FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a listing of some the most frequently asked questions about our services, company and industry: 1. How long have you been in business? Aeration Decorations was founded on June 1, 1998. Our company's founder, Steven Jones, actually entered the balloon industry in 1997, but the business as it exists today didn't form until later. Since then, we have been part of thousands of events throughout not only the Tri-State but the nation as well. 2. How long will a helium balloon float? A great deal of this depends on the size of the balloon as well as the material it's made from. A standard 11" balloon bought from a typical party store will float from 12 to 16 hours. A decorator grade 11" balloon will float from 20 to 24 hours. However, special chemicals can be added to extend the float life of your balloons. In the summer time here in Cincinnati, an 11" balloon can float for about 7 days with chemical treatment. In the winter months, however, that same balloon could float for anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks! 18" foil balloons can float anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on how well the valve is sealed. Now, smaller balloons such as 9" latex only have a float life around 6 hours total, while larger balloons such as 3'ers can float for as long as a day or two without chemical treatment. But remember, just because a balloon can float for 12 to 16 hours doesn't mean you will like the way it looks in the same time frame. As the balloon loses helium, it shrinks in size, becoming less attractive in the process. This is a reason why we like to use chemical treatment on almost every arrangement we send out. 3. How much do your balloons cost? Well, that's no so easy to answer. It's a lot like calling a grocery store and asking how much their food is! How much things cost depend a great deal on what you're looking for, what type of event you're planning, location, set up times, etc. What I can tell you is that many specific items have a set price. Other items may require an estimated total before we can figure out exactly what it would be. In addition, there may be delivery or retrieval fees involved with your order, so it's important to have an idea of what you're looking for before we can truthfully answer this question. 4. Do you deliver? Is there a charge for delivery? Yes, we do offer delivery. If your order is $100 or more, there is no charge to deliver in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas. In addition, if the delivery location of your order is within three miles of our shop, we don't charge for delivery either. Orders outside of that range or less than $100 may be subject to a delivery fee, ranging in price from $5 to $20. Deliveries going to other cities such as Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio, as well as Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, and Indianapolis, Indiana, are such to minimum order amounts before we can consider accepting the work. Please understand that if your order requires us to spend several hours in a delivery vehicle to complete your request, we are unable to fill any other orders as a result. As such, we have to charge a minimum amount to account for that time. 5. What are your store hours? Technically, we are not a store since we do not sell retail items. Aeration Decorations is a balloon decorating and delivery service, and since most of our clients require our services at their locations, we tend to be out of the office more than in. Bearing that in mind, we are currently open only by appointment. We do offer appointments, however, on a wide time table. Based upon availability, we can schedule a time with you virutally any day of the week (except Saturdays) from anywhere from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Please be sure to inform us of what days work well for you when calling to schedule an appointment. Again, due to the nature of our business, it is almost impossible to schedule appointments on Saturdays. 75% of our sales each year are for events scheduled on Saturdays, so please understand that we are often too busy on those days to meet with individual clients regarding upcoming events. 6. Can I get my decorations in the color combinations of my choice? Absolutely. There are literally dozens of different types of balloon colors available. In addition, colors can be created through a technique known as double-stuffing where balloons are placed inside of other balloons to create a more distinctive appearance. However, please note that double-stuffing can slow down the inflation process by as much as 4 times to normal speed, so additional charges do apply for this application. 7. Do you offer custom printed balloons? Yes, we do. 11" latex balloons can be printed on in quantities ranging from 25 balloons and up and 18" foils can be purchased in quantities of 250 and up. Prices, however, are based on the numbers of inks you're using, whether it's one sided or two as far as printing goes, etc. Often times, we'll need to have your specific needs known before we can give you a price. We also offer custom photo foil balloon printing as well. Only one balloon is needed for an order, and prices range anywhere from $12 to $20 each depending on the amount of balloons needed for your event. 8. Do you offer donations to non-profit events and fund-raisers? As you may know, Aeration Decorations actually sponsors an annual charity event called BalloonTown USA. Basically, the company builds a 30,000 to 50,000 balloon sculpture and the public is invite to tour the piece for a small fee which is donated to local non-profit organizations. You can visit the event's website at www.balloontownusa.com. As such, this event uses up nearly our entire annual budget for donations. However, while we can no longer offer complete donations, we do offer discounts to schools, churches, charities and other non-profit organizations. Be sure to ask what is available to you when you place your inquiry.