Enterprise Nation

Little did Julie Hayward know that a Valentine’s gift for her husband would end in a business of her own. Julie is the founder of two businesses; one of which is called Balloon Baboon and it’s a business that, though only young, is already flying high. 

Tweet tip-off 

We spotted from Julie’s tweet that she had given up a part time job to focus full time on her business. We asked if she might tell us a little more about her fun and balloon filled world.

How long has Balloon Baboon be going?

Since February of this year, although I also own a wedding business and for some years I’ve offered balloon venue decoration as part of that business.

Why the name?

I was putting together a helium balloon in a box for my Husband a couple of days before Valentines and a friend of mine suggested decorating the outside of the box with balloons and showed me how to make a flower. I then spent the next couple of days figuring out how to do all sorts of balloon twisting. The thing I wanted to master more than anything was a monkey as my husband loves them so a monkey was one of the first things I made and fell in love with.

Everyone who saw what I had made to decorate the box was far more impressed with that than the helium that came inside it and that is when the idea really started. Laying in bed a couple of nights later thinking of names Hubby suggested Balloon Baboon which we did at first discount as just a funny name but after testing it along with other more sensible names that I can’t even remember now most people thought that Balloon Baboon should be the one we went for. With it being the balloon character that started it all off it seemed destined to be.

How did your interest in balloons begin?

I used to work with balloons years ago and saw an Adult Education class advertised to start in Jan 09 so thought I would do a refresher course as a way of getting some ‘me’ time but by doing something that I could justify rather than a course that was a pure indulgence. Then we got to Valentines and the boxed balloon and the rest of the story is above. Typical wedding and delivery balloons seem quite mundane until you start to think out of the box. I also realized that for the cost of a single balloon in the box delivery you could actually sell something far more unique

Who runs the business (do you have family who help you out?)

It is a joint venture with my Hubby – without him I would never have been making that box in the first place.

Do you have dedicated space in the house where you make the balloons?

Because I can work anywhere I have been known to work in front of the TV, in the garden if it is sunny or in our loft which is a haven of tranquility. The beauty of twisting is that I can do it wherever I want to.

What is your most popular selling item?

Our bouquets are very popular but by far the most popular character is our Duckie. (See all styles in the shop) 

What is the most unusual thing you have ever created out of a balloon?

I am currently working on a bee and beehive for a client and have been asked to look at a storm trooper helmet but haven’t tackled that one yet!  I have also started stuffing items into balloons as a surprise for the recipient. The oddest thing I have been asked to do so far is put the wrapper of a mint aero in one and I got to eat the chocolate – no idea what the significance was but enjoyed the chocolate.

Now that you’re full time in the business, what are your plans for 2009?

We are targeting 3 groups of customers during the year – individuals for personal deliveries, florists and other companies who already sell balloons but would consider our characters as an addition and corporate companies looking for a unique marketing tool.

I would love to be in a position to replace my husband’s wages so that he could work with me full time and give up the London Commute every day. I know that it is unlikely to be possible by the end of the year but it would be fantastic to see that one day it will be possible. To do that I know we would need to employ more twisters so it would be great to be working with one or two on a freelance basis by the end of 2009. With only 7.5 months to do that in it will mean a lot of work but with such a unique product I think we can be well on the way.

Julie Hayward talks to Emma Jones

• Balloon Baboon