Balloon Team Promotions a Grand Terrace, Inland Empire Staple

For nearly 30 years, longtime Grand Terrace residents John and Jan Bledsoe have been creating masterpieces out of balloons, creating a well-known name for themselves and their company, Balloon Team Promotions, as one of the pioneers of the balloon decorating industry, which was in its infancy when the company was born in 1985. Twenty-nine years ago, in January 1985, when John came home to his wife with a $250 check from Tom Bell Chevrolet in Redlands, it was quite a surprise. When she found out it was because he had sold them on the idea of using balloons to attract attention to the company, Jan was astounded. “He brought them 25 three-foot balloons filled with helium that he said they could put on their lot and they loved it,” said Jan. “The next thing we knew, they were telling other car dealerships about us.” Shortly before the infant business’s first account with Tom Bell Chevrolet, John brought home 25 small helium tanks to sell at the couple’s Grand Terrace gift shop, shared Jan. “We had balloons outside our gift shop and we were selling them over-the-counter in the gift shop,” said John. “That was the spark, having the balloons at our shop. I went to Tom Bell Chevrolet and that was our first account with three-foot balloons.” Word spread quickly and before the couple knew it, the demand for balloon decorating grew and the couple was receiving phone calls from companies of all sizes, including retail giants like Nordstrom, Sears and J.C. Penny, along with various Inland Empire-area housing development companies and car lots. Jan and John sold their small gift shop to dedicate themselves to their new balloon business. Before the mid-1980s, shared Jan, companies rarely, if ever, used balloon signage to attract attention. Having been in the industry since its beginnings has afforded Balloon Team Promotions opportunities to work with a plethora of companies and organizations, and even teach outdoor and interior balloon decorating to others who were interested in beginning their own businesses. At one point, Balloon Team Promotions was chosen as the largest consumer of 3-foot balloons in the country by Qualatex Balloon Manufacturers, who were at one time the largest balloon manufacturer in the world, and were brought in as a major authority for the development, formulation and design of Qualatex’s newest products. “We were able to help set the benchmark for the type of latex [used in balloons] and the electronic charge used [in balloon manufacturing]. That’s pretty exciting, considering that we were a small company from a [small town],” said Jan. Though she admitted that in the first few years of the business, they were “scoffed at as outdoor decorators,” there was change coming for the company after the tragedy of the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. “After that the attitude changed. No one was throwing these big, lavish indoor parties anymore, but people wanted red, white and blue everywhere outside,” said Jan. “They wanted to get people out there again, and living life.” Through the years, Balloon Team Promotions has created balloon designs and decorations for groups like KB Homes, the University of California at Riverside, Burrtec Waste, the City of Fontana and the couple’s hometown of Grand Terrace, to name a few. “I have met so many people in this business who are genuine gems in the world,” said Jan. “I treasure my relationships with these people more than you can imagine.” One of those relationships the couple forged was with National Orange Show Events Center Director of Catering and Special Events Derrick Vasquez, who has partnered with Balloon Team Promotions for over a decade. He has been in the event-planning business for nearly 30 years. “What I enjoy is that they’re both so creative and they always add a unique touch,” said Vasquez. “They create sculpted [items] and it opens up people’s eyes to what balloons can do.” Vasquez said he has worked with the company in events of all sizes, ranging from birthday parties to fundraisers. “The creativity and uniqueness are there. Those are hard to find, and for an event planner, when you can find someone that good, you realize they’re thinking, too, and you’re not the one doing all the work. It’s a good relationship we have.” Though the business is changing, Jan says she and her husband plan to remain in business, even through the economic ups and downs. She said, “It’s been a fantastic journey. I’ve loved it since the beginning.” John’s advice to running a successful business? “Determination, innovation in design and your product, awareness of the ever-changing market, altering your business to make it coordinate with trends, and making sure your customer is always happy,” he said. [END] Taken from their website: Started in 1985 by owners John & Jan Bledsoe Balloon Team Promotions is a pioneer in the Exterior Balloon Industry. Beginning out of a small specialty gourmet and gift shop the company started when the Bledsoe family decided to introduce balloon bouquets to their already vast array of unique gifts. Upon request of a local car dealership, John took on the task of decorating the exterior of the dealership with a series of 3-foot balloons intended to draw attention to a motionless car lot. Our Beginning It was through this first job that a company and in turn an entire industry were born. Over time the company’s client base rapidly expanded, the gift shop which had originally been the creative seed of the balloon business was sadly closed to make way for BT Promotions which was by this point consuming the majority of the Bledsoe’s time. In it’s 22 years, Balloon Team has worked for countless esteemed companies large and small, and has been featured in and sought out by various publications including Images and Entrepreneur Magazine. John and Jan have been invited to teach at numerous courses and conventions and as the largest consumer of 3-foot balloons in the country were brought in by Quali-tex Balloon Manufacturers, the largest balloon manufacturer in the world at the time, as the major authority for the development, formulation, and design of their newest products. Through the years they have seen the industry expand and change and seen other balloon companies come and go. But no matter the changes and the challenges of the unpredictable business world the one value that has kept Balloon Team at the top of it’s game, is the heart felt passion that John and Jan have toward their ability to make their clients shine and to provide their service with the utmost quality and integrity. From a 50th wedding anniversary to a gigantic corporate launch, Balloon Team understands why people come together and what draws people in. Our experienced and approachable staff work across the board from outdoor lots to conceptual design & staging and are there to make anything you imagine possible!