Balloon time with Kat

Kats Balloons Events, a balloon bar/ saloon continues to set the trend in the décor industry and eventually open a bigger retail shop

Décor is one art that anyone can venture into but not for the elegant, Kats Balloons Events, as they rather believe in standing out. Katlego Uyapo Kaboyaone tells BG Style that she started off as a self- taught balloon stylist. She is soon to be the first Motswana to attain a CBA ( Certified Balloon Stylist). She shares that she discovered CBA while browsing on the internet for something relevant for her work. ” I was actually browsing through Russian gift shops to buy my husband something as he was in Russia at the time,” she says.

She admits that besides this accreditation, she also learnt a lot from those particular gift shops, and introduced them to her services too. “We offer a variety of services to corporate and private clients locally and we are registered with Afrox, where we get our helium from, for our helium balloons from 12 inches to 42 inches balloons,” she says.

They do balloon garlands, hot air balloons, backdrops, flower walls, equipment renting, gift boxes, personalized event décor for all occasions including, weddings, birthdays, funerals, corporate events, and anniversaries.

Kaboyaone prides herself in the fact that they are influencers within the industry although they are not the most famous.

“Our company is not the most famous but I am confident to say we are a trend setter. We are the first to introduce tutorials, in order to ensure that aspiring people into this field do the right thing,” she says. They are also the first to introduce shimmering walls, wooden numbers, chiara boards, among others, so she says. She emphasizes that, this is what sets them apart from most companies. “We are always learning and introducing something new,” she adds. It is those amazing photoshoots with the background of her work with balloons and backdrops that keep her going and motivates her to always want to offer better service, she says.

Looking back to November 2018 when the company was established, she recalls that she was not certain that they will be where they are now.

“I had suffered a car accident in which I escaped; that cost me my job because I couldn’t lift anything heavy, sit for too long or stand for too long. However, I had to use my muscles or else I risked to remain crippled. I therefore started doing something to keep busy. I would blow balloons and exercise my hands with them. That is to say, I started working from home but as the business grew, we moved to Westgate mall,” she says. This is where they are currently based, and Kaboyaone says they have always been receiving positive feedback.

“The more the growth, the more the financial gain and the more the challenges. We are adjusting to various encounters with various clients and trying to be more professional however,” she says. She tells BG Style that they are doing much better now than in the past and happy to serve their clients.

“We will in future, after attaining my CBA become a bigger retail shop as we have now partnered with the world’s biggest balloon manufacturers,” she says. She is hopeful that CEDA and LEA will finance them too, as time goes on. “I have been assisted by my husband financially all along, and so we want to bring something out of this world in this industry,” she says. They are currently based in Block 10 just opposite Setlhoa Village.