At Work With Lisa's Gifts and Balloons
Name: Lisa's Gifts and Balloons
Type of business: Retail gift store featuring balloons for decorating and candles, stuffed animals, jewelry, and Judaica items for gifts.
Address: 763 Central Avenue, Westfield
Telephone: (908) 643-5085
Website: lisasgiftsandballoons.com
Number of employees: 3
Hours: M-F
Founded: February 2008
Top officer: Lisa Bonaccorso, owner
How would you describe your business?
"We are a gift and party business. Our gift selection includes Yankee candles (at 20 percent off) and the Russ Berrie, Ganz, Webkinz, Gund line of collectibles," said Lisa Bonaccorso, owner.
"We carry jewelry and Judaica including Kiddush cups, tzedakah boxes, Jewish cookbooks, Passover plates, and Judaica themed wrapping paper. There is also a large selection of Judaic cards that are sold at half price.
"My store is 600 square feet, so if I don't have an item -- such as tablecloths -- I can order it for delivery in two weeks.
"Our specialty is decorating with balloons. Our motto is 'Every occasion is the right occasion for balloons.' There is great diversity with decorating with balloons. Balloons can also include silk flowers, candles, and stuffed animals in the bouquet designs and they are less expensive than flowers.
"Balloons are the basis of table bouquets, arches, columns, and trees used in decorating spaces for birthdays, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs, and weddings. My designs were used to decorate a recent bar mitzvah at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield. I've also decorated for events at the Kennilworth Inn and soon will be designing the decorations for weddings at Snuffy's Pantagies in Scotch Plains. I'll be decorating for the B'nai B'rith Dinner Dance event honoring Rabbi Korbman on June 18 at Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael in Springfield."
What makes your business special?
"Our service. Everything we make is individualized for our customer.
"We are open on Sunday, for deliveries. If a customer calls and says they need an item or service for Sunday, we are definitely available.
"Our deliveries go anywhere in N.J., free if its less than a mile, but there is a delivery fee of $5 if it's a mile outside of the perimeter of the store.
"We specialize in Judaica. And I am adding to the Judaica collections we offer.
"We are proud of our excellent customer service and our policy is to do everything we can to please our customer so they are disappointed."
What goals do you have for the business?
"My goal is to become very well known and when someone is having an important occasion they will seek out Lisa's Balloons for their event. All occasions, whether big or small, will be affordable. I work within the customer's budget."
How has your business changed?
"I've had many different jobs where I've designed for flower shops. I've taken that experience and I'm now using it working with balloons. It is another angle for bouquets -- balloons, rather than with flowers."
What was your most important deal?
"Every customer is my most important deal. Since I've opened, I find I have a lot of repeat customers. And these customers also send their friends to me."
What changes do you expect in the next 10 years?
"I would love to expand and have a couple of different locations and availability. I would love to have more employees so I could train them and be able to do more parties. Right now I have three. If I had more employees I'd be able to do more parties."
What is the most important thing you learned in your business?
"To make sure every customer is completely satisfied. I want the customer to be 100 percent satisfied. I let people understand that I am designing with their best interests and with their happiness in mind. I treat every event as if I'm decorating for myself, or for a member of my family or friend. Every event gets 200 percent effort. It's not just a business transaction. I want to leave everyone satisfied and I'll go out of my way to make sure they are truly satisfied with my work."
What advice would you give to someone considering your line of work?
"You have to like what you doing and really want to do this. This line of work is for a person who enjoys people and has a creative drive and is also interactive with others. Anyone who owns a shop and provides a service must really enjoy servicing others."
Is there anything else you would rather be doing?
"No. I really started wanting a flower shop in the proper location. Then the flower business began changing. I found that balloons were a less expensive way of designing than flowers and the results are beautiful. It's an inexpensive way of entertaining."