BAPIA

BAPIA The fastest growing independent trade organisation for the Balloon and Party industry, representing What is BAPIA and why should you join?
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BAPIA is the Balloon And Party Industry Alliance
A pro-active industry organisation set up to achieve 2 main goals:
To represent the Balloon and Party Industry
To build benefits for and offer support to BAPIA members
Are you already part of the Balloon and Party industry or thinking of becoming part of it? Balloons, Fancy Dress, Candy Carts, Venue Decor, Party Goods, Face-painting, balloon twistin

g and much more, if you offer any or all of these then you are part of our industry and BAPIA is here for you. As a BAPIA member you will receive:
Public and Products liability Insurance cover up to £10million
Employers liability insurance cover up to £10million
£100,000 Legal expenses Insurance cover
£100,000 Professional Indemnity cover
BAPIA membership is £160 per year, which makes the Insurance extremely competitively priced but add to that the other benefits and it is an absolute must for anybody who is part of the industry. Other Benefits include:
Exclusive discounts from wholesalers and suppliers
Discounted training courses
Online promotion of your business through BAPIAonline.com
Promotion through ongoing social media campaign
Business referrals
Training and education support from leading industry educators
Monthly photo competition with 3 prizes per month
Support from an established, rapidly growing and well recognised industry organisation
BAPIA newsletter
Industry magazine
Exclusive industry events (such as Great Ormond Street Hospital charity event)
Be part of a pro-active, forward thinking trade organisation that is focused on its members and the industry that it represents. The Balloon And Party industry Alliance is also committed to investing in our industry and our members, having recently sponsored and supported The Great Ormond Street Christmas Party Class, Guinness World Record attempts and World Balloon Convention 2014 Team GB large sculpture, being headed up by BAPIA member Mike Harris of For All Occasions. With a wealth of experience and support from all areas of the industry, BAPIA is best placed to fulfil the requirements of an industry organisation and to serve its members to the best of its ability. Among its members BAPIA proudly lists many established and recognised retailers, decorators, entertainers, suppliers and manufacturers from across the industry. On a global level we have established links with other international industry organisations such as those in the USA, Europe, Australia and South Africa ensuring that we are aware of industry issues before they hit our shores.

Does Your Contract Include a Weather Policy?Whether you’re a balloon artist, face painter, soft play provider, entertain...
15/06/2026

Does Your Contract Include a Weather Policy?

Whether you’re a balloon artist, face painter, soft play provider, entertainer or party business, weather can have a significant impact on your event.

When most people think about weather-related issues, they think about rain. But what about:

☀️ Extreme heat affecting balloon décor, equipment or working conditions?

💨 High winds making outdoor setups unsafe?

🌧️ Heavy rain preventing outdoor activities or damaging equipment?

⚡ Adverse weather causing venues or events to change plans?

A good contract isn’t just about payments and cancellations. It should help protect both you and your client when circumstances beyond anyone’s control affect an event.

Ask yourself:

Who decides when conditions are unsafe?

Can the event or installation be postponed?

What happens to deposits and payments?

Are these terms clearly explained before the event?

A contract isn’t expecting something to go wrong—it’s making sure everyone understands what happens if it does.

🌞 Sunday Thoughts for the BAPIA Community 🌞Running a business can sometimes feel like there is always one more message t...
14/06/2026

🌞 Sunday Thoughts for the BAPIA Community 🌞

Running a business can sometimes feel like there is always one more message to answer, one more quote to send, or one more task to complete.

Today, give yourself permission to pause for a moment and recognise how far you’ve come.

Whether you’ve spent the week creating beautiful balloon displays, painting smiling faces, setting up soft play, planning events, or simply keeping your business moving forward, every small step counts.

Success isn’t always measured by the size of the job or the number of bookings. Sometimes it’s measured by the relationships you’ve built, the smiles you’ve created, and the challenges you’ve overcome.

Take some time today to recharge, enjoy your family and friends, and do something that makes you smile.

Tomorrow is a new week full of fresh opportunities.

Wishing all our BAPIA members a happy, restful Sunday. 💙

And if you’re working today, whether it’s delivering décor, entertaining at events, painting faces, or preparing for the week ahead, we hope your day is successful, enjoyable, and reminds you why you started your business in the first place.

BusinessJourney

LAST FEW SPACES REMAINING!Ready to build your skills, boost your confidence and grow or start your balloon business?Join...
11/06/2026

LAST FEW SPACES REMAINING!

Ready to build your skills, boost your confidence and grow or start your balloon business?

Join us next week at MGC Wholesale, Liverpool for our BAPIA Balloon Skills Awards with industry expert Angie George.

Level 1 – Mastering the Basics
Wednesday 17th June
Perfect for beginners or anyone wanting to strengthen their foundations.

Level 2 – Intermediate Balloon Skills Award
Thursday 18th June
Designed for those ready to take their designs, techniques and professional installations to the next level.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine and expand your skills, these hands-on courses are packed with practical techniques, industry knowledge, business tips and proven methods that you can immediately put into practice.

✅ Learn from experienced industry professionals
✅ Gain valuable business and design knowledge
✅ Build confidence in your skills
✅ Meet and network with fellow balloon artists
✅ Receive a recognised BAPIA Balloon Skills Award

MGC Wholesale, Liverpool
Places are limited and a small number of spaces are still available on both courses.

Scan the QR code or visit the BAPIA Training Calendar to secure your place today.

11/06/2026

Congratulations to everyone who took part in this years Balloon Summer Splash. What an incredible learning experience working with , Paula from .balloons and Denise and Audrey from and

With the World Cup starting today, what better way to celebrate than by showcasing the incredible creativity of balloon artists with this magnificent balloon installation ⚽️

From concept to creation, designs like this demonstrate the skill, planning, and attention to detail that go into professional balloon decor. It’s a fantastic example of how balloons can transform a space, capture the excitement of a sporting event, and create a memorable experience.

Will you be creating any football inspired designs over the next few weeks we’d love to see them!

And finally a huge congratulations and thank you to Naomi and Nadine for organising such a magnificent event

🏆🇮🇳❣️

NEW MEMBER RESOURCEBubble Houses are becoming an increasingly popular addition to events, and we’re excited to introduce...
08/06/2026

NEW MEMBER RESOURCE

Bubble Houses are becoming an increasingly popular addition to events, and we’re excited to introduce our NEW Bubble House Resource Guide, now available in the BAPIA Members Resource Area!

Whether you’re considering adding a Bubble House to your business or looking to improve the service you already offer, this guide is packed with practical advice, operational guidance, safety considerations, styling inspiration and business tips.

Designed to help BAPIA members offer Bubble House experiences professionally, safely and confidently.

Available now in the BAPIA Members Resource Area.

Product Safety MattersRecent action by European regulators highlights the importance of product compliance and safety wi...
05/06/2026

Product Safety Matters

Recent action by European regulators highlights the importance of product compliance and safety within our industry.

As professionals, we have a responsibility to use products that meet recognised standards and come from reputable manufacturers and suppliers.

While customers may never know which brand of balloon you used, they trust that you’ve chosen products that are safe, reliable and fit for purpose.

Choosing compliant products helps protect:

✔ Your customers
✔ Your reputation
✔ Your business
✔ The future of our industry

At BAPIA, we continue to encourage members to source responsibly and support manufacturers and suppliers who invest in product testing, quality control and recognised safety standards.

BAPIA is heading to Balloon Summer Splash next week!We’re looking forward to catching up with members, meeting new faces...
05/06/2026

BAPIA is heading to Balloon Summer Splash next week!

We’re looking forward to catching up with members, meeting new faces, sharing ideas and celebrating everything that’s great about our industry.

On Wednesday, Sue Bowler will be taking part in the Ask the Expert session, answering your questions on everything from pricing and profitability to client retention, contracts, corporate work, industry trends, AI, burnout, scaling your business and more!

Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, this is your opportunity to ask those burning questions and gain practical advice from someone who has spent over 35 years working in the balloon industry.

💬 Have a question you’d like answered? Bring it along!

We can’t wait to see everyone at Balloon Summer Splash and be part of what promises to be another fantastic event.

Who’s joining us? 👇

NEW MEMBER RESOURCESoft Play is one of the fastest-growing services in the party industry, and we’re excited to introduc...
03/06/2026

NEW MEMBER RESOURCE

Soft Play is one of the fastest-growing services in the party industry, and we’re excited to introduce our NEW Soft Play Resource Guide, now available in the BAPIA Members Resource Area!

Whether you’re looking to add Soft Play to your business or enhance the service you already provide, this guide is packed with practical advice, professional best practices, safety guidance, styling inspiration and more.

Designed to help BAPIA members offer Soft Play professionally, safely and confidently.

Available now in the BAPIA Members Resource Area.

If you’re a balloon artist, you’ll probably be nodding along to this one! Somewhere between answering enquiries at midni...
01/06/2026

If you’re a balloon artist, you’ll probably be nodding along to this one! 

Somewhere between answering enquiries at midnight, loading the van in the rain, climbing ladders, untangling ribbons, fixing last-minute disasters, and creating designs that took years to master, we still hear…

“Can you just do something quick?”
“It’s only balloons!”
“My cousin can do it cheaper…”
“Can I buy the balloons and you just put them up?”

The truth is, being a balloon artist is part designer, part event stylist, part salesperson, part marketer, part delivery driver, part accountant, and occasionally part magician! 

We wouldn’t change it for the world, but we thought we’d have a little fun with some of the things we hear all the time.

How many of these have you heard? Add your favourite in the comments! 

Have you noticed Instagram feels different lately?That’s because the platform is shifting away from relying heavily on h...
28/05/2026

Have you noticed Instagram feels different lately?

That’s because the platform is shifting away from relying heavily on hashtags and is now paying much more attention to KEYWORDS.

Instagram is becoming more like a search engine, meaning the words you use in your captions, videos, bio and reel text all help the algorithm understand:

What your business does
Who your content should be shown to
Where you are based

For balloon artists, face painters, soft play and party businesses, this is actually a HUGE opportunity because customers are actively searching for services like yours every single day.

Instead of writing vague captions like:“Loved this setup today!”

Try being more descriptive:

“Pastel balloon arch for a baby shower in Birmingham”
“Children’s face painting for birthday parties”
“Luxury soft play hire for toddlers”

Small changes in wording can make a big difference in helping the RIGHT customers discover your business.

The goal isn’t to keyword stuff your captions, it’s simply to describe your work clearly and naturally.

Think less: “What hashtags should I use?”

And more: “What would my customer type into Instagram search?”

One of the many benefits of being part of BAPIA is staying informed about important changes, trends and updates that can affect your business ,helping you adapt, grow and stay ahead in an ever-changing online world.

Save this post for future reference and a little reminder…

Address

Unit 12, Fairview Estate, Newtown Road
Henley On Thames
RG91HG

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+442081231746

Website

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