Showing posts with label Balloon Trends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Balloon Trends. Show all posts

Friday, February 18, 2022

Predicting Ballooning and Event Trends of 2022

To be honest, 2021 did not really turn out to be the year that we had all hoped for, or the one that we had anticipated that it would be. So, will 2022 finally be the year that we are all waiting for?

In preparation for life and business to resume to normal, I thought that it might be a good idea to look at the possible ballooning trends for this year! Let's face it, everyone is ready to party and celebrate anything and everything!

Bigger, Bolder, Better are the three words that I keep reading when looking at party trends for 2022.

Over the past two years, parties and celebrations have been limited to gathering in small groups, with reduced guest lists. This year will hopefully play host to bigger celebrations than ever before, and it will be all about making a big impact! 

Be bold with colour! Predictions show that party planners will be looking to inject feelings of optimism, empowerment and joy into their events through vibrant pinks, purples, oranges and blues, and as we know, a great deal of colour can be introduced into an event using balloons.

Big, Bold and Beautiful, 3rd Birthday Decor by Chris Adamo, CBA of Balloon Crew, Sydney, Australia
Big, Bold and Beautiful, 3rd Birthday Decor by Chris Adamo, CBA of Balloon Crew, Sydney, Australia


Outdoor Space and Tent Events

While some say bigger parties will resume, others are still erring on the side of caution. Outdoor and open marquees, tents and teepees will remain popular for many. Garden and outdoor space transformations are definitely a growing trend! 


Photograph Credit Northstar Balloons

Had we not been in lockdown two years ago, I am not really sure that I would have decorated our garden for our Granddaughter's birthday celebrations! It was so much fun to make her something special! 

Number 5 Frame by www.suebowler.com
Number 5 Frame by Sue Bowler

Decorating outdoor space offers many options, and being a balloon company shouldn't limit you to only offering balloons as decor!
  • Decorate trees and bushes with bright ribbons and balloon garlands! 
  • Lighting is key. To make sure the garden party continues seamlessly into the evening, prepare with plenty of outdoor lighting. Mix and match different types, from tea lights to lanterns for a pretty and luminous effect. Hanging lights around the garden will transform the outdoor space once the sunsets.
  • Make the outdoor spaces feel as comfortable as being indoors. Lay rugs and throws on the ground and use layered cloths on the tables. Make sure that the seating is super comfy, with lots of cushions! 

Light Up Numbers and Letters

Something that I have seen being used more frequently over the past few years are light up numbers and letters. These give balloon companies an opportunity to create fabulous decor incorporating the large characters and numbers as a focal point within the decor. Claire Jackson created this stunning entrance décor.



Claire Jackson of Airmagination Balloon Company  in Farnham, England.
Fabulous entrance decor by Claire Jackson of Airmagination Balloon Company 
in Farnham, England.



Claire Jackson of Airmagination Balloon Company  in Farnham, England.
Number 50 decor by Claire Jackson of Airmagination Balloon Company 
in Farnham, England.


Decor by Chris Adamo and his Balloon Crew Team.
"We just loved how our organic balloon installation framed these #pride letters."

Neon Signs

Here’s a bright idea; light up the party with a neon sign. These are perfect for balloon backdrops and other decorative areas. A sign can be customised or go with an evergreen message (i.e. "Oh Baby!" for a baby shower). The options and price ranges are endless.


Designer name: Instagram User @balloonilicious
www.balloon-ilicious.co.uk


Balloon Mosaics© and Balloon Frames

Mosaic frames can be made or bought as a kit and easily assembled. They can be filled with both latex and or Microfoil balloons to suit many different occasions! I really love this Christmas 'JOY' design by Nikoloon! I love that each letter uses a different style and technique.



If you would like to learn more about Balloon Mosaics check out  https://theverybestballoonblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/balloon-mosaic-frames-another.html

Over-the-Top Backdrops

How fabulous is this backdrop by the extremely creative Hello Pretty Events? To find out more about this stunning 1st birthday installation, check out this article in "Inspired by Us" https://www.inspiredbythis.com/grow/meaningful-moana-themed-first-birthday/

Davina's Boho Moana- By HPE Studio
Davina's Boho Moana- By HPE Studio - Hello Pretty Events.


And speaking of themed parties, here is another fabulous example of a Moana Party by Cheeky Gorgeous Events and Kez's Face Paint in Wolverhampton, UK.


Cheeky Gorgeous Events and Kez's Face Paint in Wolverhampton, UK.
Design by Cheeky Gorgeous Events and Kez's Face Paint in Wolverhampton, UK.

Theme parties for children will never go out of fashion. Some of the top trending themes for 2022 are Under Water, Beach, the Woods, Forest or Garden, Safari or Zoo, Ranch, Farm or Barnyard, Carnival or Circus, Castle, and Space.

Here are a few more event trends that you may expect to see:

Pantone colour of the year - Very Peri

Inspired by the 2022 Pantone color of the year, this “Very Peri” color palette incorporates frosty Chrome hues and SuperAgate textures to bring the new multidimensional colour to life.



Blast from the Past

Throwback parties are always a hit!! One of the most popular usually is 80's theme! I was asked to create disco theme decor for a corporate event a few years ago - everyone loves a disco right?

Disco Decor by www.suebowler.com
Decor by Sue Bowler, CBA


Disco Decor by www.suebowler.com
Disco Decor by www.suebowler.com

And finally, a few less common themes that we may see;
  • Break up or Divorce Party - celebrating the next chapter!
  • 'Galentines' Day - Galentine’s Day is a magical holiday where your romantic relationship status is irrelevant. All that matters is spending time with your lady friends who simply make life better.

And finally, it looks like many balloon and event companies are now venturing into the world of prop hire! This includes the use of frames, light up numbers, easels, teepee's, and gazebos to name just a few. These add-on props are good for generating additional sales, and are environmentally friendly as they are re-usable and can really help to 'set the scene' at an event! 

If you know of any new trends that I have missed, I would love to hear from you! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue
Follow me @suebowler






Saturday, December 30, 2017

What Was Your Top Ballooning Trend In 2017?

As I write this, there will be many of you who will be working hard on your New Year's Eve events. The months of meticulous planning and preparation ensure that each job gets done and goes according to plan! I wonder how many of you get that sickly feeling in the pit of your stomach that does not go away until the last balloon drop has been released and you can go to bed feeling like you have done a great job! I wish all of you that are working on New Year's Eve decor every success!


Organic Decor by Georgia Petrou of Boutique Balloons, Melbourne.
Balloons by Georgia Petrou
of Boutique Balloons Melbourne, Australia



Well, this is it — the end of another exciting and very busy ballooning year! Organic style decor appears to be one of the greatest hits of 2017, with many fabulous examples of stunning decor created in this random and unique way!
Qualatex® SuperAgate® — marble effect balloons — are also on-trend and will continue to be very popular in 2018, too! The use of greenery with balloons also proved popular, and again, this is a trend that will continue.






Confetti Christmas Tree by Chris Adamo - Balloons Online, Australia
Design by Chris Adamo, CBA,
of Balloons Online, Sydney, Australia







What could be more spectacular than Chris Adamo's fabulous gold confetti Christmas tree! Confetti-filled balloons are certainly a big hit with customers, and this tree was simply F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! I think we might see more of this type of work in 2018! I know that decor with "gold" accent details will certainly be popular in 2018! 














I know a little bit about confetti balloons, too! We recently made more than one hundred 3' confetti balloons for a Christmas party. They looked absolutely stunning! 


Silver Confetti Balloons by Sue Bowler, CBA.
Silver confetti balloons by Sue Bowler, CBA and her awesome team!
Photo by Nicci Rene.


Another big trend for 2017 was the highly fashionable unicorn. This lovey balloon sculpture was made by Michele Russo of Connecticut Balloon Creations.



Tania Torre, CBA, of Balloon Express Shop in Terme Vigliatore, Italy, creates a beautiful design, working with the "Magical Unicorn" Microfoil®, Crescent Moons, Stars, and a rainbow.





How effective is this
simple unicorn design! Working with an 11" Fashion SuperAgate balloon and accent details.







Rumour has it that mermaids will be the new unicorn for 2018! It appears that we have all become a little obsessed with mythical creatures and I love it! 

Balloon walls have taken a little twist in 2017— out goes the precision and in comes the random sizing! However, to do this well, you still have to consider the elements and principles of design. I love this design by Avital Shechter, CBA, of Balonir, Israel. 


Balloon Wall by Avital Shechter.



I loved designing this round balloon wall for the Qualatex 100th Anniversary celebrations. It was inspired by a design that Luc Bertrand, CBA, made earlier in the year for the Qualatex Booth at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. A huge thank you to Luc for sharing his creativity and another one of his fabulous designs.











We had some amazing contributors to the Very Best Balloon Blog in 2017. Chris Adamo shared his superb Design and Calculator Tool with the ballooning community. If you have not tried it out yet make sure that you do. It's awesome! He also showed us how to make a Bubble Balloon Stuffing Tool, tool! Kerry Ferguson, CBA, of Pioneer Europe Ltd. demonstrated how to make fabulous balloon tassels using poly ribbon and transformed an everyday product into something exciting and new! 
There were so many fabulous balloon artists from around the world who took the time to help me with many of this year's blogs, so a huge thank you to all of you!

So what will 2018 bring us? Well, if I knew, I would be a very clever and potentially wealthy person. However, I do know that Qualatex will announce an amazing new product very soon and I can tell you that I am very excited, and I know that you will love it! 



Later next year in the U.K., we are expecting the arrival of a new Royal baby. I wonder if Avital has got it right with her stunning "Royal Baby Boy" design?


"Royal Baby Boy"
by Avital Shechter.


I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2018! Maybe this is the perfect time to make some positive resolutions that will help your business to flourish and grow. It could be something as simple as reviewing your social media activities — and don't forget to measure the effectiveness of your efforts, too! 

I hope that some of you will be joining us at the World Balloon Convention, in San Diego in March. We would truly love to see you there! 

And finally, if you have any ideas or suggestions for future blogs, please do not hesitate to contact me and let me know - Suebowlercba@gmail.com

Happy New Year & Happy Ballooning!

Sue x
www.suebowler.com



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