NEWS
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NEWS 〰️
We would like to take this opportunity to send a massive heartfelt thank you to Chris Horne, Jacob Megram, and Jennifer Wilson, who have been great friends and supporters of BAPIA for many years. Sadly, Chris, Jacob and Jen along with many other Amscan International (UK) employees were made redundant when the business was acquired by Baaj Capital. We are sure like us you will be very saddened by this news and will want to wish them all much success and happiness with their future ventures.
Chris's journey within the balloon industry spans more than three decades. With a background in floristry, he brought a unique and creative perspective to balloon artistry, enriching the worldwide ballooning community with his extensive experience, creativity, and passion.
We wish Chris every happiness in his early retirement, his garden and allotment will be the envy of his neighbours and his adorable grandchildren will love all the new and exciting ventures that he will have with them.
Jacob, Who can believe that Jacob's career in the world of balloons started just nine years ago! In that time, he has made a remarkable impact on the industry. Alongside Chris, Jacob quickly became the face of Amscan UK, sharing his extensive knowledge, skills, and creativity with the ballooning community. Through engaging demonstrations, comprehensive training courses, and frequent appearances on BMTV and Amscan's own YouTube channel, Jacob has become a beloved and respected figure in the industry.
From what we understand Jacob is heading off to pastures new, we wish him every success and much happiness in his new role, we will definitely miss him, and hope that he returns to the party industry soon.
Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Wilson (our Jen) knows that over the past 19 years, she has made a significant contribution to Amscan UK and the wider ballooning community. Her dedication and passion for the growth and development of the balloon industry are truly remarkable.
Jennifer Wilson’s legacy at Amscan UK is one of creativity, innovation, and excellence. Her work has been pivotal in the company’s success and has played a major role in establishing Amscan as a leader in the balloon and party supply industry. Her commitment and enthusiasm have left an indelible mark on all who have had the privilege to work with her. Good luck Jen, any company will be very lucky to have you on their team!
Many of you have already seen the announcement from Pioneer Balloon USA about the sale most of Pioneer's assets as of June 28, 2024. Pioneer Blue Balloon will continue to offer the Funsational products as well as the Cloudbuster line. Pioneer Europe has been acquired by Anagram, and will now operate as Anagram Europe. They are working diligently to secure a future for Qualatex products to maintain their retail and education programs, with key discussions still ongoing.
With this news, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to Ted & Betty Vlamis and their entire global team for their incredible contributions to the industry. Renowned for The Very Best Balloons, Qualatex elevated the industry with their groundbreaking innovations and educational initiatives, offering conventions, events, and training opportunities around the world. Their comprehensive education program, The Qualatex Balloon Network (QBN), has been instrumental in helping many businesses grow and thrive. We wish everyone who has been part of this amazing organisation every happiness and success for the future. #qualatex #qualatexballoons🎈
www.bapia.ie
BAPIA Membership now available in Ireland 🇮🇪 Join BAPIA, the leading trade organisation for balloon and party industry professionals in the UK and Ireland, and get access to exclusive benefits and business support available to members nationwide. To find out more visit www.bapia.ie
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Join BAPIA
For less than 45p + VAT per day you get bespoke business insurance for both retailers and home-based business, round-the-clock access to legal advice and the peace of mind of being part of the industry’s leading balloon and party association.
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Balloon Stacks: The Creative Balloon Bouquets
Over the past few years, a new and exciting style of deliverable design has emerged – Balloon Stacks, or Balloon Bouquets.
The Evolution of Balloon Bouquets over Time ⏰🎈 Back in the day (we're talking many years ago 🦕), a balloon bouquet was simply a bunch of helium-filled latex and foil balloons tied together and securely fastened to a weight. Nowadays, balloon bouquets have become much more sophisticated. These stacks are creatively arranged and have a unique blend of colours, techniques and designs that make them a perfect fit for any occasion.
OurJuly/August Photo Competition Winners…
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The Most Liked Winner
Congratulations to the winner that received the most likes: Hallie Munday of Ballooning Brilliant.
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The Independently Judged Winner
Congratulations to the winner voted by our judges: Barbara Kozusko of Inflated Creations
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The Randomly Selected Winner
Congratulations to our randomly selected winner: Greta Ruseckiene of Rus Party Delight

Our September photo competition was generously sponsored by Amscan
Here are all of the great entries from the July/August Photo Competition…

BAPIA Fundays
Here are some photographs from our past BAPIA Fundays!

BAPIA Funday













