Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Aldaco.
Hi Michelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Thank you so much for taking interest in my story. I moved here from the Philippines in 2015 to be with my husband and start a family. From being someone completely from the other side of the world, it me took time to get adjusted. I took interest in Balloon Decor back in 2018 for my now 4 year old son’s first birthday party. I wanted to do balloons for his birthday and that’s what started my craft. Not unusual for a stay at home mom right? I grew up with very creative people around me in a highly competitive household and I believe that contributed a lot as to what makes me the business owner I am now. I never planned to become one nor have I ever dreamed to be doing organic balloon decor services and become a self taught balloon stylist but, here I am.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Before I started the business, our main goal ,as a couple, was to start a family and ultimately decided that I become a stay at home mom. That was going really well until COVID-19 hit. Everyone was just starting businesses from home left and right so, I did exactly the same. Early 2021, as soon as the restrictions started to lift, I decided to jump on social media and create an Instagram for my small business. From all the balloon decor I created for my children’s and my husband’s grandchildren’s birthdays, I felt that I had enough pictures to show potential clients of what I’m capable of. Although I quickly realized I was wrong, It never stopped me from creating something every chance I could get. I remember making a list of all the birthdays in the family and trying to imagine what I’d create for them. That’s how obsessed I was with balloons.
I knew what I wanted and what I envisioned my business to look like a few years from now and that has always been my purpose ever since I started. I practiced every day until I one day hurt my elbow using the wrong tools which took six months to heal. Even then, I still kept going. The first few months consisted of binge-watching YouTube tutorial videos, practicing, marketing through social media and answering inquiries I would rarely get. My 3rd child was about nine months old when started and have somewhat of a back to back pregnancy so I also had a toddler. My oldest is a teenager and this is where my kids start coming into play in my small business. It started really slow in the first 3 months. All I remember doing was marketing and advertising. After the 3rd month, people started noticing me and I would get a couple of inquiries here and there. At 6 months in, I was able to land several on site balloon installations. Switching up strategies here and there gained me more ground on social media which in my case equated to more potential client.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Organic Balloon styling. Never heard of the term until 2018 but it may have been around before then. Well, in a nutshell, It’s a new way to give the traditional balloon structure a new and modern look. When I hear organic, I think of flowy, free, purposeful and intentional. To me, that is how an organic balloon creation should look like. This job allows me to let my creativity flow just like any artist should. I had no proper training at all. I learned everything through watching YouTube videos and practicing whenever I can.
Having no means of making my own money meant that we would have to extract some from our savings to be able to start a business but something about that idea didn’t sit right with me. So I built my small business from scratch. I used all means of free advertising and that meant that I posted all on the Facebook marketplace and told everyone that I started doing balloons in my Filipino community but somehow held back on telling friends, extended family or post anything about it on my personal social platforms. But, from that came my very first order. A 4ft rainbow structure that I offered for pick up for 100$. With the deposit, I bought balloons. Guess what I did with the rest of the money? Bought more balloons. The cycle went on and on and my inventory started building up, so did my skills.
Although learning is never ending, I knew this was a passion deeper than anything because it was just something I loved doing. I remember one of the first clients I had, showed me a picture of a balloon creation of a caterpillar and although I have never done anything like that in my life, she took a chance and hired me. That was one of the most proudest days of my life in this journey. I know where I wanted to be in this industry and I am allowing myself to organically grow and learn as I go. My work signifies my ethics and I always make sure to deliver more than what I promise. That, along with listening to what they want and pour my heart out to every single design I do is what I think gained me repeat clients and recommendations. I truly am grateful for the trust that is given to me by every single one of the lovely customers I get to meet. Pursuing this endeavor has been one of the best decisions I made in my life. I feel blessed that God has led me to this path.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I run a business, but I am a mother and a wife first before I am an entrepreneur. Nothing matters to me more than my family. They are the reason I get to design something awesome because they are my inspiration. My kids being with me all the time and getting to do what I love aside from being their mom is a life I dreamed of. I have the best of both worlds.
Pricing:
- 375$ petite package (Great for smaller spaces and intimate gatherings)
- Pint package 500$ white wooden backdrop with a custom design balloon garland with one cake pedestal
- Mega pint package 680$ Two white wooden backdrop with a custom design balloon garland and one cake pedestal
- Interstellar package 985$ three wooden backdrop with a custom balloon design with two cake pedestals
- Peas in a pod package 685$ one white round wooden wall with two themes (one left side and one on the right side) with two cake pedestals.
Contact Info:
- Website: Discoverballoonstexas.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/discoverballoons
- Facebook: Facebook.com/discoverballoonstexas
