From: "Michael Wolfe" To: LifeOTheParty@msn.com, balloondeco@fooledya.com Subject: Re: Michael Wolfe's comments Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 10:23:17 PDT Mark, Thanks for the encouraging words. I respect your thoughts and inspiration to this industry. We do have choices, yes, just as we have choices in all other aspects of our lives. Unfortunately there are still those that choose to remain loyal to a company that used to be top dog. Perhaps they think they will regain their strengths again, but I think it's too late. Remember what we were told many times during our careers: do a great job and your customer will tell a few people, do a lousy job (or in this case, sell an inferior product and do nothing about it) and they tell many. BTW: did a zoo party last weekend and the animal prints were the biggest hit. I booked two other parties from the zoo. We were invited by the zoo to attend the event and we all ran out of business cards. Love when that happens. Mike Wolfe PartyTrends Date: Sun, 20 Jul 97 05:20:11 UT From: "Mark Zettler" To: balloondeco@fooledya.com Cc: partytrends@hotmail.com Subject: Michael Wolfe's comments From: "Michael Wolfe" To: Eswingler@aol.com, balloondeco@fooledya.com Subject: Re: Pioneer's address Bravo Michael!! Delighted to read people like yourself are getting the message... you do have a choice when it comes to balloons!! There isn't just one game in town, but many. BSA is an excellent product we have been using on a retail level for a number of years and we now wholesale their product, as well. They have beautiful colors(almost 50), excellent quality control, great pricing and a responsive staff when it comes to any questions or problems. Check out their new line of animal prints in 5", 11" & 36", too. They call them "Wild-Side" prints that come in four styles and, yes fans, they originated these designs before anyone else! We still use Pioneer for a few different colors, agates, Geo's, etc. and generally find their product to be very good (especially Images magazine, maybe more so than their product). However, we have seen firsthand the problems of quality ("poppage", etc.) rearing it's ugly head with Pioneer product as of late, like several others have alluded to on-line. The tension between certain manufactures, inventors, designers and more is growing here on-line, at conventions, seminars, QBN meetings and now (unfortunately) in the courts. Maybe it is time for all concerned to take a deep breath, count to 10 (or maybe blow up a balloon with the breath they're holding), look at the balloon they have just blown up and say... "ya' know...this is a pretty darn good business because of the caring and sharing of individuals with new products, techniques, designs and the like." Let's work together to insure we do not loose sight of what made our business an industry - working together!! That togetherness includes manufactures, suppliers, retailers, designers, teachers...everybody!! Here's a bit of proof. If you ever have the pleasure of attending a balloon convention, be it IBAC, Jubilee (NABA), Flowers, or others, it is really quite easy to see what makes our profession unique (and makes it work). After the classes, parties, competitions and/or trade shows are over do what I have done - look and listen to the people who have worked for you at the hotel, convention center or wherever. Their comments will almost always be, they have never seen a group have so much fun and share so much information with each other even though they are competitors. Now that means we have learned, we have grown, we've had fun and we have succeeded all because we have cared enough to share enough with others in this industry. We are not where we are today because of a little sac of latex and who has the rights to what and who's is better and only use this and you can't do that. Where are where we are today because of what we ourselves have learned to do with that little sac of latex and what we learned from others who have tried to use it differently and let us try it their way, too. Man did I ever get off on a tangent - sorry to all but I couldn't resist. My apologies if I've said too much! Mark Zettler Life O' The Party Hackensack, NJ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com