What's UP? Member Announcements


2010-2011 Board of Directors 

 

President Chuck Jacoby A2Z Balloon Co. Livonia, MI	1st Vice President Ted J Vlamis Pioneer Balloon Co.	2nd Vice-President Kathi Leiden Zephyr Solutions Avon Lake, OH	Treasurer Craig Albrecht Betallic, Inc St.Louis, MO	Regional Director Keith Burchette Hi-Float,Inc. Loiusville, KY	Regional Director Todd Moody burton BURTON Bogart, GA	Regional Director Molly Kuhl Anagram International Minneapolis, MN	Associate Regional Director Amanda Armstrong Top Hat Balloon Werks Mission Viejo, CA	President Tim Vlamis Pioneer Balloon Co. Wichita, KS

IBA Mission Statement:
To enhance the business success and profitability of member companies and to
promote total quality business success through trust, advocacy, and communication by
quality networking with others within the industry.

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A Letter From the President 
June 2011
Dear Industry Members,
 
We are about half way through our membership year and as we all plod along through this difficult and slow recovery, our association needs your support. We are at a key point in our 20 year history because even as our committees are developing exciting programs like never before that will help our members and our industry, membership is lagging. The irony is that our industry is facing a confluence of challenges that should have us banding together as an association like never before.

As I see it these are:

The Slowest post recession recovery in our nation's history

Mounting pressure in many states to ban foil balloon sales and balloon launches

Dwindling helium supplies; higher worldwide demand; dramatically increasing helium prices

A rising trend of "buying direct" which is squeezing out distributors in all industries and pressuring us to prove our worth in this rapidly changing business environment

I am optimistic that our industry will weather this tough economy and as a member of this industry it is our responsibility to ensure that the IBA surives as well. We must work together to accomplish this so we don't lose the information and resources that IBA provides to the public or the programs and benefits that result from the collaboration of its members. IBA is where the industry turns when legislative challenges regarding helium or balloons occur. IBA is there in the good times and the bad - working for the industry. Please join us as we work to make the IBA an ever more effective resource to our members and our industry by joining or renewing your membership today.

Sincerely,
Chuck Jacoby
IBA President

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 Upcoming Meetings

 

IBA Annual Conference 2011
"Rev Up Your Leadership Skills"
September 19-21
Detroit, MI
Greektown Casino-Hotel

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Members Want You to Know.... 

PIONEER® BALLOON COMPANY INTRODUCES MASCOT
“Mr. Q” is the new ambassador for Qualatex® balloons and education

Pioneer Balloon Company is excited to welcome a new member of the Qualatex team. Mr. Q joins the company as the official mascot for Qualatex brand balloons—providing a “face” and personality for the brand while representing its commitments to quality, innovation, excellence, and value. “We’re thrilled to introduce Mr. Q and hope that he will create an exciting, interactive connection with our customers,” said Ted A. Vlamis, president of Pioneer.
Mr. Q will maintain a regular social media presence on his Facebook page (“Mr. Q – The Official Mascot of Qualatex Balloons”). Here, people can “Like” him and interact with him as well as other Mr. Q fans on a daily basis. In the future, he will also personally attend Qualatex educational events, with his first public appearance at the World Balloon Convention 2012 in Dallas, TX, USA.
Founded in 1917, Pioneer Balloon Company is the world’s premier manufacturer of latex balloons, with a diversified range of products that also includes Microfoil® balloons and the stretchy plastic Bubble Balloon®. Additionally, Pioneer offers educational and business solutions for the professional balloon and party industries. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Pioneer has facilities in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and Mexico. 
 

 

Rainbow Balloons has announced the recent addition of Steve Martin as its new Sales Manager. Martin, will be focusing his efforts on streamlining relationships with customers, as well as researching existing and new business opportunities.

 "We are pleased to bring in Steve Martin as a team leader," said Bill Giannasca, founder and president of Rainbow Balloons. "The growth of our sales team will add to our ability to meet the diverse needs of our customers. Steve's retail knowledge, customer service focus and small business experience will benefit Rainbow Balloons, as well as our customers." For more information, call Casey Jewell at 800-200-8181.

 Hollywood Ribbon Industries moves to the Inland Empire

Los Angeles, California – Hollywood Ribbon Industries announces the company moving from Los Angeles to a new distribution and manufacturing facility in Rancho Cucamonga and will fully occupy the new building on December 6, 2010.  The company signed a

Los Angeles, California – Hollywood Ribbon Industries announces the company moving from Los Angeles to a new distribution and manufacturing facility in Rancho Cucamonga and will fully occupy the new building on December 6, 2010.  The company signed a 5-year lease on the 135,000 square foot building at 9000 Rochester Avenue with Dedeaux Properties in June 2010.  The company has been shipping from this site since July 1^st. Hollywood Ribbon Industries is an employee owned corporation and the largest prime manufacturer of decorative ribbon and bows in the western United States.  The company was founded in 1946 and has 300 employees between their 3 locations.  The company also manufactures glass Christmas ornaments and tinsel garland under their Holly Glass division. The company will be manufacturing materials in Rancho Cucamonga with labor-intensive packaging, winding, and glass ornament manufacturing at two company owned maquiladoras in Baja California, Mexico.  For additional information please contact Gregg Fresonke, Director of Sales and Marketing, at 800-457-7652, extension 130. 

 

IBA member Mark Zettler of BALLOONS and Parties Magazine and founder of Life O' the Party, announced an article that was published on Bergenews.com regarding the 15,000 helium-filled balloons his company provided for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and celebrating Mark's 30 year-old event decorating company.
Please click on the link below to read the full article. Congratulations Mark and Andrea Zettler for 30 successful years in the balloon and event industry!
http://www.bergennews.com/2010/11/30/local-business-provided-ballons-for-macys-parade/ 

Airgas Announces New Business Focusing on Retail Merchants
Airgas, Inc. announced the formation of Airgas Retail Solutions, a new business dedicated to meeting the product and service needs of businesses serving retail customers. Based in St. Petersburg, FL, the new business was formed from the acquisition of S.K.I.L. Enterprises, Inc., a leading nationwide service-oriented helium distributor, and other regional helium distributors over the past year.
"Airgas' acquisition of S.K.I.L. Enterprises and the formation of Airgas Retail Solutions is a clear indication of our commitment to meeting the unique needs of the retail market," said Andrea Pichardo, Airgas Retail Solutions Vice President of Sales and former S.K.I.L. Enterprises president. "Our business model is based on reliable, personal service, whether we're working with the corner grocer, the local florist, a restaurant or a large national chain. We specialize in lower volumes of product to many different retail locations."
According to Pichardo, "personal service" includes prompt, reliable delivery of products such as helium for balloon programs; carbon dioxide for carbonated beverage service; gas mixtures for daught beer; nitrogen for tire filling; welding and cutting gases, welding equipment and filler metals, and automotive refrigerants for auto servie centers; dry ice for grocers and safety products and supplies for a variety of businesses. 
Airgas Retail Solutions currently serfves more than 60,000 rerail businesses. For more information, call 877-717-4540 or visit www.airgasretail.com.

Pioneer® Balloon Company and Northstar Balloons Announce Strategic Alliance to Exploit New Balloon Making Technology
Today Pioneer Balloon Company and Northstar Balloons LLC announced a strategic alliance under which the companies will work together to bring balloons utilizing Northstar’s new MicroSeal™ balloon-making technology to customers throughout the world.
Pioneer is now shipping new shaped balloons utilizing the technology as part of its Valentine’s Day Collection and its new Qualatex® Diamond Expressions™ lines. The designs all feature contemporary graphics and are available from Qualatex® distributors. The companies have planned an aggressive schedule of new shaped, everyday designs in the weeks and months ahead. Northstar Balloons was founded by Garry, Nico, and Nina Kieves. Garry Kieves, who also founded Anagram International, is best known as the inventor of the self-sealing valve and numerous other balloon patents.

Cramer Decker Industries and Zephyr Solutions partner to become a full service balloon inflator and accessory supplier to the Balloon Industry and Mass Retail Community.
Kathi Leiden, President of Zephyr Solutions has announced that Zephyr Solutions is the exclusive distributor of the Imperium line of products from Cramer-Decker Industries. "One of the things that I was most impressed with was 2 year warranty on inflators. I don't know of any other company that offers that. We like Cramer-Decker's willingness to stand behind their products and their desire for continuous improvement". Contact Zephyr Solutions at 877-ASK-ZEPHYR (440-409-6374) or orders@askzephyr.com

Hollywood Ribbon Industries of Los Angeles, CA, announces the acquisition of all manufacturing equipment and materials of Holly Decorations, Inc. and has moved manufacturing equipment to their maquiladora in Otay Mesa, outside of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.  The new company will be known as Holly Glass, division of Hollywood Ribbon Industries.
Hollywood Ribbon Industries is an employee owned corporation based in Los Angeles, California, the largest prime manufacturer of polypropylene ribbon in the western United States. The company produces materials in Los Angeles and does labor-intensive packaging and winding at a company owned maquiladora in Baja California, Mexico.  For additional information please contact Gregg Fresonke, Director of Sales and Marketing, at 800-457-7652, extension 130.

S.K.I.L. Enterprises Joins Airgas
Balloon and Party Industry customers to benefit from improved, consistent helium supply and more distribution locations
National helium distributor S.K.I.L Enterprises joined Airgas, Inc., the largest distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases and related supplies on March 31, 2009.  The acquisition by Airgas increases S.K.I.L. Enterprises' helium inventory and distribution network. "Our working relationship with Airgas is especially strong," said Andrea Pichardo, S.K.I.L Enterprises president.  "Airgas has been our largest distributor of helium."

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Lee Kaufman of Brody's 800-4-Balloons has announced a new site for the distribution of helium:



Providing Helium Distribution For the Chicago Area 

The alliance with Helgut Gas gives Brody’s the ability to better service their existing and future customers for both Helium, Balloons, and their many other product offerings.  Delivery is currently available in the Chicago area only with 2 pick-up locations.  Brody's plans to expand the service range to include St Louis, Omaha, & Orlando.