Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Quiroz.
Hi Nancy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! I’m Nancy, mother of 4 and Owner of Lovelyloons by N.S. I’m a 28-year-old Latina born in Mexico raised in Chicago. Coming from a middle-class family and being Latino, starting a business is a struggle, especially when you became a teen parent and didn’t get to have the education needed to become someone in life. My husband, 3 kids, and I moved from Chicago about 4 years ago because things were getting a bit expensive for us over there. Since getting here, I have worked as a server but was tired of working every day, knowing I wouldn’t get anywhere making money for someone else. Until I decided I needed to have more time for my kids and look for our financial stability. I’ve always felt I was born to be a boss, not a worker. On my daughter’s 5th birthday, we surprised her with her big party. I had hired a balloon artist and saw how happy she was when she saw the decorations. I could do this myself, make other families happy, and have a business where I can grow and make my kids proud. I decided to start buying balloons and making garlands at home. I didn’t know anything about it, honestly. My designs could have been better at first, but after many videos on YouTube and sore fingers, I learned enough to show my talent.
I started promoting the decorations I did for friends and relatives daily on Facebook and other social media. Eventually, we began to get booked and took off from there. Now, we are part of our local Collinsville chamber and are becoming known in our neighborhood. We just got invited to be part of our local Veteran’s Day parade. Our first parade and we are very excited. I love what I do, and just seeing my clients smile as their event looks so lovely motivates me to learn more and eventually grow and have a big team. We recently added full linen rental and dessert tables to our services. Our clients love a one-stop vendor.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh, not at all; I started with an Amazon pump and some cheap balloons because I couldn’t afford to buy much. I found out I was pregnant a couple of months after my first booking. Having 3 kids and one on the way wouldn’t be easy. But I was determined to be my boss. During the summer, my two oldest were helping me blow up balloons for every event. They are experts now. At only 11 and 13, they are my biggest helpers. I found out I had gestational diabetes and had to take care of myself more than before. With quite a few decorations per week and only one car, since my husband had just been in a car accident and lost his car, I had to wake up on my weekends at 4 am to drop him off at his job, which was 30 min from us, get back home and get everything ready for my decorations going to decorate and getting back to pick him up, my days were just so exhausting. That went on for many weekends, and we couldn’t save up for another car because we were spending all our free weekly money on inventory for the business. We mainly knew everything would be an investment and would get our money back once we started getting more bookings, but the struggle was real. I delivered my baby a whole month before my due date; I was in on a Friday morning for my weekly NST when they told me I had to stay and deliver my baby because my fluid was low, and I had decorations that following Sunday. I was planning on starting my maternity leave 2 weeks before my due date, but the baby had other plans. Thank god my Aunt had some experience from previous decorations; she tagged along with me and covered those events. I love what I do, and my clients needed my decorations; I couldn’t cancel them. A few weeks after I delivered, I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. Which I thought was devastating. How would I look right and professional in front of my clients if my face looked so droopy? I was told by some friends and family I should stop because my career was stressing me out. I would not stop doing what I loved because this happened; I will get back up and prove to everyone that I can run my business and keep moving forward. A couple of months in, you can’t even notice I had it. It’s been hard but I won’t stop until I reach my goals.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Lovelyloons by N.S.?
Lovelyloons is your one-stop destination for all your balloon and event decoration needs. Whether you’re planning a personal or corporate event, we’ve got you covered. With a wide range of themes and colors to choose from, we can create the perfect atmosphere for any event. Our services include complete linen services, rented or custom centerpieces, dessert tables, balloon columns and arches, and custom balloon bouquets. Let us bring your vision to life and make your event truly unforgettable. We know every detail counts. Let us make your event more lovely!
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is that my clients are satisfied and happy when they see the decorations I’ve created for them. It’s not only balloons or decor; they are memories for the book you will cherish forever. Every event is special to us as much as it is for our clients.
Pricing:
- We have different pricing depending on your needs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lovelyloonsbynancy.wixsite.com/httpslovelyloons-by-
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lovelyloonsby
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lovelyloonsbyns
