Signature Balloons

Inspired by her entrepreneurial brother and frustrated the lack of recognition in her job, Rachel Brown decided to set up her own balloon gift business

Name: Rachel Brown
Age: 34
Business: Signature Balloons – www.signatureballoons.com
Type of business: Gifts by post
Start date: Via Internet – April 23rd 2004

When did you first decide you wanted to start your own business?

Over the last few years I began to think that the only way to be truly satisfied is to work for yourself. I didn’t like the lack of recognition for my effort so when I took maternity leave in October last year, I thought it was high time for a total change!

I have also been spurred on by my brother who has achieved his dream of becoming a millionaire before he was 40 by working for himself.

Tell us about your business
Our core business is sending out helium-filled, foil balloons with gifts such as chocolates, teddy bears and gift vouchers for every occasion - birthday, new baby, anniversary, graduation, good luck, to name but a few.

The gifts are delivered anywhere in the UK by Royal Mail’s Special Delivery service, guaranteeing next day delivery.

We also offer a decorating service in the Southampton/New Forest areas, decorating venues from Country Hotels to Village Halls and we organise balloon releases/races for fundraising or to celebrate an important occasions.

Was it your first business idea and where did it come from?
My husband and I had considered a variety of franchises but were put off by having to pay a fee to a third party. We wanted to be directly rewarded for our efforts.

The idea of balloon gifts was born when I was looking for something different to send to my friend who had just had a baby, just over two years ago.

I saw you could purchase balloons to carry a message, such as a huge baby foot shape with “It’s a boy!” on it and thought “What a neat idea!” and my friend’s reaction confirmed it.

What makes you think there’s a market for your business?
The fact that I sent my friend a bouquet of balloons when her son was born and she then sent a balloon to her friend who sent one to her friend and so on…. It’s a snowball effect.

Once you’d decided to start a business, what did you do first?
Contacted both Business Link and HSBC, my bank for many years, for advice.

What research did you do?
It’s very difficult to get any facts and figures as many of the companies are not limited and many are ‘one man bands’ and a lot of balloon companies specialise in decoration only.

However, we talked to lots of people in the industry and trawled through many websites of other balloon and gift companies. Having said that, our decision came down to a ‘hunch’.

What advice did you seek? Did you approach any of the government advice centres such as Business Link?
Yes. I approached Business Link a few years ago and was given a lot of information on start-ups, such as case studies, which I found very interesting and encouraging.

However, in full-time employment, it was hard to make a step into the self-employed world and ended up sending out balloons and decorating venues more as favours in my spare time.

That changed when I took maternity leave. I went back to Business Link and was offered a grant to create a website.

Although I applied for the grant in 2003, the decision to offer me the money wasn’t given until early January 2004 – just a week after I’d had my baby!! I was then given an 8 week deadline to get the website up and running in order to secure the funds.

Does the government need to provide more help to people trying to start a business?
I think free access to Tax/VAT advisors for SME’s would be really helpful. For instance, at our local library, there are tax advisors available to discuss personal issues for a couple of hours each month.

How much did it cost to start the business?
Approximately £12,000

How did you fund this?
From savings and from a government grant.