My Biz: Celebrating with balloons

PALO — Alissa Studt has a way of making special moments extra special.

Studt, 29, owns and operates Bliss Balloons Co., a company she launched in April 2021, out of her home in Palo.

“We specialize in balloon decor installations of all sizes,” she said. “Organic balloon decor is very popular right now. People are familiar with balloon columns and arches, but when it’s organic, it’s more of a half arch.”

Bliss Balloon Co. also stocks some backdrops that balloons can be attached to and can handle more classic decor like full arches and columns.

Deciding to launch Bliss Balloons Co. didn’t just pop into her head one day.

“I really enjoyed planning our wedding in 2018,” she said. “I started to think about what I could do in the event industry. It wasn’t until during the COVID times when everyone was stuck at home that I was scrolling on social media constantly and balloons, no pun intended, were really blowing up.

“I noticed that there weren’t many places locally dipping their toes into the more organic half arches and designs, but people were starting to want more of a creative partner for something like that,” she said.

Creativity, celebration

So Studt bought some balloons online and started playing around with a few design ideas of her own.

“I figured it out and really enjoyed it so decided to run with it,” she said.

Three years later, the most exciting part of her job is its creativity and its purpose.

“I love being able to be creative,” she said. “I think the thing that I find joy in most is celebrating or having the honor of celebrating moments with people, even though I don’t officially stay for the party. It’s just the thought of knowing that something you created is worthy of having a special moment at their celebration.

“People take photos in front of the balloons. And that’s something I created that will be in their memory forever, and they thought it was worth having. It’s very cool to be part of people’s biggest moments of their lives.”

Collaboration is one of the keys to making her business a success, Studt said.

“I love being able to sit down with clients or spend time with them talking over the phone or doing a site visit, so we can drum up ideas together,” she said. “Working collaboratively to create something is exciting if people come to me with a vision. I love to work with my clients and bounce ideas off each other to create something that is beyond what even their original version was. That’s hard to do if you just shop at a big box party store.”

What if potential clients don’t have an idea of what they want?

“They let me run with it, and that’s great, too,” she said. “I have a willingness to work outside of the box and think and find different things that maybe I’ve seen done on social media that haven’t quite made it to our area yet. I love pitching ideas to clients, too.”

Expansion

Studt is now working full time on her business and is looking to expand, noting the area has a wide variety of events.

“I feel like I already have lots of fun things to look forward to this year,” she said. “We do a huge array of events like first birthdays, baby and bridal showers, weddings, and corporate events. Anything that you feel the need to celebrate, we can get balloons there. It can be as simple as a milestone or even non-milestone birthday or a retirement party.”

The client base runs from individuals looking to make a party memorable to businesses hosting a special event or grand opening.

The events where she does installations are typically within an hour’s drive of Cedar Rapids, including Marion, Coralville and Iowa City.

Studt credits the help she receives from her husband and mother, whether wrangling balloons for larger installations or helping with the kids so Studt can focus on an event.

“Saturdays are usually pretty busy,” she added. “But this is something that I love so it doesn’t feel like work.”

Studt’s schedule will really pick up in the coming months with graduations coming up, a popular event for balloon decor.

She also noted that she offers a “pick-up-and-go” balloon garland as a DIY option for clients.

“It’s a really nice cost-effective option that you can hang up with a couple of command hooks on the wall,” she said. “The balloons come already blown up and put together. In building my business I really wanted to try and service every budget if possible.

“Because every event is special ,and it’s all just so much fun to celebrate.”

Know a business that should be considered for a “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing mary.sharp@thegazette.com.

  Buy Photo

  Buy Photo

  Buy Photo