From: LPBuyer@aol.com
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 23:47:23 EDT
Subject: possible closing
To: balloondeco@balloonhq.com

Hi Everybody...

    I need your advice.... I'm considering closing down my retail balloons & 
Gift Basket shop after 1.5 yrs of business (store front) to get a full time 
job and do the balloons just part time out of my home...  has anyone 
experienced this?  

    Usually you all start as a home based business and venture into a store 
front...  I did the opposite... I just jumped into the fire  and now I feel I 
should retreat a bit and return to the workforce to help pay the bills here 
at home.  I enjoy doing balloons and I am the only balloon decorator in my 
small area.  However  business is not booming as we are not a big city as the 
majority of you guys....  I miss doing secretarial work and knowing I am 
contributing to the household financially... so far my balloon business has 
not done this... every penny earned has been put right back into the store.  
Frustration of a new business trying to get it off the ground I know takes 
time... however It is getting to me.  I feel like it is just a hobby at this 
point in time.  I cannot continue to wait for the money to start rolling in, 
and wondering if it EVER will.   I have been reluctant to purchase too many 
items in the past few months due to the idea of closing being in the back of 
my mind.  The less I buy now the less I will have to sell if I choose to do 
this.
    I feel I need to return to the workforce.  So if any of you have gone 
from a store front to a homebased operations, I would appreciate any feedback 
as to how you did this... how well has it worked out for you?  Or should I 
just close altogether?  Did it really save you any cost?  etc...  Any 
suggestions, opinions or comments would be greatly received.  Feel free to 
email me privately if you wish.

Many thanks
Lorrie Perry
Up Up & Away
(Balloons & Gift Baskets in R.I.)
email:  LPBuyer@aol.com