Oswestry businesswoman flying high with orders

A Shropshire woman is flying high with nearly a full diary of bookings for weddings and birthday parties for 2013 just six months after launching her own specialist balloon business.

Andrea Marston launched Balloon-a-tics Oswestry at the beginning of March in a bid to offer bespoke balloon displays and arrangements for special occasions and charity events. She said she had been “overwhelmed” at the response she has had and has even passed work on to other balloon companies due to the demand.

Mrs Marston, 26, who is running the company with her husband Scott, said: “I have bought so many balloons over the years for special occasions and had them at our own wedding but I always felt they were overpriced and the balloons on offer had failed to move with the trends.

“Children love balloons but so do adults so we offer the full range with this year’s popular trend being vintage.

“We also create fantastic displays of children’s characters including the ever popular Mickey Mouse.”

But Mrs Marston said she was nearly at capacity for 2013. “We have an event in the diary nearly every weekend during the peak season of 2013 which is fantastic after just six months of business.

“We have even had to pass some work over to other local companies as we already have two or three occasions booked on the same days but it is great for the balloon industry in Shropshire.

“Anybody thinking of balloons really does need to book now and even enquire if we are available as we don’t want to disappoint anyone who leaves it to the last minute.”

She said she thinks her reputation has been the basis of her success so far.

“One person seems to see our balloons at a wedding or a party and asks where they were done and then they book too.

“I didn’t expect it to get do busy so quick but I’m certainly not complaining,” she added. The couple are also running a charity offer which will see them hand over a donation to the cause when balloon decoration or displays are booked for a charity event. Mrs Marston said they offered a free consultation and quote service and free delivery in and around the Oswestry area.