Small Scale Celebrations: How WOW Balloons Worked to Honor Life’s Big Moments Amidst COVID-19

WOW Balloons strives to create a stunning yet affordable setting for life's biggest moments. With a starting capital of 500 dollars, the Dallas-based company has grown vastly in a short two and a half years. While making one-of-a-kind designs is important to the company, WOW Balloons centers its focus on customer experience, ensuring that each client is left with a smile on their face. This often means that phone consultations will go on for a week until the design concept is perfect. 

Working together at the same mall, Co-Founders Katherine and Daria became fast friends. From Russia and Belarus respectively, Katherine and Daria bonded and both hoped to be “young, female, foreign entrepreneurs.” 

After learning about the balloon business from her friend in Miami, Katherine called on Daria and the pair began searching for contributors in the area and making contacts. They began to realize how much advertising a company like this would require, and had to self-educate themselves and put a website together. It was about three months after they came up with the idea for their business that Katherine and Daria got their first phone call for an order. 

In an attempt to grow their business, the duo began offering services besides balloon decorations; “We also offer rental services,” Katherine explained, “and are trying to bring in items that are just getting popular right now like the shimmer walls, unique shaped backdrops and more.” Staying on top of trends is essential for their business. 

A typical setup for an event requires a couple of weeks of conversing with the client to ensure everything is prepared the way they want it, followed by two days of preparing a mock-up design and prep so that on the day of the event, they are quick and efficient. 

The day after the Governor of Texas declared lockdown and that gatherings could not be greater than five people, Katherine and Daria began receiving numerous phone calls: “I spent three or four days on the phone with clients canceling and rescheduling their events,” Katherine said, “we were devastated because all of our business is offline and everything that was prohibited was the only things paying our bills.” However, rather than doing nothing, the co-founders used this time to augment their business. 

The pair turned their focus to their social media presence. At the beginning of quarantine, the company had roughly 9,000 followers on Instagram. In the past year, they have gained almost 30,000 followers. Katherine said that this was possible because “we started focusing on the quality of the work we were doing rather than the quantity. We also focused on giving back to the community through educational support.”

Beginning in July, WOW Balloons started offering webinars to help other balloon artists. Working in the Texas heat with balloons is no easy feat and can severely affect the quality of the balloons. The webinar helped teach others how to set up outside and extend the life of the balloons outdoors. In May 2021 they also hosted their first live master class with people traveling from all over the US to attend it.

Currently, the company is back in business, providing minimum contact installation for all kinds of parties. “At times like these,” Katherine explained, “people want to celebrate the good things in their lives, even if it is in a small way.” 

In August 2021, WOW Balloons revealed the opening of their first venue called ALLSOCIAL Spaces in Bishop Arts district – a perfect minimalistic space to host small events up to 35 people.

Pillow Talk is a content series from Rem and Company, A social impact initiative focused on supporting small businesses and the communities in which they exist. We're on a mission to keep doors open and dreams alive. If you are a small business owner or entrepreneur with a story to tell, email us at press@remandcompany.com.

As a social impact initiative, Rem and Company also offers free consulting services and resources to small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. Our pro-bono consulting teams provide small businesses with the opportunity to identify and prioritize issues facing their business, propose innovative strategies, and facilitate execution. If you are a small business or nonprofit in need of assistance, learn more about how we can help.