes I know you hate the Spring Fair but the Champagne Bars are good

  5. 12/01/2012Alycat says:

    Bejesus – you answered the phone??!

  6. 13/01/2012madaboutballoons says:

    I think sometimes the balloon industry dosen’t change fast enough to keep with customer demand. Problems like this are just part of running any business, but as long as it looks seemless to your customer, been profitable – it’s all good.

  7. 13/01/2012OO7 says:

    Hey Mad About Balloons

    Thanks for posting.

    Yep – somethings never change and others are gone before they started (bring back the Debonah Bear Airwalker).

    To my customer it will look seamless and alls good, I’ll make a profit and buy myself a trendy coffee. It’s just frustrating sometimes, a 2 minute job ordering a few Hollywood balloons turns into an hour phoning planet Earth – resulting in several carrier payments and paying over the odds by 400%.

    Like you say – it’s part of running a business and nobody got hurt, but it made me feel better once I’d vented my frustration here.

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