Blissful balloon artist finds success with new business

Ashley Smith, a talented balloon artist and the creative force behind Pure Bliss Balloons, has found success after launching her business just over a year ago around Valentine’s Day. 

Now juggling her roles as a nurse, wife to Michael Smith, and mom to Charlie and Mary Claire, she finds joy in transforming her passion for balloon art into a blossoming business.

Smith said the smiles on her customers' faces and being nicknamed "the balloon lady" by many kids help keep her motivated and entertained.

“My daughter loves when I do balloons for her, and I have little clients that get excited when I walk in with my big bag of balloons,” she said. “It really makes me happy to see them happy over balloons.”

The name "Pure Bliss" was a natural choice for Smith and encapsulates one of her favorite sayings that reflect her view of life. 

"Life is just pure bliss, everything is great," she exclaimed.

Smith’s journey into balloon artistry began by first making balloons for her children’s and friend’s birthday parties, coupled with a long-standing desire to be a party decorator.

After being encouraged by her husband to start a Facebook page, the response exceeded her expectations, leading to a surge in balloon bouquet orders through social media and word of mouth. 

Soon, Smith found herself decorating events for schools, weddings, and even for downtown businesses when Dolly Parton headlined at the Ellis Theater last year. 

“I’ve always been a crafty person,” she said. “There is a lot of thought, time, critiquing, and planning that goes into balloons, and it’s way more to it than just throwing balloons together.”

Smith draws inspiration from watching YouTube videos, scrolling through Pinterest, and using her innate creativity with her own personal twist to designs, allowing for confidence to surpass client expectations for any celebration theme. 

“My twist to balloon art is the little extra details,” she said. “It’s the small things that matter.”

After potential clients reach out via Facebook, text, or call, the planning process including date, time, location, and theme discussions begin. Smith then sends mockups for approval and prints the balloons a day before the event to avoid mishaps like balloons popping the day of.  

Her balloon orders are often sourced online, and she takes pride in her extensive color palette, having nearly stockpiled every shade imaginable. Balloons, she believes, offer endless possibilities of various themes and interests.

“The good thing about balloons is you can make them anything you want them to be,” she said. 

Holidays and school graduations mark peak seasons for her business, and her creativity has even extended to charitable efforts, such as donating balloons for a Make-A-Wish event at the country club. For Smith, each event holds a special place in her heart.

Although she admits that her commitment to accepting requests may sometimes lead to overbooking, Smith remains steadfast, having scaled back to one or two setups on weekends.

“I have trouble telling people no,” she said. “But no matter how many times I overbook myself, I still make it work.”

The joy Ashley Smith spreads through her balloon art is evident in every event she undertakes. Her advice for aspiring creatives in the balloon business or any venture is simple: be creative, add your personal touch, and persevere even if success doesn't come instantly.