Hot Air Balloon Advertising
Since 1989 when we were first established we have operated balloons for brand awareness.
The Royal Mail balloon for the North East postal region
A passenger transport balloon for Howdens Joinery
The Smile balloon for the co-operative bank
The Hope balloon for Hope Technology
The Solar Max balloon for Du Pont
A multi brand balloon for Invista
Briefs for these balloons have taken us to
Switzerland
Austria
Italy
Belgium
France
Spain
Social Media
TV
Competitions
Outdoor Events
Targeted Events
Why a Balloon?
Balloons draw attention, people all over the world like Hot Air Balloons. Wherever a balloon is in the sky or on the ground it will draw a crowd of people. Surveys have shown that up to 100% of those taking part in the survey confirmed that Balloons draw their immediate attention compared to much less with any other form of advertising.
Balloons Create a tremendous impact and people like to talk about what they have seen. Once again Surveys have shown that the public at large generally agree that balloons are interesting and consequently they want to talk about them. Far more will talk about a balloon with your name on it than say a billboard poster.
People Remember Balloons. Recent Surveys confirm that in countries where balloons are operating most people remember the name of balloons that they have seen in the sky. whereas in comparison, very few could remember billboard posters
Cost of advertising
A Balloon inculding all the necessary equipment similar to the “Hope Technology” balloon will cost in the region of £35,000
Additional Artwork costs maybe necessary depending on the complexity and method of build.
Television
Inside Out
In April 2004, we received a call from Ian Cundall at BBC Yorkshire “Can we film a piece on Yorkshire’s most unusual airline?”
We, as at turned out, were Yorkshire’s most unusual airline!
A May flight was agreed for the camera crew and Sophie, an Australian presenter who was working for the BBC at the time. We arranged to meet in a field just outside Settle where the flight was to be filmed from. Helicopters were booked, the weather accommodated our needs and the flight took off as arranged. An exciting and entertaining flight took place, with the landing on the Wharfedale R.U.F.C. pitch at Grassington.
The smile.co.uk balloon that we operated for the co-operative bank was used for the trip as it was the perfect size for the film crew, Sophie and I. The programme was aired just after the local BBC news early in the evening, prime time viewing and better results than we could have hoped for!
Just a few of the other projects that we have filmed;
BBC Look North, The Dales Diary with Luke Casey for Yorkshire Television, Pieces of Parkin with Leonard Parkin for Yorkshire Television, Emmerdale Farm.
Competitions
Location Photo Competition
- Photograph the balloon in a special location – one that promotes the area of interest and the balloon.
- Publish the photograph using social media and in the press.
- Ask for the location that the balloon was photographed at
- Draw a winner.
- The prize – a flight for two in the balloon
Best Photograph of the balloon
- The balloon attends several events in the UK and Europe throughout the year.
- Entries are invited for the best photograph of the balloon during the year for use in a calendar.
- A pannel of judges chose the best 12 photographs
- The winners take a balloon flight along side your balloon
Outdoor Events
Balloon Festivals
Bristol Balloon Fiesta is one of the UK’s top five outdoor events and the largest event of its kind in Europe. www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk
It is estimated to boost the local economy to the tune of £13 million each year. The event attracts 500,000 visitors annually. Achieves regional, national and international media coverage valued in excess of £500,000. Organisers work with local and national businesses to profile them through event photography, online presence and social media.
Such is the media popularity with the event, entries have to be secured at least 6 months ahead.
Balloon Festivals take place all over the world, by targeting these events it is possible to raise brand awareness and entertain clients in all sorts of locations.
Targeted Events
The Three Peaks Cyclocross
The 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross is staged in the Yorkshire Dales National Park every year at the end of September. It is the toughest and biggest Cyclocross event in the UK. – 3peakscyclocross.org.uk
We decided to target the event in the Hope Technology balloon. Hope sponsor some of the riders, including winners Paul Oldham and Rob Jebb. The business partners also take part and it is totally relevant to their business as cycle component manufacturers.
Taking off from a field in Stackhouse, near to Settle, we were able to fly north over the event start at Helwith Bridge. Descending to around 500 feet we were able to hover over the car parks and start line thirty minutes before the race began, before being blown north towards Ribblehead viaduct.
Ian one of Hope’s business partners said he felt like a rock star as the balloon floated over, people were grabbing their phones to take pictures, coming up to him and saying what a great spectacle it made, he was blown away by their reaction to the balloon.
G-HTEK
Lighter than air
The Hope Technology balloon is constructed from advanced lightweight material sourced from within the UK. The envelope material is lightweight silicone coated high tenacity nylon. The load tapes are Kevlar. Artwork on the balloon where possible has been inlaid into the structure to reduce weight and to improve luminosity.
The innovative basket uses stainless steel frames, nylon poles and composite honeycomb sandwich panels to produce a strong yet lightweight structure load tested to over 2000 kg that folds away into a Cordura bag for convenient transport and storage. A single lightweight yet powerful propane burner is used to power the balloon to heights in excess of 10,000
Social Media
Many people take photographs and videos of balloons
Social Media is a massive opportunity for brand promotion. How can you promote your brand by using this highly influential medium? Whether it is the shear size and colours, their grace of movement or the spirit of adventure, balloons attract attention and people want to record that in video and photographs to look at and share time and time again. People like to see balloons.
Television companies also enjoy the colour and the attraction that balloons have. They love to cover ballooning events where there is the strong combination of balloons and crowds of people. Imagine the impact your company logo can make using a balloon as an advertising medium.
Newspaper and magazine editors have a similar interest in balloons and balloon events. These events are regularly reported and recorded with photographs.
What a balloon does is raise awareness of the company, brand or organisation. Balloon images are remembered for a long time. This is the tremendous appeal of using this media.