Party and Discount Store Report

Springing into Sales (From page 89) butterflies typically fly out the door. One of, if not the best thing Party Favors did to cope with its business slowdown this year, is put together a website. Nicole Pergantis got it up and running. “My daughter put it together over Easter and honestly, I think we made $40,000 in just two months in online sales alone. We had no idea what we were doing, and we just did it. It’s been great.” Nicole continues to work on increasing Party Favors’ social media presence.

Not surprisingly, balloons constitute 92% of business at Balloony Tunes in Cathedral City, Calif. Darlene Jaycocks has owned and operated the Palm Springs-area business for close to 40 years. She started it in her garage. These days, big letters and number balloons are all the rage as people opt for intimate home parties to celebrate landmark birthday parties and they eschew large gatherings. There aren’t any to attend anyway. Jaycocks laments the effect the pandemic has had on her business. “All the usual big events I handle – parades aren’t happening and races, they’re all virtual now. Even the country clubs aren’t really opening this season, so that’s gone,” she said, by way of example. St. Patrick’s Day hasn’t loomed large for her in years. “It seems people just go

Showcase Product News

Vibrant Agate Night Lights!

The gift for any season! Agate Night Lights from Silver Streak are made using 3-inch Agate Slices that are mounted on UL approved night light assemblies with a built-in On/Off switch and a 4 watt bulb. Sold in packs of 12 assorted colors, including blue, pink, natural, purple, red, and tea. FREE Display with your first purchase of 72-plus Agate Night Lights!

(See all Agate Gifts at www.SilverStreakS.com. For more information, call 800-526-9990 or circle 42 on the reader service card.)

out to a bar rather than host parties that require balloon décor.” Easter and springtime events, on the other hand, have always kept her busy during what is considered prime season in the California desert – or at least they have during non-pandemic years. Nowadays, her orders seem to top out between $65 and $100. With more free time on her hands, Jaycocks has been concentrating on her craft.

“I’ve been getting really creative and thinking, hey, what can I do differently? Everybody is always looking for something different.” She has been working on sashing for the big balloons as well as adding streamers. “I’ve kind of been putting out a little more and not really adding it to the price right now,” she said. “I feel like you almost have to give a little bit more in order to bring customers back into your store once the pandemic is over.” Meanwhile, she does what she can, meeting customers at her store, even sanitizing the door handle so they don’t have to touch anything. Whereas once she had two employees, currently she runs the business and makes all the deliveries herself. “People have been so wonderful and understanding,” she said, as everyone patiently awaits a day when things get back to normal. ❖