From: Skistz@aol.com
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 05:41:27 -0400 (EDT)
To: balloondeco@fooledya.com
Subject: Re: Michael Wolfe's comments

There is no doubt that competition is good for any industry!
Case in point, we can  all thank the  quality standards set by the imported
auto manufactures for  making  it possible for us to be proud we drive a
Pontiac, Ford, Chevy , or Cadillac etc. today.  
An important thing to remember however is the role the U.S. automakers had
played  in developing the  market for the automobile since the first
Horseless Carriage.  The U.S. established  a worldwide market  before any  of
the  competition decided  to compete here.
Pat and I are relatively new in the balloon industry, going on six years.
  What directed us towards the business was IBAC in 1990.  The inspiration
was electric!
After getting our feet wet we found a lot of established competition in our
market and it was  fierce!  In order to compete we recognized , as I am sure
many of you have, that we needed to offer something more.  Service, quality,
and creativity became our mission but we needed education and were do you go
to get that.
In short, there was very little education outside of working for nothing 
with other balloon people ,  a lot of trial and error , IBAC once a year and
at the time, NABA.
The only continuing source for education were publications from Pioneer and a
commercially published Balloons and Parties Today. 
Pioneer invested heavily through education, quality , and sponsorship  in
many ways, (including IBAC), to build the industry to what it was then.  They
are the ONLY manufacture , to my knowledge, to consistently continue there
 major support for  the industry to date.  I believe this is referred to as
Leadership!
Pioneer has not only exhibited the same leadership qualities of the U.S.
automakers but have also set and maintained the highest standards in the
industry for their product.  This has been witnessed by many of us, but has
been benefiting all of us that have made this business our livelihood.
Now that competition has recognized the value in this market and is wanting a
bigger share...see if they are hitching a ride or are  willing to invest as
heavily in us as Pioneer has ...and continues to do.  

Lets keep things in perspective.

Respectfully,
Jim Skistimas

PS- when was the last time you paid for an IMAGES