Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Palacio-Weidner.
Hi Brianna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi, my name is Brianna, most people call me Bri! I started What will it Bri A few years ago and took it more seriously this past year and a half. I quit my 9 to 5 job in the medical field in June 2021 and have been doing balloon styling full-time ever since. My social media following had rised December 2021 due to an unexpected Reel going viral. I remember posting a Reel of my balloon work with the cheesiest audio, I checked my phone an hour later and was already at 20k plus views and 2,000 more Instagram followers. This viral reel increased not only my followers but my clientele. That weekend I received over 300 inquiries, not being able to take them all I reached out to a few balloon friends I had and started referring the clients I couldn’t get to, to them. At this point is when I decided to create Balloon Babe meetups to get to know/hang out with other balloon artists in SoCal and really put a face to the gorgeous work I was seeing. BALLOON BABE MEETUPS are encouraging, inspiring, and super fun. I know a handful of girls who became very close friends because they met at the meetups. The meetups have gotten so full that I will now be curating popups to support other small businesses while still inspiring other balloon stylists. The first one is on August 20th!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some struggles I’ve had in the past were creating the perfect clientele and knowing when to STOP working on my small business! I remember starting off with such low-paying jobs that I wouldn’t even break even… I learned to value myself and my work and after learning how much others were charging, I decided to price differently and not book anything lower than my minimum, NO EXCEPTION! This created the clientele I now have.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in Balloon styling and Custom backdrops. I have various wood backdrops that bring the WOW factor to any event. The balloon method I prefer is the “luxury” style which means balloons look neat and have a pattern. I’ve taught over 150+ students who wanted to establish this signature style.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I LOVE INSTAGRAM. I scroll endlessly for inspiration and small business advice. Instagram is my favorite platform and the main way clients find me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Whatwillitbri
