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HIFLOAT Highlights

Something to Be Thankful For


Issue: #2 October 2007

This month we are thankful for our close-knit family, good friends and wonderful customers. We know you appreciate your customers as well and we want to make sure they come back to you for all of their balloon needs.

Unfortunately, the current helium shortage has the potential to deflate our industry. HI-FLOAT® Company knows that conserving helium, while maintaining profits, is vital to us all. HI-FLOAT® is the one product that helps preserve helium in latex balloons.

We appreciate the gratitude we receive from our customers and are glad we can help during this difficult time. In addition to making your helium filled balloons float as long as possible, we've been conducting exciting research on a new method for treating balloons that will save 25% of your helium supply.

This month's HI-FLOAT Highlights also includes a great designby world renowned balloon artist and instructor Linda Bruce that is sure to put a smile on your face. We hope you enjoy this issue and welcome your feedback!

Don & Marjorie Burchette
Co-Founders, HI-FLOAT Company Inc.
HI-FLOAT Tip Of The Month
New HI-FLOAT Method Saves 25% of Your Helium Supply
 

Rising prices and tight helium supplies continue to affect everyone in the balloon and party industry, making conservation more important than ever. In an effort to combat this crisis, the HI-FLOAT Company has developed a method that can save 25% of balloon retailers' helium costs.   

 

Testing in our laboratory shows that by using ULTRA HI-FLOAT® you can inflate an 11-inch latex balloon with 75% helium and 25% air or nitrogen and still have a balloon that floats for 3 or 4 days.  Without ULTRA HI-FLOAT, the same balloon would only float for 16 hours on average.

 

If you need your balloons to float for the longest time possible add 100% helium.  However, if you only need balloons to float a few days, this method is ideal.  By using ULTRA HI-FLOAT, you can save 25% of your helium costs and still have happier customers with longer floating balloons.

 

In addition to conserving a valuable resource, the money you save on helium virtually covers the cost of the ULTRA HI-FLOAT.

 

To treat an 11-inch latex balloon with a 75% helium/25% air mixture, you do not need to buy a special gas mixture.  Just follow these simple steps:

 

1.  Inject ULTRA HI-FLOAT into the balloon (using the white restriction clip on the pump dispenser) and rub.

 

2.  Blow the balloon up with air or nitrogen to 7-inches diameter.

 

3.  Blow the balloon up the rest of the way with helium.

 

The key to success is adding enough helium for the balloons to float initially.  Depending on your climate/altitude you may need to change the mixture slightly to get the balloon to float well initially.  If the balloon floats initially, it should float for at least 3 or 4 days.

 

For more information about treating balloons with a helium/air mixture, including treating other sized balloons, visit this article on our website: How To Save Helium Using ULTRA HI-FLOAT
 Featured Artist
Linda Bruce, CBA, Retail Education Manager, Pioneer® Balloon Company 
 
Linda BruceLinda Bruce is no stranger to anyone in the balloon business!  She started B & C Balloon Company in Petaluma, California in the early 80's, specializing in balloon deliveries and beautiful balloon weddings.  After attending every educational opportunity she could find, and entering competitions, Linda began teaching classes on her own, often sponsored by Pioneer Balloon Company, the makers of Qualatex®Balloons.  Her industry awards include the prestigious Crystal Award from the International Balloon Arts Convention in Chicago, and recently, the Dottie Blanchard Spirit Award at Balloon Camp in Las Vegas.  Nine years ago Linda went to work full-time for Pioneer Balloon Company as Retail Education Manager and has been "educating the world" as an ambassador for Qualatex.

 

"I remember when HI-FLOAT was first introduced to the balloon industry," Linda says.  "It seemed too good to be true!   Businesses that sold balloons were able to give customers their money's worth, by adding value, with long-lasting deliveries and decor!

 

"For me, hearing these words - You remember that Hot Air balloon you delivered last month?  It's still floating! -priceless!"

 
Linda hopes you enjoy her "Send a Smile" hot air balloon design. "I had fun designing it!" she says. "And you'll have fun delivering it because, thanks to ULTRA HI-FLOAT, this hair-raising hot air balloon will float for over a month!"

Qualatex® Send a Smile Hot-Air Balloon

 

Linda Bruce 

 


Materials:

Helium

ULTRA HI-FLOAT

1-  3' (.9m) Blush Latex Balloon 82668

2-  17" (43 cm) Red Latex Hearts 43928

2-  16" (41cm) Blush Latex Balloons 22231

1-  11" (28cm) Blush Latex Balloon 82667

2-  5" (13cm) White Latex Balloons 43607

2-  5" Onyx Black Latex Balloons 43548

260Q Latex Balloons

160Q Green Latex Balloons 88346

160Q Dark Blue Latex Balloons 88345

160Q Red Latex Balloons 88347

160Q Yellow Latex Balloons 88348

160Q Chocolate Brown Latex Balloons 68779

#9 Emerald Green Qualatex MasterBow® Poly Ribbon 46957

Qualatex Balloon Ribbon™

Qualatex Hand Air Inflator 21472

2-  Show-N-Sell Hang Tabs© Clik-Clik Systems, Inc.

Cool Glue or Glue Dots®

Balloon Marker

Basket

Weight

 

Instructions:

  1. Fully inflate the 3' balloon, but DO NOT TIE. Use a balloon marker to make two marks where the "ears" should go, then deflate the balloon.
  2. Make a Raisin Twist in the balloon at each mark. Add 3 strokes of ULTRA HI-FLOAT with the green clip on the pump dispenser (approximately 5 tablespoons) and rub the balloon to spread the HI-FLOAT. Fully inflate the balloon to 3 feet in diameter.
  3. Tie the balloon to a weighted length of Qualatex BalloonRibbon and drop the weight in the basket.
  4. Make an Apple Twist in two 16" balloons, and tie the 260Qs from one Apple Twist and one Raisin Twist together to attach one ear. Repeat to attach the other ear.
  5. Tie one end of a length of Emerald Green ribbon around one ear, and tie the other end to a Hang Tab on one side of the basket. Repeat to attach the other ear to the other side of the basket.
  6. Remove the BalloonRibbon from Step 3.
  7. Fully inflate two 17" Red Hearts and tie them into a pair, then wrap them around the neck of the balloon. 
  8. Make "poodle tail bubbles" in 160Qs. To do this, cut off 3" (8cm) from the neck end in an uninflated 160Q. Use a Qualatex Hand Air Inflator to inflate a 2 ˝" (6cm) section and tie.
  9. Twist the balloon to split the inflated section in half, then hold one hand around the twist and the other hand around the bubble next to the uninflated portion. Squeeze the bubble to push the air into the end of the balloon so that you end with two bubbles, one at each end.Tie the "poodle tail bubbles" together at the center of the uninflated portion to make a cluster, and tie the cluster around the neck of the 3' balloon.
  10. Make several Curly 160Qs, and glue them to the top of the head for "hair."
  11. Make the "eyes." To do this, inflate a 5" Onyx Black balloon to 2" (5cm). Tie it to the knot of a 5" White balloon, then use the White balloon to make an Apple Twist and glue onto the 3' balloon. Repeat for the other eye.
  12. Inflate one section of a brown 160Q and tie a knot right after the uninflated portion. Cut off the excess and glue on above one eye to make an "eyebrow." Repeat with another brown 160Q.
  13. To make the "nose," under inflate the 11" Blush latex balloon to 9" (23cm) and glue onto the face below the eyes.
  14. To make the "mouth," inflate a 160Q, leaving 2" uninflated. Make a 1 ˝" (4cm) loop twist on each end of the balloon, and glue on under the nose as desired.
  15. Decorate the basket with poodle tail bubbles, Curly 160Qs, and BalloonRibbon as desired.


Note:  This design can also be made using a helium/air mixture.  In Step 2, after adding the ULTRA HI-FLOAT inflate the balloon with air to 20 inches in diameter.  Then inflate the balloon the rest of the way (to 36 inches) with helium.  The sculpture will float at least a week and this method will save 25% of your helium!

Featured Product

HI-FLOAT Pump Dispenser Kit


When ordering 24 or 96 oz containers of HI-FLOAT, remember to also add the HI-FLOAT Pump Dispenser to your cart.  With rising helium prices it is more important than ever to get the longest floating time possible from your balloons.  This pump was specially designed to add the exact amount of HI-FLOAT you need to preserve your helium for as long as possible.  Adding less HI-FLOAT can dramatically reduce your floating time and can cause a hazy appearance in transparent balloons.

 

The scientists at HI-FLOAT are continually modifying and improving the accuracy of the pump dispenser, so if your pump is more than a year old it is probably time for a replacement.  The pump dispensers are reusable, but they are not indestructible, so it is also a good idea to always have a spare on hand.

 

Industry Link

Did you ever wonder how latex balloons are made? Discovery Channel has the answer and you can see first-hand the effort behind making balloons.  Click here to watch the video.

 

Upcoming Events

Balloontown USA

November 8 - 11, 2007 Cincinnati Mills Mall, Cincinnati, OH

 

Balloon-a-Palooza

November 17 - 25, 2007 Mitchell Park Domes & Pavilion, Milwaukee, WI

 

Copyright © 2006 HIFLOAT. All Rights Reserved.
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