From left, Meghan and Julie show off the balloon arch from the 2023 Birkdale Village 4th of July celebration | Photo courtesy Lake Norman Balloon Co.
Aug. 16. By Jason Benavides. Lake Norman Balloon Co. is a passion project for founders Julie McLaughlin and Meghan Belmont. “We were looking for a creative outlet and a way to connect with our community,” they said.
What started off as decorative garlands for friends and family ballooned into a new business and in December 2021 Lake Norman Balloon Co. was founded. “We saw there was a little market and decided to give it a shot!”
Julie and Meghan met through their sons who became fast friends and soon after moms and dads alike also became friends. The tight bunch is very supportive of each other with kids and husbands often stepping in to help inflate, bag and load.
Working out of their homes in Davidson and Cornelius it’s possible to spot a balloon filled SUV leaving the driveway and cruising down West Catawba to a job site. “You’d be surprised how many feet of balloons you can fit in a midsize SUV!”
Who doesn’t love balloons?
Julie and Meghan are the sole architects of the air-filled artistry that can be seen at grand openings, birthdays or any type of event that can be imagined around Lake Norman. “We love being a part of all of life’s biggest moments!”
From left, Meghan and Julie at the 2022 Steph Curry Hall of Fame induction and graduation at Davidson College
The Cornelius Total Wine opening and 760 Craft Works opening in Huntersville are just a few events that boasted Julie and Meghan’s custom balloon décor.
All installations are made to order, matching each client’s color palette or brand. “We pride ourselves in making every installation custom.”
The most popular orders call for 12 feet of balloons which is made up of approximately 96 eleven-inch balloons and 17-inch and 5-inch balloons scattered throughout.
The largest installation to date was the 2022 Steph Curry Hall of Fame induction and graduation at Davidson College.
Prices start at $300 but they’ve had projects go up to $2,000 as well.
Keep off the grass
If you’ve ever purchased a do-it-yourself balloon arch from a party supply store you know working with a medium that could pop at any moment has its challenges and frustrations. Besides worrying about over inflation and improper tying, environmental hazards need to be addressed.
The grand opening of 760 Craft Works in Huntersville | Jason Benavides photo
One of Julie and Meghan’s earliest installations fell victim to grass…BLADES of grass.
“We lost almost half of our balloons because they started blowing into the grass.”
Since that experience they’ve learned and adapted with a few tricks of the trade making them the experts worth every penny.
An inflation in popularity
Now in their second year, Lake Norman Balloon Co. has definitely gained traction and name recognition. Balloon arches have been popping up in a number of Mecklenburg store fronts and festivals like Birkdale Village’s 4th of July celebration.
Relying mostly on word-of-mouth marketing the duo gives credit to a strong community. “Local businesses and moms have been SO good to us!” Julie and Meghan will continue to look for ways to step-up their balloon game.
Lake Norman Balloon Co.
• Online: www.lknballoons.com
• Instagram: @lakenormanballoonco
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