Moi and Jme, the founders of Balloon & Paper, chatted about the company. They spoke about running a party supply and company in the digital age.
How did Balloon and Paper come about?
Me and my husband, who is also my business partner, were barely making ends meet and I was looking for something more than my minimum wage retail job. One day I was flipping through a magazine and saw a woman holding beautiful giant balloons.
Feeling inspired, I did a lot of research on balloons and the rest was history. There was so much potential to create something fun and different with party décor. I wanted to come up with a simple business name that catered to all tangible party designs, so that is how Balloon and Paper was born.
Briefly tell us what makes Balloon and Paper unique.
What makes Balloon & Paper unique is our creative balloon designs. We like to look at our installations as art more than just party décor. So when we create it in our minds, our vision is that the balloons are the main pieces, so they have to stand out and create a vibe for the event.
How does it feel to run a party supply and company in the digital age? (now with technology being so prevalent)
There has never been a better time. With technology being so prevalent, 90% of our clients find us through social media. It’s a huge boost to showcase our displays and is such an advantage to have so many eyes admiring our work. The technology we have today allows small businesses the opportunity to compete with larger businesses.
How do you use technology in your daily routines?
We use technology for our business regularly. We take photos and videos from our phones daily and send out quotes to clients. We use social media to find potential clients and we book them by communicating through emails, calls, and text. We try to make it easy for our clientele by offering different forms of communication that best suits their needs and convenience.
What Is your advice for young and aspiring entrepreneurs?
My advice is to research the business you want to start and make sure you are passionate about it. There will be highs and lows, and when you come across those lows and don’t have the passion for what you created, it will be easier to give up.
All this does is restart the process for something great to come along. Running a business isn’t easy and it won’t be perfect, but having an open mind and open heart will help perfect the flaws you didn’t know were there.
You give back to such organizations as InclusionMatters, LAFoodBank, and Stronghold Rescue & Relief, why are these causes so important to you?
We enjoy giving back because we feel that it’s important to help your community. We donate to specific organizations if we stand behind their messages. The three that I want to talk about have a special place in our hearts.
The first is Inclusion Matters. They create playgrounds for children with disabilities and also classrooms where children with and without disabilities learn to see beyond their differences. The second is the LA Food Bank. They helped my family when we were younger and couldn’t afford to buy food.
My mom would go to the food bank and in addition to food, they provided a box of basic necessities that my family and I desperately needed. The third organization that’s important to us is the Stronghold Rescue & Relief. They send small teams of veterans to help care for and protect people in other countries conflict zones.
What does the word success mean to you?
Success to us means having financial freedom and the ability to help others. We’ve learned throughout the years what works for us and what doesn’t work for us. When people ask for advice, we try our best to help guide them and invest in their dream.
What would you like to tell our readers about Balloon and Paper? What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it?
Balloon and Paper’s success wasn’t and still isn’t easy. We did not become a successful business overnight, it took many years of hard work to get to where we are. Moi and I plan on eventually launching a program that will help people reach the path of success without the hardships that we had to endure.
To learn more about Balloon and Paper, follow them on Instagram.
