Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Wade.
Hi Nikki, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve worked in hospitality for 25 years, mostly food & beverage. My passion for food & beverage didn’t start as a passion, it started as a desperation. I had my first daughter at a young age and my food & beverage job helped keep me focused and grounded! Fast forward to 2020 that daughter is 19, I had 8-year-old twins, a loving husband who always told me to chase my dreams, and a job that was furloughed! Being furloughed and bored, I explored starting my own business. I knew I was a passionate creator, but balloons fell into my lap. Violet Pineapple was originally going to be an event backdrop rental business. I worked at a convention center for many years and with trying to keep up with the trends we always had the need for trendy backdrops and no time to coordinate or put one together. After setting up backdrops a couple of time with balloons on them I thought, “heck, I can do balloons solely. They are super profitable; you don’t have to retrieve them and I can use my creativity that I was craving. Well, the balloon business idea was put on the backburner for a few years.
The name came from writing down a lot of words I was passionate about and figuring out what fit together. It just so happened that the pineapple is the international symbol of hospitality, for without hospitality I would have never had the nerve to start a business. Violet, this was my late mom’s favorite color.
In April of 2020, I received my LLC in the mail and went headfirst into the balloon business. I can’t even begin to describe how much joy and freedom balloons have brought to my and my family’s lives.
I always wanted to start my own business to be my own boss, my husband says I started my business because I was bored!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
NO, it has not been a smooth road. BUT everything thing that has happened has needed to happen. Balloon shortages… ahhh balloon shortages have taught me systems are necessary to have in place so I am not ordering job-by-job. Also, speaking of systems. I did $8900 my first year in business, the following I did $36,000 and I am on pace to triple that revenue this year. So, those systems I put in place my first year I thought I would never use are fully engaged now! Managing my time was difficult. I worked my full-time job for the first two years I was in business. I was turning away business because I didn’t want to put my full-time job on the back burner. Also, in hospitality, you can’t very well take every weekend off, so I was beginning to feel guilty. Two years almost to the day I went full time in my business.
Finally, the third biggest challenge is workspace. This is a great story to tell. I was working out of my living room, that lasted for a few weeks. I then got enough nerve to move my supplies to my basement. Well fast forward a few months, my basement flooded! So, there I was with all of my supplies back in my living room and dining room. I had to find a space!!! In the balloon decorating business you just need a space to work, no retail or any fancy space. Thank goodness, I found a space that use to be an old doctor’s office. I had one large room and three smaller rooms and it was perfect… until the distance from there to my home started to get to me. So, my gracious husband fixed the basement up for me and I moved back 6 months later. This was a blessing because it gave me the push to leave my job and feel comfortable not paying for rent. I have been back in my house for 5 months and it’s going well!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an air-filled balloon decorator. I can transform a space with balloons! What sets me apart is my customer service and my willingness to keep learning. I not only specialize in organic balloon decor but classic decor as well. I am most proud of the fact that I created this business myself! I am a women-owned company! My daughter created my logo, for which I am very grateful, my girlfriends work for me and I support other women-owned businesses in my area.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I was fortunate enough to start my business in a time where balloons were “poppin” (pun intended). I will say that the balloon/balloon supply shortage was a slight challenge, but I was already trained on how to create something incredible out of almost nothing in my previous job. SO, I could handle it.
Contact Info:
- Email: violetpineapple.eventrentals@gmail.com
- Website: www.violetpineappleballoons.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violet_pineapple_balloonsllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/violetpineappleballoon
Image Credits
1826 Photographic
