Balloon woman Jo finds perfect way to lift gloom
ANORDEN man has praised his wife’s kindhearted efforts to keep her community smiling through the challenges of lockdown.
Jo Nixon’s home-run company Perfect Balloons provides balloon decorations for parties and events, as well as personalised clothing and other party equipment, but has been putting in extra effort to brighten customers’ days even if their planned celebrations have been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Husband Howard said his wife is a “wonderful, selfless lady” who has been dedicated in adapting to social distancing measures in order to deliver to customers, as well as making donations to healthcare workers.
He said: “She’s so committed to helping people - there have been some sad situations and anniversaries that people have been marking but she’s still been over to deliver balloons for free.”
Self-employed advertising salesman Howard has been helping Jo with deliveries since the start of lockdown, which has seen the couple ringing customers’ doorbells and leaving their orders on the doorstep so as to comply with social distancing measures.
The business has faced significant challenges during lockdown, from mass cancellation of pre-booked events to helium supply issues, but orders have started to bounce back as residents look for ways to mark special occasions without large gatherings.
Howard said: “Business ground to a halt overnight with events cancelled - a birthday party this week, a christening next week, an engagement the week after that - but unexpectedly it’s started to pick up again; children are still having birthdays and parents are still trying to make it as special as they can, even if they can’t have friends round, they can still have balloons!”
Despite the financial impact of cancellations, Howard says Jo has pledged to continue her kind donations within the community, providing charities like Springhill Hospice and Jolly Josh Children’s Charity with free balloons worth as much as £400 for their events, as well as organising a confetti cannon celebration and sociallydistanced outdoor singalong to mark a young neighbour’s ninth birthday.
The couple are isolating at home in Claymere Avenue with their daughters Charley, 25, a healthcare assistant at Rochdale Infirmary who helps out with her mum’s business on her days off, and Maddie, 9.
Howard added: “I’m 50 now and have never witnessed such a wonderful community spirit and sense of togetherness. As parents of a NHS worker, it heartens us to see the wonderful turnout on our street at 8pm each Thursday to thank key workers.
“We get every time!”
“There’s a silver lining to this cloud - people are pulling together and going over and above, and hopefully we’ll come out of this a better society.” emotional