From: INSPIREWKS@aol.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 13:51:40 EDT
Subject: Re: Do you blow up???
To: dyrw@jvlnet.com, balloondeco@balloonhq.com



<< I was wondering how you all handle customers coming into your store and
 asking you to blow up their balloons, latex and foils.  Also do you sell
 them uninflated balloons, say a couple from your stock?  >>


Hello Theresa,

I feel if you have a store you are there to serve your customer, if you turn 
them away they may not come back, without the customer you have nothing.
  I would inspect my customers balloons and inform them what quality they 
have brought to me.....some were high quality and I had no problem with 
that....others were those .99 cent packages and I informed them what to 
expect.  Since the package balloons popped often, I charged for the helium if 
the balloon popped after it was totally inflated (only if several popped).  I 
also offered an alternative.....buy a replacement balloon and no charge for 
the popped ones.  

I rented helium tanks with all the fix'ns for those "do it your self'ers".
The package consisted of:

Tank & Regulator
Balloons
6' cut ribbon pieces
Clips (some people do not like to tie the balloons and I demonstrated how to 
use the 
         clips, plus extra money for me)

Before my customer left the store they knew the responsiblity of using a 
helium tank and signed a contract acknowledging the fact.

 In my area we have a lot of crafters.  I always offered my services, they 
knew I was available.  There were many that said they wished they hired me 
instead of trying to do it themselves......I tried to tell them 
:o)...........so next time I did their event.  Of course you always have the 
people that need you all the time....thank God.

If a customer wants to hang 50 balloons from their ceilings at home and they 
are on a budget, it is cheaper for them to rent the tank .....they were still 
MY CUSTOMER and came back when they needed balloons "to my store".  I would 
prefer them coming to me then going to the grocery store.  Everytime they 
walked into my store, they would look around while I was inflating their 
balloons.  I carried gift items for all occasions, gift baskets, favors for 
the kids parties, etc. etc.....lots, of times I sold them the "extras" for 
their parties.  

Lynn
INSPIREWORKS
http://www.Inspireworksdeco.com
We Will Inspire You