Subject: Re: Balloon Vehicle Info Needed!
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 20:11:03 EDT
From: HeliumWorks@aol.com

Last year we were in the search for a new vehicle and went extreme.

We already had an Olds Silhouette and it works great as delivery van and 
family van.  The other was a Saturn...baaad for balloon business!  Can't fit 
anything in that little sports car!

So we traded the Saturn and got a 12 foot box van (cube truck). The front is 
a van that has the top cut off and extended up to match the box in the back.  
Between the cab and box is a full door about 5 1/2 that I can open and go 
directly in the the back.  The doors in the back open as two doors instead of 
rolling upwards.
Advantages:
1.  BEST investment we have made in our business.  At the end of a party or 
event..how nice it is to throw everything in the back and clean up later.
2.  Clean up is also a breeze...throw all balloons in the back, pop them all 
and then they are contained to sweep up and throw out.  
3.  Many times we have actually started working out of the back of the truck 
when we aren't able to get in somewhere when we were told we could.  We can 
stand up fully in the back..no hunching over.
4.  Another advantage...storage unit.  We can store many things in this and 
still have room for tons of other stuff.  Easily leave an 8 foot ladder in 
there, a 240 tank, and still have room for 300+ balloons, Rubbermaid containers of 
lights, extension cords, tulle and silks.
5.  The structure to it is metal...magnets are stored up there and I can hang 
things like bows, air filled decor and fabrics.
6.  HUGE sides for driving billboard.  We are changing our name 2004 and 
going into store front...what a GREAT way to get the word out!  As it stands 
now..I get people tell me they see the Helium Works van all over the place...and 
that's not nearly the size of this thing!  It's a blank canvas now...will be 
cool when we are done!
7.  Air filled preprep and away we go!  What can I fit back there?   Many 
weddings at once!! And I mean blown up READY to go!  Balloons on the poles, 
connected to the bases and ready to be set up, touched up and I'm done!  Hearts 
done on frames ready to go.  
Less time on the site!  

Disadvantages..
1)  Only 2 people can ride comfortably.  There is room in the front to add a 
little chair to sit in, but no seat belt.  At times, me, my son and husband 
will need to go some where and I end up sitting in the middle.  Not bad for 
short rides...wouldn't think of it for long!
2)  Hard ride for long ways.  Even though the truck is an 02, it still rides 
like a "box truck".  Bouncy Bouncy!
3)  Gas...ugh!  It's not anything to fill up for $45.00-$55.00 a fill up.

All in all....it's awesome to have and I wouldn't trade it for the world!
Best compliment I got...hopping out to fill it up at a gas station and having 
a man next to me say "That's an awful lot of truck for a small gal!"  :) 

When we got this a year ago, I set a goal that my business would pay for it.  
Payment, insurance, gas, maintence...everything...and it's done just that.    
If I never set that goal, I think we probably would still have the Saturn and 
me running back and forth from my house with the van.
But I feel it's done that because of what I can do with it.  For me, getting 
another van and then having to either run home to pick up more air filled 
decor or having to air blow everything on site...has wasted time for me.  And 
always in business, time is money.
I"ve saved time..and made more money.

Gayle Rood
Certified Balloon Artist
Helium Works
www.heliumworks.com
Balloons, Custom Props, Custom Candy Bar Wrappers