Life & Work with Mari Salas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mari Salas.

Hi Mari, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We are a mother and daughter team originally from Venezuela. We were inspired to start a business four years ago after we decorated it with balloons for my husband’s birthday. We realized that we could take a fun hobby and take it to the next level by learning the craft and turning it into a business. We eagerly took our first training course, and shortly afterward, in 2019, we began a balloon company called Naguara Balloons LLC, based out of Tampa, FL, where we lived and worked for several small events. We moved to Arizona and rebranded our company to what is known today as Pretty Balloons Entertainment, LLC. We suddenly found ourselves in a new and unfamiliar area and worked hard to build up our client list. We began balloon twisting for free in restaurants and festivals in the Phoenix area to publicize our new business. After three years, we are so grateful to God for the way our business is growing. Our clients and friends have been so supportive of our business. One of the best parts of our business is that our clients have become our FRIENDS.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The world of balloon decoration is expanding, so every day brings new risks and challenges; the biggest challenge has been coming to this country to restart our lives from scratch and with a new language. Creating Pretty Balloons Entertainment LLC is a project that requires a lot of perseverance. We know this is a place of great opportunities, and we must take advantage of them. Then take the risk of leaving our full-time jobs to dedicate ourselves fully to decorations. Teaching about this art is another challenge that we have assumed, which implies the great responsibility that our students are satisfied and prepared to apply what they have learned in their businesses.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Without a doubt, balloon crafting is an exciting art! We enjoy creating elaborate artistic setups that involve planning, design, and execution. The part we enjoy the most is seeing the joy on our client’s faces and the satisfaction they express when they see the results. We love seeing children surprised with a Balloons Bouquet. What we create is more than just balloon art. Our clients’ real gift is the emotion of the moment–and that is something that will become a part of the memory of their occasion that they won’t soon forget. “We are memory makers!” We also enjoy sharing our knowledge with others and want to give them the skills they can pair with their creativity to create balloon creations. This is ART, not “just balloons”–we use our expertise to make them into artistic creations that transform any space into something truly wonderful! We have hosted three classes and have taught 27 students who are now growing in their businesses.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://prettyballoonsaz.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettyballoonsaz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Prettyballoonsentertainment
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqfdtVJzwQl6P2cgg5E86Uw
• Other: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS985US985&sxsrf=ALiCzsYl6t2GcPIKbfYn9N8dWS-I0vKQXA%3A1661377393223&q=Pretty%20Balloons%20Az&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgU1I1qLAwN05KtjRLs0xNSzS0NE-xMqhIMrBINEyzsDQ1SUlJNDFMWsQqFFCUWlJSqeCUmJOTn59XrOBYBQBsMKxCPgAAAA&ved=2ahUKEwiK6vCKueD5AhV8LkQIHQnLDG0QrMcEegQIFxAG