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Title: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Melissa on Sep 8th, 2006, 6:12pm OMG, I got a phone call from a lady for balloon decor who when I asked her about budget, she replied "budget is no problem"! :o HOly fucking shit! I am so nervous about even attempting to decorate for her daughters 30th birthday party on Oct. 14th. It's at Sentryworld in one of their tennis court rooms. Shit, I was looking at the balloons that the daughter liked and for JUST the balloons of 1 bouquet it was $20 freaking dollars! I don't know if Jesse's credit card can hold that kind of money! [smiley=laugh.gif] I had told Jesse about a month or 2 ago that I wanted to gear more towards just doing balloon bouquet deliveries and stear away from decor because I don't want to end up in a lawsuit with some snotty rich person who didn't like the way the balloons "turn". ACK! *sigh* On the other side of the fence I have gotten my new Rock Candy baby shower favors up on eBay and am SO EXCITED!!! If these go well I will then buy more supplies to make them for weddings. ;;D I'm going to start pulling out my hair RIGHT NOW!! [smiley=laugh.gif] forgot to add, here's my favors... http://tinyurl.com/fndmz |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by imnotbub on Sep 8th, 2006, 6:16pm Get a deposit, which will help pay for the materials, take a deep breath and go for it. You will do GREAT! Steve |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Jonny on Sep 8th, 2006, 6:23pm on 09/08/06 at 18:16:30, imnotbub wrote:
Great advice, Steve!! If I do a 30K job I always ask for the material money up front, that way if the job goes sour im not left holding material I wont use. |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Cathi04 on Sep 8th, 2006, 6:25pm Melly, Steve is right, for the big budget things, I would take 1/3 up front, bal prior to event. I did wedding flowers for 17 yrs, freelance and that was the norm! Furthermore, in those 17 yrs, I had ONE complaint....and it came from a woman who "thought hers didnt stink"..yes, new money, and she had NO style, no grace whatsoever. Our problem came about when she ordered gardenias out of season. She blamed me for their small size, even though I doubled up on them to compensate. I told her I would give her back the $ I spent on the gardenias-the wholesale price, she said "nevermind-I just dont see how I can possibly refer you to any of my friends", and I told her I would appreciate it if she didnt. Never once did this affect my bus. In fact, my last year in bus I did 74 weddings.....do the math........ Contracts, Melly....deposits and a refund policy clearly stated. Balloons can be unpredictable, dont want to see you blamed for 1 burst balloon! PLEASE don't sell your self short, Mel........ Cathi |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by alchemy on Sep 8th, 2006, 6:26pm ditto on the advice above, I always got half in cash before starting the work |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by maffumatt on Sep 8th, 2006, 6:29pm what was the Jeffersons theme song............................Oh yea Moving on Up.......................... |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Sep 8th, 2006, 6:35pm Way to go Melly! I agree with the others about $ up front! When I used to sew for people, I always made them pay the cost of the material before I started the job. That way if they bail on you - you're only stuck for your labour and not your product. You'll do just fine. Deep breath now and away you go! Carol |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Melissa on Sep 8th, 2006, 6:59pm Thanks for the advice everyone. I do know about the contracts and deposit and everything and would definately have this lady pay for all materials up front for the party. I guess the reason why I am so nervous is because I am afraid I'll disappoint someone and do not have the self confidence right now because this is still new to me. I have a couple ideas for the room already, especially the dance floor, but am going to try and not worry so much about it. I gave the lady my website addy and if she doesn't like it, she can obviously look elsewhere. It'll be interesting to see if she calls me back. [smiley=laugh.gif] I don't mind doing the decorating, it's fun for me. I just don't want to fall flat on my face. That's all... :-/ hugs, me |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by maffumatt on Sep 8th, 2006, 7:05pm You can do it Mel, we've seen your work and have faith in you. Matt |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Jonny on Sep 8th, 2006, 7:06pm on 09/08/06 at 18:59:40, Melissa wrote:
If she calls ask here what ideas SHE has and provide a sample of what you made. that way she cant say shit in the end if she approves the sample. I provide samples all the time....its insurance ;;D You will do great, melly!! :-* |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by brewcrew on Sep 8th, 2006, 7:45pm Your confidence is building, Mel. I just had new gutters put on my house and the guy who did it asked for half up front so he could buy materials. You're going to do just fine. I've always found it's best to just be up front with people. Talk to them like you've known them for their whole life and things will be fine. We're pullin' for ya! [smiley=hug.gif] |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by unsolved1 on Sep 8th, 2006, 10:12pm I thought about you today Melly as a truck went by that said "Helium" real big on it. It also said balloons & stuff and had pictures of ballons!! I guess they were a mobile decorating company or something [smiley=huh.gif] Goodluck on your new venture. Make lots of $$ !! Take pictures UNsolved |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by JenniferD on Sep 8th, 2006, 10:26pm mel. you listen up girl. YOU ARE ONE OF THE STRONGEST WOMEN I HAVE EVER HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVELIGE OF KNOWING. Don't you DARE second guess yourself or your abilities. You can do this. 1/2 up front. Then do the job you know you can do. Because you CAN do it. Got it? Jen :) |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by alchemy on Sep 8th, 2006, 10:54pm Mel do not sell yourself short. It's always scary at first. Jonny had great advice about showing samples and seeing what they have in mind. It worked out for me also. Now go out there and gettem you little balloonologist!!!!!!!!! ps I didn't yell cause i think Jen took care of that my ears are still ringing ;;D |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by cootie on Sep 9th, 2006, 12:16am I'm SURE you'll do great.....but I will admit workin with the public can be a bitch........and there are people out there that can never be satisfied with work done for them no matter what you do.....really rips at the confidence levels. But ya gotta start sumwhere and each satisfied customer is one more feather in yer hat Pam |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Cathi04 on Sep 9th, 2006, 12:28am Melly, Slip into it, honey. You're bound to have learning experiences down the line, but I'll bet those will be few and far between! IF it ever does happen, grow from it, as I think you would..and remember...... fall down once, stand up twice! Congratulations, Melly, you are now a business woman! Cathi (ps- you can stay small if you wish to, but it is much better to grow and expand) |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Carl_D on Sep 9th, 2006, 12:55am Congrats Mel. I hope this goes beyond your wildest dreams. The only thing better than working for yourself is...working for yourself! Kudos, Carl |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by LeLimey on Sep 9th, 2006, 5:57am Well miss butter, I have complete, absolute, irreversible faith in you. I've seen several examples of your work now including "for real" at the convention and I was very impressed. I think you are a strong, beautiful, intelligent, talented woman who can do anything she chooses. I'm very proud to have you as a friend and I know after the super advice you've had from the family here that you are going to make a real success of this. The world is your's Mellymoo. Do with it what you will [smiley=hug.gif] lots and lots of love Helen xxx |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by paulc on Sep 9th, 2006, 6:56am on 09/08/06 at 18:12:38, Melissa wrote:
Good luck! I never realized that there was so much money to be made in balloons! Regarding the purchasing of those VERY expensive balloons, why not get an estimate of the cost of materials and then go back to the customer and ask for a deposit that will cover the cost of materials? This is done in business all of the time and you can bill her for the labor after the event. Just a suggestion to try and help a fellow CHer who is on her way to cornering the balloon decoration market (when you are rich and successful, remember who have you the idea ::))! Good luck and viel success! |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by paulc on Sep 9th, 2006, 7:05am I just read the whole thread, Mel and I see that I am not the only person who recommended an up-front payment from the customer. You have the talent and had the b.lls to start the business and it has been going well, so I don't think that you need worry about disappointing someone-you can show them a sketch of what you plan and have them OK it, so then they have no reason to complain later. You'll do well, but get the money ahead of time as there are many people out there who will try to get a "discount" after you have done all of the work and the party is over. Go get 'em sis! (Tell them you'll send Guido 8) to collect if they don't pay up!) |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by E-Double on Sep 9th, 2006, 7:52am on 09/08/06 at 18:16:30, imnotbub wrote:
yup & contract |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Melissa on Sep 9th, 2006, 7:54am Thank you everyone for your posts, they are SO appreciated! Well, after the shock of it all wore off and I was able to get some sleep, I'm feeling less scared today and more confident that I'd be able to decorate the venue quite nicely. Let me remind you, I don't have the job yet! I had given the woman my web addy to look at the pictures of things I've done thus far, so it's up to her whether or not to call me back. I figure, if she doesn't like the work I've done, then she'll pass me up, if she does like it, that means she'll be easy to please (for me). I already have some ideas brewing if she DOES decide to call me back. I will probably do the figuring of how much materials and helium will cost, and then bill her $25-$30 an hour for my labor. I am trying so hard to remember how those tennis courts look but am having a hard time with it. If I get the job I'm heading there right off the bat to take pictures and do some measurements. I think that because the customer said that budget is not a problem, that just scared the beejezus out of me! Balloons actually can get quite expensive. It isn't hard to shell out $500-$1000 just in decor. I know I can make it look fantastic, I just need to work on some self appreciation. ;) Thanks everyone! :-*me Oh, and P.S. Yes I'll have a contract drawn up when I get all the figuring done. ;) |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by taraann on Sep 9th, 2006, 9:55pm on 09/08/06 at 18:23:52, Jonny wrote:
I third that advice. You will do great! |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by chewy on Sep 9th, 2006, 11:18pm Involve the customer in the planning. This one could be your ticket in word of mouth advertising. If budget is no problem for her then it probably isn't for all her friends either. No budget for a daughters 30TH? Momi s probably a social influence. I think I got a card with 10 bucks in it for my 30th. LOL |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by Charlie on Sep 10th, 2006, 2:20am I missed this thing somehow. Anyway, you'll be fine and these goons have some good ideas. http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/nailbiting.gif Charlie |
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Title: Re: I am nervous as all hell!!!!! Post by georgej on Sep 10th, 2006, 2:32am Be cool, Mel. I know you can do it. I fifth or sixth the thought about getting a substantial deposit upfront. Best wishes, George |
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