Balloon Marketing

BANCABILITY USES BALLOON TO REACH KANSAS CITY MARKET

Around Kansas City in 180 Days

The Spirit of High & Free hot air balloon is 77,000 cubic feet  built by Cameron Balloons and fully inflated reaches nearly 75 feet tall. It can carry a pilot and two passengers. A typical flight is treetop to 3,000 feet. It is piloted by Chris and Amanda Sabia of Kansas City AeroSports, visit www.kcballoon.com Follow them on Twitter @ TeamBancAbility or on facebook at Team BancAbility

On a calm day in the Greater Kansas City area you might spot it, the BancAbilitySM High & Free Hot Air Balloon!  Nicknamed The Spirit of High & Free, the balloon flies to celebrate the BancAbilitySM network of banks' bold high interest checking account. BancAbility is banking made easy through a network of 7 community banks with 48 convenient branches and ATMs across greater Kansas City. The Spirit of High & Free will be flying over and making appearances at events around the city, dispensing fun and goodies at take off and landings.   Download WEB BANCABILITY

Oliver Winery Balloons Attend Second Annual Speedway Event

The two Oliver Winery balloons participated in the second annual Centennial Era balloon event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  The Oliver Winery balloons are piloted by Bill Oliver and Warren Smith of Bloomington, Indiana.  The balloons are two of more than six balloons that the winery has operated as part of a public relations program since the late 1970’s.  Oliver Winery is located north of Bloomington, Indiana and is Indiana’s oldest and largest winery. The winery started in the 1960s as a hobby in the basement of Indiana University law professor William Oliver.  
  
 
Professor Oliver was instrumental in passing legislation allowing for the creation of small wineries in Indiana. The Indiana Small Winery Act passed in 1971 and Oliver Winery opened to the public in 1972.  Professor Oliver's son, Bill, took charge of the winery in 1983. He focused on enhancing the visitor experience by increasing wine quality and variety, establishing gardens and providing great customer service. Sales grew steadily in the 80s, reaching 25,000 cases by 1990.  In 1993, Kathleen Oliver joined the winery as General Manager. This allowed Bill to focus on winemaking and viticulture and the new Creekbend Vineyard, which was started in 1994. Retail sales continued to grow and allowed for the construction of a new tasting room in 1997. By 2000, sales had reached 60,000 cases.

While retail sales marked the greatest growth prior to 2000, subsequent years saw tremendous growth in wine sold through wholesale channels. Major facility expansions occurred in 2002 and 2007 making Oliver Winery one of the largest wineries in the eastern United States. In 2002, interstate expansion began as Kentucky became the first state outside of Indiana to offer Oliver wines. By 2008, they had distribution in 14 states and total case sales exceeded 270,000 cases.

The winery balloons have been seen all over the country but are commonly seen over the hills of Southern Indiana and the Creekbend Vineyards.

 Download Web oliver

 

 

Commercial Balloons in Leon, Mexico

Commercial Balloons in Leon, Mexico

   The Festival De Globos in Leon Mexico attracts balloons from across the world to this first class balloon event.  Nearly 100 balloons took place in this year’s event including balloons from the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Spain, Germany and Mexico.  This festival designed to celebrate freedom and diversity was held November 13^th through the 16^th in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.  The event attracts visitors from all across central Mexico to see the great balloons float across the lake and the skies of Leon.

 

International balloons including Coke and Curves bring balloons into this event to get the exposure this event offers.  Newspapers, televisions as well very large crowds.  Other balloons contact with local businesses and fly temporary banners that promote their company.  The crowds that come out every morning and evening are simply hard to describe as you can see from the photos.  The in person impressions is nearly impossible to express.    Next year’s event will be November 19^th through 22^nd and is scheduled to have 200 balloons as part of the celebration of the Mexican Bicentennial Celebration.  

The personal attention given to each balloon team is unprecedented.  Each pilot is assigned a group of well trained local crew who not only provides excellent ground support but make every effort to ensure that balloonists, their friends and or family are able to experience the historic sights, shopping, food and culture of the area.   

 

Download Web leon

NEW JASPER BALLOON MAKE DEBUT

New Jasper Balloon Makes Debut

    The new Jasper Engines and Transmission hot air balloon will make debut at the 2010 Kentucky Derby Festival Great Balloon race in Louisville Kentucky.  The Great Balloon Race will take place on April    at the Kentucky State Fair Grounds.  Nearly 50 balloons will take part in the event, which is part of the Derby Festival events that lead up to the running of the Kentucky Derby the first leg of the Triple Crown.  Jasper Engines and Transmissions has had a balloon program for fifteen years attending sporting events across the country. 

JASPER sells its products through a Dealer network of qualified installers.  These are not used or rebuilt engines, transmissions and differentials, but totally remanufactured components with warranties of up to 3 years and 100,000 miles. Every JASPER product is built to meet or exceed OEM specifications and tolerances, and thoroughly inspected or tested to ensure quality, reliability and satisfaction.   So, whether you're looking for a remanufactured gas or diesel engine, transmission or differential for your car, truck, or SUV, or a marine engine for your boat, you can count on JASPER.

    The balloon program is operated by Big Red Balloons based in Bloomington, Indiana.  This is Jasper’s third balloon as part of this program and the second designed and built by Lindstrand Balloons, US.  The Jasper balloon will include appearances at the Great Kentucky Derby Festival, the Indianapolis 500 Centennial Era Balloon Event in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Pro-Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton, Ohio, the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, Indiana and the Blue Grass Balloon Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.  You can follow the Jasper Balloon Team twitter  @bigredballoons.

 

Download Web jasper

Wizard of Oz Balloon part of Warner Bros. Events in New York City

Warner Bros. Entertainment Stages Spectacular Events in New York City to Culminate Worldwide 70th Anniversary Celebration of The Wizard of Oz at Tavern on The Green.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 NEW YORK, NY: Grammy Award Winner Ashanti and Judy Garland's Daughter Lorna Luft Performed at the Emerald Gala; Original Munchkins Make a Rare Appearance along wih the grand 71/2 story Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon.

The Emerald Gala was a glorious event at Manhattan's historic Tavern on the Green, hosted by its owner and CEO Jennifer Oz LeRoy, granddaughter of The Wizard of Oz producer Mervyn LeRoy.

The entire restaurant and surrounding grounds transformed for a night into the Emerald City, replete with a winding Yellow Brick Road.

The Emerald Gala featured a musical performance by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and actress Ashanti, who recently made her theatrical debut as Dorothy in the City Center Encores! production of The Wiz. In addition, Lorna Luft, the daughter of Judy Garland will honor her mother's legacy with a special musical tribute.

Contributing to the affair was a rare appearance by five of the original actors who played the "Munchkins" characters in 1939's The Wizard of Oz, along with members of the cast of The Wizard of Oz National Tour performing acts from the traveling show.

The grand Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon, a seven-and-a-half story stunningly decorated balloon provided a majestic backdrop to the evening gala. The WOO Balloon will be concluding the final leg of its nationwide promotional tour in October. more info

 

Mayflower Program Patterned After United Model

The Mayflower Balloon program is patterned after the long standing United Van Lines program of UniGroup Incorporated.  Now both balloon programs travel the country often appearing together at large rallies and festivals lending great advertising exposure for their companies.

These balloons have been seen on the front page of newspapers across the country, including the Kansas City Star and the Bend Central Oregon News.      We focus on brand awareness for both companies said Carl Walters.  “I know what it would have cost me to pay to be on the front page of The Star,” Walter said.  “I couldn’t afford it.”  The balloon program is supported by the UniGroup’s public relations and market staff at corporate headquarters who lobby the local media, offering rides and other photo opportunities.

The balloons are also hosted by the local Mayflower and United agents to generate local awareness of the agencies and to provide rides to valuable customers.  The balloon programs also have chase vehicles which are branded with corporate logos and graphics.  Roy Canton Pilot of the United program stated “the vans are so attractive and unique; we get a lot of awareness and exposures from them even on days when the weather won’t let us fly.”

The programs are rounded out with wearable’s and give-a-ways of the corporate balloons, trading cards, stickers, and lapel pins are just a few of the customized products that round out the programs.  Adding memorable items really adds to teh overall experience for each participant.   UniGroup credits much of the success o f the program to the strong working relationship they have with their pilots roy Cayton and Kevin Knapp.  Thier high degree of professionalism makes a great differentce to the pulbic perception of the brand. 

Download Mayflower Program Patterned After United Model

Hospital Utilizes Hot Air Balloon Program

 

Louisville’s Kosair Children’s Hospital uses a hot air balloon promotional campaign.  The Kosair Children’s Hospital has utilized balloons for several years as a public relation tool, now they have incorporated the balloon into their complete promotional campaign.   Kosairs Children’s Hospital, part of the Norton Healthcare System is Kentucky’s only free standing pediatric hospital. 

 

 

Link to TV Commercial

The Hot Air Balloon program operated by Crawford Hot Air Balloons has been included in a television ad campaign.

Indiana State Fair Giant Balloon Race Moves to Saturday

The 2009 Indiana State Fair Giant Balloon Race moved to Saturday mid fair after 35 years as an opening day tradition.  Thirty Balloons took place in this year’s event including commercial entries AVocal On, Re/Max, United Van Lines, Pepsi, Jasper Engines, Pioneer, Estridge Group, Indiana Propane Association, as well as several private entrees.   The event included a balloon glow on Friday evening and a morning flight on Saturday.  The event was won by Chris Smart and Travis Vencel  finished second.    The balloons flew over Indianapolis to the north with most balloons landing by 82^nd Street.

 

 

Boy Scout Balloons Add To Festivities

Boy Scout Balloons Add To Festivities

The Boy Scouts use hot air balloons to add to the festivities at their national events.  The Loyal and Brave balloons travel the country promoting scouting.  The balloons often attend national scouting events like Jamborees and Conferences.  The balloons include 40 foot replicas of the Order of the Arrow and the Eagle Scout badges.

 

Recently the balloons were in Bloomington, Indiana where they made several appearances for the scouts.  Nearly 7,000 Boy Scouts gathered at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana for the 2009 National Order of the Arrow Conference.  The closing day was topped off with a concert and ice cream party while eight balloons served as the back drop. Loyal and Brave were accompanied by the Break-a-way to Bloomington and the Jasper Engines Balloons.

                                                             

At the Boy Scout National Jamboree in 2005 the Scout balloons are seen with the Army balloon awaiting a visit from then President Bush.  Approximately 40,000 Boy Scouts from across the World were in West Virginia for the 2005 National Jamboree.  The next Jamboree is 2010 and the scouts hope to have an additional balloon in their program.    The balloons, based in Texas, are managed by Michael Little.

 

Download Boy Scout Balloons Add To Festivities

Pepsi Balloons For Brand Awareness

BALLOONS FOR BRAND AWARENESS

BRAND AWARENESS/PREFERENCE

Capture a target audience in a relaxed, high visibility, high impact, market place that creates long lasting retention through the use of Pepsi-Cola brand hot air balloons.  The displays increase: brand awareness, customer and employee satisfaction, product knowledge, brand preference, and generate qualified leads.

EXCELLENT DOLLAR VALUE (ROI)
When compared to money spent on other forms of marketing this is a far more effective and cost efficient tool. STOP WASTING MONEY on small ineffective banners, inadequate sponsorships on local events with no actual results, or 2.3 million for another 30 seconds of air time that achieves a low percentage success rate and poor ROI.   Instead, advertise using hot air balloons and achieve rates as high as 90% and even greater ROI, include the amount of reach and frequency this program offers and you have a one of a kind advertising vehicle that must be used in today's market place. Measure effectiveness by studying jumps in local retailer sales both during and after events, products sold at local events, and repeat purchases during and after events. Add in the reach and frequency figures for all the collected media coverage, event attendance, and all external coverage customer are exposed to and you are left with an incomparable form of marketing.

 HOT AIR BALLOONS POSSESS A UNIVERSAL AND MAGICAL APPEAL
Every walk of life is enticed and captured by these larger than life marketing vehicles. A wide range of age, ethnicity, gender, and personality is represented in a non-bias form.

MARKET ACTIVATION / INCREASE SALES
Increase market exposure locally, regionally, nationally, and increase company sales both during and after events through the use of Pepsi Aerosports.

Download PEPSI Balloons

Real Yellow Pages Balloon Attends Community Events

The Real Yellow Pages Balloon Attends Community Events

The Real Yellow Pages balloon has been making appearances in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.  This AT&T sponsored balloon recently attended the Centennial Balloon Event at the Indianapolis Speedway where it was the title sponsor. 

"AT&T Real Yellow Pages is honored to be the presenting sponsor for the Centennial Era Balloon Festival," said Rhonda Bieda, area marketing manager, Indiana for AT&T Advertising & Publishing. "AT&T has a long, proud tradition of supporting the communities in which we live, work and play. I can’t think of a better way to continue that tradition."

The balloon also attended the Derby Festival Balloon Race in Louisville, Kentucky and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton, Ohio. 

The balloon is also featured on the cover of Yellow Pages Directories distributed across the country.

 Download The Real Yellow Pages Balloon Attends Community Events

FIDM 'Yellow Carpet' Wizard of Oz Exhibition Opening

June 9, 2009 - Los Angeles, CA, Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Ron Sanders, President Warner Home Video, and Jeff Baker, WHV's Senior Vice President and General Manager attended the 'Yellow Carpet' Opening Night Gala for Warner Bros. Consumer Products' The Ruby Slipper Collection and Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition.

The evening included the official announcement of Warner Home Video's The Wizard of Oz Ultimate Collector's Edition on Blu-ray and DVD September 29, as well as the debut of jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino's My Pretty collection, celebrating the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.

Nick Verreos, Star of Project Runway, instructor and alum of FIDM, Nikolaki Fashion Owner/Designer; was mentor to FIDM, Debut Graduates in producing fashions, inspired by the four main characters in The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion and The Tin Man and FIDM students dressed up as Dorothy girls attended the ‘Yellow Carpet’ Opening Night Gala for Warner Bros. Consumer Products' The Ruby Slipper Collection.

 

 

Photo Credit: Alex J. Berliner ©Berliner Studio/BEImages

Warner Home Video Celebrates the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz with a Hot Air Balloon Tour!

Making sure all eyes will be on The Wizard of Oz outdoors, Warner Home Video is using one of the film’s iconic images, a colorful hot air balloon, to tour America in the months preceding the DVD release date.

The first unveiling of this spectacular seven-story balloon was held May 13 in Dorothy’s home state of Kansas (of course!)  Next up, a visit to Los Angeles June 9.  Subsequently, the balloon will float in the skies across the U.S.A., visiting cities and hot air balloon festivals, culminating in an appearance at an Oz gala at New York's famed Tavern on the Green in September.

The Emerald City Green balloon is a truly a sight to behold, standing over 75 feet tall, 55 feet in diameter and holding 90,000 cubic feet of air!

 

Encircled by the Yellow Brick Road, the balloon is emblazoned with the 70^th anniversary logo that includes Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers. Another side of the balloon displays Dorothy and Toto along with Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. The famous movie characters stand nearly 30 feet tall and seem to be skipping off the side of this beautiful balloon. Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers are size 8 and a half – feet long!

Balloons and Earned Media

Balloons make great backdrops for local human interest stories, weather reports or just a pretty photo for the front page of a newspaper. Hot air balloon sponsorships like NASCAR and naming rights for stadiums provide an opportunity for clients to receive earned media. Well placed names and logos provide brand recognition through earned media that otherwise is not affordable for many clients. “It is hard to miss our logo when it is 30 feet tall on the side of a balloon” Lon Stevens, President, The Peoples State Bank.  He adds, “Our regional bank doesn’t have the budget to place ads on the Big Ten Network but our ability to use earned media through the balloon program has been very successful.”

Link to Big Ten Network                                        

Television is an expensive medium for many clients and often not possible within today’s budget constraints.  At the same time local television is looking for free opportunities to broadcast from someplace other than the studio.  The opportunity for local affiliates to put talent in a balloon gets the attention of the intended audience, while providing the corporate client with quality exposure to an engaged audience.

A professional program that seeks out media opportunities is essential to make earned media work.  The pilot and crew have to know the product and be able to talk the story for the client.  Many balloon programs have advanced planning initiatives that identify local media outlets prior to arriving in a market.  Successful programs don’t limit logo placement and name recognition to the balloon but include everything from the vehicle graphics to the logo embellished clothing worn by both pilot and crew.  A balloon program can provide brand recognition through earned media, just as effective as the more traditional forms of earned media.   

 

Download Balloons and Earned Media

US Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Race 2009

The 37^th annual Derby Festival Balloon Race was held on April 26^th, 27^th, and 28^th, 2009 in Louisville Kentucky.  The balloon event is just one of several events sponsored by the Kentucky Derby Festival during the two weeks preceding the running of the Kentucky Derby.

This year’s event featured thirty four (34) balloon participants.  The weekend festival included a balloon glow on Saturday evening and a glimmer Friday evening and a race on Sunday morning.  The glimmer included 12 balloons on the great lawn along the Ohio River in downtown Louisville.  Saturdays glow drew over 60,000 people and was covered live on the local Fox affiliate.  Spectators were allowed to walk among the balloons once the balloons were inflated.  These events were located at the Kentucky State Exposition Center grounds in Louisville, Kentucky.

 

Sunday’s competition was a hare and hound event that took the balloons over the city to Eastern Jefferson County along the Gene Snyder Freeway.  The US Bank Derby balloon event was won by the University of Louisville balloon piloted by Chase Donner, with the Arson Insurance Service finishing second, Spine Center Chiropractic third and AT&T Real Yellow Pages forth.  Ten of the balloons were able to drop their Kentucky Blue Grass baggy within the scoring area.

 

Copyright TJV Balloons, Inc. 2009

Photos provided by the Courier-Journal.com

 

Download Derby 2009

Advertising is reaching new heights with the challenging economy

Many companies over the years have had corporate hot air balloons in their advertising toolbox often yielding to more expensive big ticket advertising venues such as NASCAR and the PGA.

 

In these changing economic time, companies are discovering that a hot air balloon is a highly flexible advertising vehicle with a broad demographic appeal and is a timely, cost effective tool that forges a personal relationship with consumers with incredible ease.

 

Name branding is challenging to say the least. The dilution of television and the pollution of the Internet leave advertisers looking for a friendly way to build a relationship with potential customers. Hot air balloons have the unique ability to draw people out of their homes, out of their offices and out of their cars just to take photographs of these beautiful seven-story flying billboards. They are friendly, they are fun and people change their buying habits from these positive experiences.

 

Advertisers believe that the average consumer has an attention span of thirty seconds or less. That's why commercials and news stories are usually 30 seconds long. People have become immune to traditional forms of advertising and the new digital world still leaves people wanting and needing positive and personal contact.

The average hot air balloon fan watches a balloon for a longer period of time and has better name brand recognition in the form of describing the balloon to others.

 

Most traditional events tout demographics. These detailed studies refine the age groups and household incomes of the attracted spectators. The corporate hot air balloon can fly over an event and impress the spectators and then drift over surrounding neighborhoods taking the corporate logo right to a potential customer’s back yard. Rich or poor, young or old, male or female, hot air balloons cross all demographic boundaries

 

The average price per race of a NASCAR Nationwide Series team is $200,000 per race! The attendance at Nationwide races has never been impressive. Each race competes your advertising dollars against thirty-four other teams with several advertisers per car going around a track at 100 miles per hour. If your car isn't one of the top teams your ad receives minimal TV exposure. Most advertisers should hope there car is in a significant wreck to realize a decent ROI.

 

One rush-hour traffic flight in a corporate hot air balloon yields 50,000 to 150,000 impressions per flight, often attracts local media. For the price of one Nationwide team budget to race in only two races a company can have a first class corporate balloon advertising program yielding more impressions everyday of the week and the average hot air balloon would last two years! 

 

This is the kind of effective advertising that maximizes budgets and makes sense in a challenging economy.

Balloons Return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Centennial Era Balloon Festival took place May 1-3, 2009 in honor of the first competitive event in IMS history, more than two months before the famed 2.5-mile oval was completed.   In June of 1909 a gas balloon race was actually the first competition to take place at the then under-construction speedway.  Now 100 years later balloons have returned to the speedway for another history making competition.  Thirty-three balloons participated in the 100 year race commemorating the 100^th anniversary of racing at the World Famous Motor Speedway.

 

Team entrees included United Van Lines, Mayflower Transit, Energizer, AVocal ON, Target, Post Cereals, Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Farmers Insurance Group, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, Oliver Winery, Applebee’s International, AT&T, IMTS, and ReMax.  All competed for the famed trophy from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  The remainder of the field was made up of private entries from across the country.

The 100 Year Race, flown on Sunday, May 3, was won by Paul Petrehn flying a Cameron Racer with a 12.5 inch drop, second place was Travis Vencel flying the Oliver Winery Lindstrand 105 with a drop of 13.5 inches, and third place was David Jaques flying the Post Cereal entry with a 3 feet 3 inch drop.  Competition was close with 26 of 32 competing balloons making drops within the scoring area. 

The Founders Race, a pre-race held on Saturday, May 2^nd was won by Al Hansen of Winamac, Indiana with a drop of 26 feet.  Saturday’s Founders Race took place over the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon with 30,000 participates running and walking through Downtown Indianapolis with the balloons over head. 

The weekend balloon festival also included two balloon glows that were free to the public and drew large family crowds to the infield of the Speedway.    Early in the week the weather conditions had heavy rain which threatened to ground the events but the rain lifted late afternoon on Friday just in time for the first glow.

 Balloons and spectators ventured through the wet ground for a closer look at the glowing balloon spectacle.  These events gave the public a chance to walk among the balloons and talk with pilots and crews.    

Photos provided by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Download Balloons Return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway