BAPIA Ltd News

Spring Fair General Newsletter

Administrator — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:01:54 GMT

We recently produced a newsletter for distribution to members and public at Spring Fair to highlight our initiatives and teh benefits of membership, if you would like to download a copy of the newsletter simply click this link Spring Fair 2012 final.pdf

BAPIA Launches ISO 14001 initiative

Administrator — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:45:12 GMT

BAPIA launches ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard initiative for members.

BAPIA, the Balloon And Party Industry Alliance is introducing another new initiative for its members. Partnering with Kenny Roberts of KRQA, a quality assurance and business consultancy (who also has a very good working knowledge of the balloon and party industry), BAPIA is encouraging its members to work towards achieving the ISO14001 Environmental Management System standard.

Promoting the green credentials of the balloon industry and educating the public on our own best practices is already at the top of BAPIA’s agenda and is promoted through www.thegreenballooncampaign.co.uk . Adding to this, better business practices and the guidance towards obtaining the internationally recognised standard ISO14001 can really benefit the whole balloon industry!

WHY ISO 14001?

ISO 14001 certification demonstrates to customers that you manage your environmental responsibilities in a professional manner and so reduce the risk of breaking the law. Also, many customers, particularly large corporations and public bodies, now require their suppliers to be accredited with the ISO 14001 environmental management system. As we enter the New Year we are all looking at ways to increase our profits and obtain new customers whilst looking after our existing clients, and this has never been more important than in the current economic climate.

Considerable savings can be made by streamlining your business, improving systems and procedures and reducing waste while at the same time promoting environmentally friendly practices. Streamlining the business can also promote a ‘feel good’ factor among your staff and your customers. Better still, positive PR can be obtained by implementing simple procedures and policies that promote all round environmental friendliness.

KRQA will be offering a “do it yourself” solution to BAPIA members who, with a few hours’ work a week can be working in the spirit of the international standard and start making positive money saving changes straight away. It’s not necessary to obtain the standard but if you do wish to do so then this course will be a valuable tool kit that will save you thousands in consultancy fees!

The price of this kit will be just £50 to BAPIA members and will include templates and tools that you can use throughout your business.

Kenny will also be giving regular advice and promotion tips on the BAPIA member’s website, helping you to promote your green credentials and take advantage of PR opportunities.

To find out more contact info@bapiaonline.com

Winner of BAPIA Prize Draw announced

Administrator — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:37:01 GMT

BAPIA has announced that Sila L'Heureux of Frenzy Balloons in Basingstoke was the luck winner of the Prize Draw for a single delegate package to the Qualatex Event in Oxford this November. Sula said "Thank you very much, i'm still smiling and very much looking forward to the event in November.... it's a fantastic opportunity."

We are looking forward to the event and hope to see many of you there.

Balloon Art Festival a huge success for Green Balloon Campaign.

Administrator — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:28:51 GMT

The Balloon Art Festival in Cardiff was a huge success with over 40,000 visitors at The Red Dragon centre. The Festival was designed to create public awareness of balloon art and decor and also to highlight the green credentials of latex balloons. For a full report and photographs go to Green Balloon Campaign

Carrier Bag charge in Wales - News Update!

Administrator — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:17:09 GMT

Thanks to Mike Harris of For Every Occasion in Rhyl for an update on the legislation regarding the compulsory 5p charge that retailers now have to make for carrier bags in Wales.

Mike asked the following question:

We run a balloon shop in Rhyl. A lot of the time we use wheelie bin bags to place the balloon arrangements in with a view to:-

1. Protecting the environment by preventing foil balloons from being released and
2. To ensure the product remains in perfect condition for the customer – I am sure you will understand that carrying a balloon arrangement worth up to £50.00 without a bag is not possible without it being damaged in any way.

I cannot see any mention of a charge for bags other than a single use carrier bag and we are therefore not clear whether we will have to apply a 5p charge to each wheelie bin bag or specialist decorators bag that leaves our shop.

Perhaps you could please clarify the position so it is clear to us.

Mike received the following reply from Tobi Adeshokan of the welsh government:

Dear Mike

The single use carrier bag charge only applies to plastic, paper, natural starch and plant-based mateiral carrier bags and not to bin bags.

We hope that this helps shed some light on what you can use.

BAPIA Newsletter - Balloon Art Festival

Administrator — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 17:35:32 GMT

Here's the latest BAPIA update, this one is focused on The Green Balloon Campaign and the Balloon Art Festival.

Newsletter Aug 2011 Festival.pdf

BAPIA announces Balloon Art Festival at The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff.

Administrator — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:50:57 GMT

BAPIA is sponsoring the first Balloon Art Festival that has been organised by The Green Balloon Campaign and Dr Bobs Balloons. The festival is a public display of balloon sculptures in The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff and is designed to co-ordinate with the Waterfron Festival in Cardiff Bay from 27th -29th August 2011. The festival is an opportunity to promote balloons and balloon decor to the public and also to create awareness of the truth about balloons and the environment. There will be balloon professionals on hand to answer questions from the public and to promote the Green Balloon Campaign schools project. for more information go to http://www.thegreenballooncampaign.com

The Red Dragon Centre have organised a fantastic marketing campaign to generate interest in the festival and to achieve media interest in what we are doing.

balloon-fest-A4[1].pdf

BAPIA launches The Green Balloon Campaign

Administrator — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:54:47 GMT

BAPIA announces the launch of The Green Balloon Campaign, an initiative to highlight the facts about balloons and the environment and create greater awareness of what can be achieved with balloons. For more information clcik on the following link to read the BAPIA update on the campaign.

Newsletter July 2011.pdf

Helium Shortage, what is the problem?

Administrator — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 20:19:38 GMT

If you want to know the facts about the current helium supply issue click on the following link which will take you to an article on the Gas World website. Our understanding is that the gas companies are working to limit the impact of this situation on their customers. For more information you shoudl contact your helium supplier.

http://www.gasworld.com/news.php?a=5727

Welsh Assembly introduce compulsory bag charges

Administrator — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:01:29 GMT

From 1st October 2011 a minimum 5p charge will be introduced on all 'one time use' carrier bags for retailers in Wales.

The Welsh Assembly is introducing a compulsory minimum 5p charge on all carrier bags, the move is designed to encourage people to re-use their bags and reduce waste.

Currently the scheme is only affecting retailers and those supplying goods from within Wales but it is likely that other governemnts will be watching teh results of the scheme.

For more information click on the following link http://www.walescarbonfootprint.gov.uk/business/carrierbags/?lang=en

Selfridges, Project Ocean sculptures by Jason Hackenwerth

Administrator — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:22:41 GMT

New York artist Jason Hackenwerth is an experimental artist who is currently using balloons as his medium of choice but as an artist uses many different mediums. Jason first started using balloons to help finance his way through University, his mother was an entertainer and despite his mild embarrassment at this as a youngster he could see the financial benefits and so started twisting for tips.

His abilities with balloons carried on through to his professional artistry and he has exhibited at many large art exhibitions and has been commissioned by large galleries and corporations to build his unique sculptures.

He was recently approached to design and build some balloon sculptures to support Selfridges ‘Project Ocean’ campaign for a display in their main atrium at the London flagship store. Jason, an avid environmentalist, explained to the team that all of the balloons were pure natural latex and 100% recyclable and this only served to re-enforce their desire to use his sculptures in their campaign.

Jason and his team built the sculptures of sea creatures in the currently disused Selfridges hotel and then transferred them to the main atrium area where they were completed and hoisted into place. The project was launched by HRH Prince Charles and Jason was really pleased that he got to meet him and have a brief chat.

You can see pictures of the sculptures in our gallery Project Ocean

Check out Jason’s video athttp://www.youtube.com/user/Mrsuperdeluxe

Amscan launch new Amscan Decorator website

Administrator — Fri, 06 May 2011 09:38:07 GMT

Amscan International have recently launched their new Amscan Decorator website which is a direct to decorators website where professionals will be able to source wide range of Amscan decorator products and accessories as well as get the latest news and information from Amscan and view their current training schedule.

For more information go tohttp://www.amscandecorator.com

Balloon Installation in Selfridges, London

Administrator — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:14:02 GMT

As part of their 'Project Ocean' Selfridges are having a giant balloon creation built and installed by New York artist Jason Hackenwerth in the main atrium of their London flagship store.

Jason, who as an experimental artist works with many different mediums but who has found success with his balloon sculptures and exhibitions has been commisioned to build giant sea creatures from latex balloons to bring a twist of colour and humour to the project. The project launches on 11th May and Jason has promised BAPIA some photographs of his work there, so that we can all see what he has created.

For more details on Project Ocean click on the following linkhttp://www.selfridges.com/en/Whats-On/Latest-news/News/Selfridges-Unveils-Project-Ocean_Selfridges%20Unveils%20Project%20Ocean/?brdcrmb_trail=&rssLink

For more information on Jason Hackenwerth go to his website at http://www.jasonhackenwerth.com/

IBA announces International Balloon Month

Administrator — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:24:40 GMT

For ever more….generations and generations of people around the globe will know September as International Balloon Month!

The International Balloon Association (IBA), the balloon industry’s non profit trade association for manufacturers, distributors, entertainers and decorators are ramping up for their most ambitious campaign to date.

Balloon industry members around the world will participate in promoting the wondrous world of balloons. The public will gain exposure to the advancements and variety of balloon designs, balloon couture, balloon sculpture and entertainer talents.

The excitement is mounting as balloon manufacturers select the unique designs of foil and latex Smiley balloons to offer distributors who will then pass on the special pricing to retailers. The Smiley balloon is an iconic balloon and the face of International Balloon Month. Consumers will find special promotions on Smiley balloons in most retail locations.

International Balloon Month is an event that brings competing companies together for the common goal of promoting balloons.

Keep your eyes peeled for sales on balloons, surprise balloon delivery blitz’s, balloon flash mobs, creative YouTube videos and countless antics planned by this group who are passionate about balloons and the balloon industry.

2010 was the first year for International Balloon Month and their soft launch was a success proving the world is indeed ready for an International Balloon Month.

The industry benefits by increased exposure, the public benefits by learning Smart Balloon Practices and amazing decor ideas and the ultimate beneficiaries are the recipients of the balloons. Because as Winnie the Pooh said “No one can be uncheered with a balloon”.

Get ready world - International Balloon Month is coming in September and people are bound to get carried away with all the excitement.

For more information contact Marty Fish: 866-413-7358, Marty@ibaonline.net, www.ibaonline.net

Members FREE prize draw

Administrator — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:06:38 GMT

All members will be entered into a draw to win a full single registration to The Qualatex Event 2011 at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire. The event takes place between 5th - 7th November and the draw will take place on Friday 30th September. For more information on the event click on the image below.

CAA publishes review of guidelines for balloon releases and Sky Lanterns

Administrator — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:45:38 GMT

The Civil Aviation Authority has now publisehd it's review of CAP 736 - Guidelines for Operation of Directed Light, Fireworks, Toy Balloons and Sky Lanterns Within UK Airspace. Full details can be found on the following page of the Civil Aviation Website. http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP736.PDF