The Beginnings of Balloons

OK, so we don’t use pig bladders any more to make balloons! (That actually happened in the 14th Century.) Modern day toy balloons, as they’re called, can be traced back to Michael Faraday, who invented the first rubber balloon in the early 1800s. Faraday’s balloons were inflated with hydrogen. Shortly after that, rubber manufacturer Thomas Hancock produced do-it-yourself kits. The first-time latex balloons were manufactured was in 1847, in London. In the late 1800s balloons were being used “to the amusements of popular gatherings,” according to an archived New York Times article.

In terms of mass production of balloons, that dates back less than a hundred years. The foil or mylar variety didn’t hit the market until the 1970s. In the 1980s, helium balloon kits began being sold to the public. At the time, they were a cheap and fairly easy solution that added cheer to almost any celebration or special event. The “cheap” part is no longer true, however, as the price of helium has ‘ballooned’ over 100% recently. And if you are the one who has to set up and take down that display, it’s going to take valuable time away from selling.

It is worth noting that in conjunction with the popularity of balloons, concerns about the environment has caused downward spiral in terms of traditional, helium filled latex balloon sales. Helium is in scarce supply right now, and Latex or Mylar balloons biodegrade very slowly.

There’s no question: balloons do attract (and hold) attention, are fun to look at, and almost always add a cheery, fun atmosphere to an event. There are many examples of this, but ask yourself this: would have still walked into that car dealership, or business, if you had not first seen a colourful, artistically designed balloon display?

Near the turn of the last millennium, as the world was gripped by Y2K frenzy, balloon modelling burst on the scene in a bigger, more formal way with the advent of the world’s first Balloon Twisting Convention, held in Austin, Texas. People had been modelling balloons for decades at that point, but things really took flight in 1999.

Today, much of our buying habits at physical brick-and-mortar dealerships, retail stores, and other businesses are enhanced and aided by point of sale messaging. As increasingly vast numbers of people begin their buying research on the Internet, it makes sense that deals of all kinds (for example, red tag clearances) offer a unique point of sale support system. Balloons promote a festive environment, which in turn helps drive sales.

Whether you want to sell more cars, get noticed from the street, or present a cheerful atmosphere for your customers, colourful, dynamic balloon displays are always a welcomed feature and good investment. If you’re planning a launch, having a special sale, need your balloon investment to work for you 24/7, or have been disappointed with balloons that sag or blow away in the wind, give us a call at <a href=”tel:+18888660608″>1-888-866-0608</a>. Dynamic Balloons, a 100% Canadian company, offers you an eco-friendly solution, with balloons that last and never lose their shine.