Publisher's Note

Welcome to our very first Issue of BALLOONS & Parties Online Newsletter - BALLOON-A-Zine. We are presenting this information for you to be able to make contact more often and faster with the readers of our magazine. You will find a great deal of information here with regards to the balloon industry. BALLOON-A-Zine will be coming to a computer near you six times per year along with your subscription to our magazine, BALLOONS & Parties. You can also visit our website at www.balloonsandparties.com to update your contact information and add time to your subscription.
 
We hope you find the following information informative and valuable to you and your business. Please take some time to look over this new format and let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
 
Sincerely,
Mark Zettler, Publisher
BALLOONS & Parties Magazine
201-441-4224
mark@balloonsandparties.com
www.balloonsandparties.com
 
See you at The All Star Revue November 5-8, 2005
www.allstarrevue.com
 
Proud Member - ISES
The International Special Events Society
President, NY Metro Chapter
www.isesnyc.com
www.ises.com  

Member - IBA
International Balloon Association
2nd Vice-President
www.ibaonline.net

Member NNJQBN

Calendar of Events

May 15-18
National Stationery Show, New York, NY 800-272-SHOW
www.nationalstationeryshow.com

July 9-12
Philadelphia Gift Show, Fort Washington, PA, 678-285-3976
www.urban-expo.com

July 10-11
"Hands-On" Seminar, Northbrook, IL, 847-215-8700
www.acpdecor4u.com

July 22-25
California Gift Show, Los Angeles, CA, 213-430-2310
www.californiagiftshow.com

July 29-20
Flowers, Inc. Ballooniversity, Athens, GA, 800-241-2094
www.ballooniversity.biz

August 8-10
Summer Balloon Camp, Las Vegas, NV, 702-438-9697
www.ballooncamp.com

August 11-13
Eventworld, Los Angeles, CA, 312-321-6853
www.ises.com

November 5-8
The All Star Revue, Suffern, NY, 888-833-STAR
www.allstarrevue.com

Innovations & Inspirations

Balloons spruced up with little light

Bill O'Driscoll
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
2/24/2005 10:09 pm

Marilyn Newton Douglas Oxborrow, who graduated from Reed High School in 1981, is hoping to capitalize on an idea he had decades ago. Balloons are illuminated with LED lights that flash and twinkle inside the balloons, a concept that came to him on a drive through Virginia.

Douglas Oxborrow believes his invention, the Balloominator, will brighten the business of balloons.

He's producing thousands of the gadgets — just half as big as a pinky finger — and on Thursday he helped Memory Makers, a tiny Reno shop, insert them into its balloons.

"Kids like things that light up and blink," said Oxborrow, a self-described jack-of-all-trades who graduated from Reed High School in 1981 and now lives in suburban Houston.

"This," he said, holding a Balloominator with its Tic Tac-sized LED light, "is designed for one evening of entertainment. Then you can throw them away."

For the 41-year-old Oxborrow, it's been a decade-long course in curiosity that started with an evening drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

The traffic jam ahead, from what he thought was an accident, turned out to be curious motorists slowing for a car sales lot with every vehicle's emergency lights flashing.

"It worked. It got people onto the lot," Oxborrow recalled. "I saw the balloons tied to the cars and thought, ‘What if they could float with flashing lights?'

"Something just clicked and I thought, ‘There it was.' "

He'd hit on an idea that has since jelled into Ballumination Inc., with Oxborrow the president and 73 percent owner.

He said he has an engineer working for him in Malaysia and a manufacturing plant in China.

He's yet to turn a profit, but thinks that could happen this year.

After all, he said, production is up to 100,000 a month — at a cost of less than 50 cents per Balloominator and retail price of less than $2.50 each — with markets as diverse as the Ukraine, Australia, Texas and, this week, Reno.

Connie Breen, owner of Memory Makers, said she's willing to bet the many-colored Balloominators will be a hit inside her latex as well as Mylar balloons, but hasn't set a price yet.

"We'll use it in our décor settings. It's really different," she said.

Oxborrow, who never went to college, downplays his expertise in developing the Balloominator, on which he has a patent pending.

For years, he skipped around several occupations, from flipping pizzas to writing software databases before taking that fateful drive.

"There's a whole bunch I don't know about," he said. "(Oil baron) J. Paul Getty once said, ‘I'm not very good at anything, but I'm smart enough to go find people who are.'

"I'm not an electrical engineer, but my stepdad is," Oxborrow said. "As for the business part of it, I thought I'd have to educate myself, so I went out and got my hands on every book I could.

"We're learning as we go," he said. "I'm not going to get bored with it. This is cool stuff, and it was an idea I got while driving down the road."

Copyright © 2005 The Reno Gazette-Journal

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UNIQUE INDUSTRIES, INC. ANNOUNCES
NEW HALLOWEEN ENSEMBLES

Patterns offer a diverse array of options for
festive parties & celebrations.

March 8, 2005 (Philadelphia, PA) – Officials at Unique Industries, Inc. are pleased to announce the addition of several new Halloween ensembles to its current pattern line, including Universal Monsters™, Halloween Moon Cat, and Trick or Treat. All products will be available to ship at the end of Summer 2005.

"It is important for retailers to stock a broad selection of items for Halloween," said Unique Industries Marketing Director, Debbie Beer. "Unique offers a wide variety of paperware and decorations for busy moms to create festive parties at home, school or community centers."

Unique's new Universal Monsters ensemble features the faces of four popular monsters, including Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, and The Mummy. A tagline, "Eat, Drink, and Be Scary!!" is the perfect complement to any classroom party or get-together. The new ensemble is available in a full line of paperware and accessories, including invitations, favors, balloons, confetti, 2-sided monster cutouts, window clings and much more. Items suggested retail $.69 to $4.49 each.

The new Halloween Moon Cat ensemble features contemporary images of the popular cat, moon and pumpkin icons. Such Halloween staples make this new pattern perfect for an adolescent or adult Halloween party. The ensemble is available in a full line of paperware and accessories, including invitations, stickers, favors, a door poster, confetti, party bags and much more. Items suggested retail $1.39 to $4.49 each.

The new Halloween Trick or Treat ensemble is the perfect pattern for just about any audience. Featuring traditional Halloween elements – bats, pumpkins, witch, ghost and scarecrow – this ensemble offers excitemnt and super value, with napkins and plates available in high-count, 20-piece packages. This ensemble includes accessories such as invitations, balloons, banners, door poster, confetti, 2-sided cutout, window clings, party game, party bags and much more. Items suggested retail $.69 to $4.49 each.

According to Beer, "Unique's extensive selection of Halloween party products– including our newest ensembles – offers plenty of opportunities for party planners to create complete, exciting parties, and retailers to increase their profit margins." Universal Monsters, Halloween Moon Cat, and Trick or Treat join Unique's current product line, which features a complete party line of many different styles and colors for all celebrations. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, Unique Industries, Inc. is a privately held global party supply company with a reputation as an industry leader for more than 40 years. For more information, visit www.favors.com.

The Universal Studios Monsters are trademarks and copyrights of Universal Studios. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLP. All rights reserved. EDITORS NOTE: High-resolution digital photography is available upon request. Please email Jessica Seamans at jseamans@fcfschmidtpr.com.

Contact:
Jessica Seamans
FCF Schmidt Public Relations
610-941-0395
jseamans@fcfschmidtpr.com

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	Where will you discover a wide range of unique, creative products—including merchandise you simply won't see anywhere else? At the National Stationery Show®, May 15–18 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center! Use our easy online activation system to register before March 15th, and you'll get a Free Pre-Show Planner, a valuable guide that will help you get the most from your time at this year's Show. And that's important, because you won't want to miss a minute of it. The National Stationery Show is a high-energy environment where new products are launched and new trends are born. Much more than stationery, it offers everything from scrapbooking supplies to toys and puzzles, home and home office accessories, and beautiful handcrafted gifts. Plus: 1,400 exhibitors from around the world, many of whom don't appear at other shows More than 5,000 lines in five easy-to-shop sections Free daily demonstrations and business-building educational programs The chance to network with industry leaders The chance to win two free hotel nights for the 2006 Show! There's no other event like the National Stationery Show—and no better place to find the exclusive products that will drive traffic to your door. So don't wait. Activate your registration today! The National Stationery Show will run May 15–18, 2005, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, New York. For more information, including exhibitor listings, a schedule of events, and hotel and travel reservations, visit www.nationalstationeryshow.com or call GLM's customer service department at 800-272-SHOW (7469) or 914-421-3206. Reference Code 358125 for faster service.

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THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX:
DESIGNER CAROLE SHIBER INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY
PLACEMATS THAT ARE TRULY CUTTING-EDGE

"Break Out" Collection Debuts April Market at
Elrene Home Fashions

THERE IS SIMPLY NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT OUT THERE! Designer Carole Shiber is "breaking out" a new placemat collection for April market that takes product innovation to a new level. Well-known for her larger-than-life, painterly placemats, the designer now departs from her own revolutionary organic shapes to create a placemat line that is again " first-of-its kind." Her new "Break-Out" placemats feature luscious, large-scale fruits, flowers and leaves that team up to play together in a whole new way. Carole has gone back to the usual rectangular shape ~ well, not quite ~ breaking with tradition just enough to let the graphic elements out on their own for an unpredictable freedom of expression.

- Like Carole's Tabletop Garden concept, her brand new Break-Outs have also been designed to play together, this time in "Puzzling Pairs." The fruits and leaves are made to "fit together" like loose pieces of a puzzle. For example, when a pear or leaf placemat is paired with another exactly the same break-out~ but is placed next to it UPSIDE DOWN ~ a fun juxtaposition occurs and makes for a graphically satisfying place setting for two.

The new collection introduces yet another element of design savvy as she boldly offers a black background for her rich earthtone fruits. "Break-Out" placemats, sized . 18"x13", are also gracefully designed to accommodate the functional elements of a place-setting ~ each are individually hand-painted on smooth fabric backed by soft sponge vinyl, so they simply sponge clean.

The introduction of Carole Shiber's Break-Out collection answers a real need in the marketplace for a product that will give the consumer the originality he/she craves. "Today's consumer wants to entertain her guests with place-settings that move beyond the ordinary, and how wonderful if they can also tickle the imagination …and help us to think ‘outside the box' ourselves," adds Ms. Shiber.

There is a real desire on the part of today's hostess to "dress" the table in a way that reflects her own personality and sense of style. With Break-Outs she can do just that – delight and honor her dinner guests ~ or make everyday family meals a bit more special with placemats that celebrate nature's beauty ~ and our own imaginations.. The Break-out collection debuts in the Carole Shiber Shop at Elrene Home Fashions, 261 Fifth Avenue, along with all Carole Shiber hand-painted ArTables placemats and table linens. Independent specialty stores and boutiques may find similar and original collections at Carole Shiber Designs by visiting www.caroleshiber.com or by contacting Wayne Williams at 888-252-7832.

Carole Shiber's "Puzzling Pears" placemats from her new "Break Outs" collection. See how beautifully they fit together when placed side by side.

Problem Solvers

Making A Great Impression on the Phone:
It's More Than Just Words
By Patti Wood, M.A.

We've all had this experience. You call a business, a harried voice asks you to hold, and before you have a chance to say, "no!" you're listening to some prerecorded music while you linger there, trapped in the purgatory of "on hold."

Or you call up to ask a simple question such as how late the store stays open and the voice on the other end responds as if you have asked them to push a Mack truck across the country with his big toe.

Or perhaps the person on the other end of the line uses the right words, but the tone of the voice says, "You are an idiot and I don't have time for this."

So how do people feel when they call your business? Are the nonverbal messages you give out over the phone sending a good first impression about you? Are you energetic, respectful and professional on the phone? If you are you can bet that people notice it, appreciate it and value you and your business as a result.

In the caller's mind (whether she is a client, customer or fellow employee) the nonverbal message is as important or more important than the words. If the verbal message is different from the nonverbal message, people will rely on the nuances of the voice rather than the words to tell them the truth.

These nuances are called paralanguage and include accents, pauses, volume, emphases, tone, tempo and rate. On the telephone much of the emotional impact and true meaning of the message is interpreted from those nuances and other nonverbal cues such as time and background sounds.

Positive Impressions

There are certain techniques you can use to improve your effectiveness on the telephone and create a positive impression:

1. Answer Your Phone Promptly. Time is a powerful nonverbal communicator and waiting on the phone, where there may be little or no stimulation or distractions to make the time pass affects a caller's perception so the time seems longer. If someone is calling with a question, a concern or to purchase something, the longer your phone rings, the more any question seems less important to you than it should. It also allows time for the caller's concern to grow and a purchase to evaporate. Answering quickly stops these feelings from getting out of control, and it also portrays you nonverbally as quick and efficient in your business. Avoid letting the telephone ring more than three or four times. Research shows that each additional ring after three makes the caller an average of 10 percent more likely to hang up and 15 percent more likely to be irritated when you finally do answer. Answering promptly conveys a strong nonverbal message that you and your business are efficient and insures you have a happier person to deal with.

2. Use a Warm, Sincere Voice in Your Greeting. Make sure that the first words, such as "good morning" or "good afternoon", are delivered with warmth and sincerity. The most important aspect we look for in a first impression are qualities that make us feel safe, such as friendliness and genuineness. If you use a plastic or automatic greeting, you will give an impression of insincerity and unfriendliness. On the phone it takes a mere fortieth of a second to form a first impression, so the voice you use is critical. We don't just form these impressions with strangers, we also form a first impression for the day or in interactions with people we already know.

3. Give the Caller Adjustment Time. Our ears are very sensitive to sound. It takes 10 to 30 seconds to adjust to voices. Make a habit of saying, "Good morning," or "Good afternoon." This gives the caller time to adjust to your voice before going on to the most important part of your greeting such as your name or the name or your business. Say it clearly and don't rush it. If the caller isn't given this adjustment period, he or she may not retain the information you give. The caller may hear it, but won't absorb it.

4. Identify Yourself and/or Your Company Name Immediately But Slowly. Don't rush through your department or business name. It's a habit everyone gets into. After all, you've heard it before, you know what the name is. But remember your rushed voice creates a perception in the mind of the caller. It can make callers think that the business is not important to you, that you're busy or stressed or that you want rush them. Take a deep relaxing breath before you pick up the phone and focus on using normal conversation speed in your delivery.

5. Be Understandable in Your Communication. Take precautions to ensure that you speak clearly. That means not just slowly, but articulately. You can test how clear your voice is by taping yourself reading a paragraph. Then bite down on a tooth prop like a large marker and read a few paragraphs. The tooth prop makes your lips and tongue work harder. Then take out the tooth prop out and immediately turn back on the recorder and read again. If the voice sounds crisper, with harder t's, c', k's and d's you need to use the tooth prop regularly to have a clear sounding voice. If you have a significant accent, accent-reduction classes might help not just your phone voice, but your career as well.

6. Match Voice Tone, Volume and Rate of Speech. You may have heard about the value of matching or mirroring body language to establish rapport and make someone feel safer and more comfortable but did you know that matching the voice on the phone has the ability to do that as well? Remember the caller does not have other face-to-face cues to help read you and make her feel safe. Matching the nuances of the person's voice in the first few minutes of the call puts a person at ease.

7. Avoid Making Background Noise. Ever hear someone on the other end of the line clicking on computer keys. This makes you wonder if you have the person's full attention. In this world of multi-tasking, we may think it's all right to do more than one thing, but to the person who expects your attention, it can seem rude and unprofessional. Rustling papers, sending out e-mail and talking to other people in the office takes attention away from the person who is on the line. It's disrespectful and bad for business.

8. Don't Interrupt Your Customer. When you are face to face with another person, you use body language cues such as leaning forward and eye-contact to indicate whose turn it is to speak. When these are absent, you need to carefully avoid interruptions as they come across more severely and can appear rude. Wait until it is clear that the person has finished speaking before you respond. Consistently practicing these tips is crucial to establishing and maintaining a good phone first impression. Your tone, energy, even the speed at which you speak, need to be the same for everyone at all times of the day, no matter how you are feeling to make sure your caller feels appreciated and satisfied.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patti Wood is one of the nation's top body language experts, with over 20 years of experience researching and teaching nonverbal communication. She author of, "Success Signals- Body Language in Business" and is currently working on, "People Savvy." As an expert, Patti is regularly featured in media like: ABC, CBS, The Discover Channel and FOX. She has also been seen in USA Today, The New York Times, Entrepreneur, US Weekly and many more. Patti helps businesses such as AT&T, McGraw-Hill, Pfizer, and Nextel use body language to improve sales, productivity and communication. For more information on her speaking and training, please visit: www.pattiwood.net or call: 404-371-8228.