From: Tkinnovations@aol.com
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 13:32:07 EDT
Subject: Re: Helium balloons
To: WynnLindyB@aol.com, balloondeco@balloonhq.com

I just saw the post on vending helium balloons at fairs, and thought this a 
perfect time to mention Sparklets.  Sparklets are perfectly durable for the 
hot summer days, do NOT cunduct electricity, stay very clear and will never 
loose their shine.  They were always our best seller when we vended balloons 
at festivals in Japan, and I have heard they were amazing at a fair in 
California.  Because they look so unique and magical they can be sold at a 
faster rate with higher profits.  Becuase they float so long (up to 4 weeks), 
you can inflate them in advance and not when you are busy selling.  Because 
they are refillable, you do not have to worry about waste.  Because they 
stretch, you do not need to worry about contraction/expansion and them 
popping in the sun.  Sparklets are easy to do once you have practiced 10 or 
20 in a row.  "Doubles" are extremely quick to produce, but "Insiders" may 
bring you more profits.  Once you get used to inflating Sparklets, you should 
be able to inflate at least one per minute - of course 18" and doubles are 
much faster.  

A few suggestions for productive production would be to (#1)  have all 
materials near by;  (#2)  Always try to insert at least one 11" latex balloon 
inside to make the Sparklet look full of balloons; use smaller balloons 
sparingly to save on labor time;  (#3) precut all your ribbons (and pre-tied 
in a bunch to a heavy weight if you are outdoors);  (#4) use a flex tilt 
valve so that it is easy to control the flow of gas and the tapered tip 
allows you to inflate smaller balloons too (push valve with thin extension is 
another option);  (#5)  an inflator with a ribbon cutter attached to it comes 
in handy when creating "insiders";  (#6) use a thin stick to insert latex 
balloons, especially for "Insiders" (the Premium balloon stem works great);  
(#7) use durable ribbon curling that doesn't break when you tug hard on it.  

For greater sales, we suggest making a large bunch of them for visual impact 
(stay away from sharp objects such as trees).  Use bright colors and 
beautiful printed latex balloons inside as well as special shapes such as 
350's and hearts - smiley's are always a great seller.  Make a large sign 
that tells people how long Sparklets last so they realize they aren't buying 
an ordinary balloon that pops, fades, and droops.  If you use both 18" & 22" 
Sparklets, we suggest putting a few 18"-doubles in the back.  Reserve the 18" 
for the customers on a budget and only introduce it to them after you are 
sure they aren't going to spend on a 22".  

Lastly, if you are interested in making money at fairs, I suggest attending 
the "What's New, Bruce" tour where you will get a hands-on opportunity to 
learn how to inflate and tie Sparklets correctly.  If you need more info 
before then, you can always contact us or go to our web site at 
www.tkinnovationsinc.com.  

Good luck at those summer fairs!
Emily Sugiura-Hill
TK Innovations Inc.
1-866-Tk-today
1-904-808-0678
St. Augustine, FL