Baskets Cakes Colors Decorating History Imprinting Nationwide Washington DC

HISTORY OF BALLOON DELIVERY
AND DECORATING INDUSTRY
BALLOON BOUQUETS^®, INC.

"The Original Balloon Delivery and Decorating Service" - Since 1976!

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"An American success story...." Dan Rather, CBS Evening News, Charles Kuralt, "On The Road", and Charles Kuralt, On The Road With Charles Kuralt, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1985

THE FAMILY THAT HAS SOLD BALLOONS IN AMERICA SINCE 1896, ORIGINATED THE BALLOON BOUQUETS^®SERVICE IN 1976.
"The Oldest and Most Successful...." TIME MAGAZINE, 1980.

Over a quarter century ago, in 1976 in Washington, DC, the balloon delivery and arts industry had its beginning. Joe DelVecchio, descendant from three generations of balloon vendors (his great grandfather started selling balloons on the streets of Boston in 1896 - as did his grandfather and father (Frank DelVecchio Sr. pictured at right)), conceived of the idea of delivering balloons in bunches, and obtained Federal and state trademark registrations for a new service called "BALLOON BOUQUETS^®".

In June, 1976, DelVecchio opened Balloon Bouquets of Washington, DC, and the first delivery of a helium balloon arrangement was made. Balloon Bouquets^® franchises opened in major U.S. cities, and an intercity order network was established for sending the colorful greetings nationwide.

The novel idea captured the imagination of the public and the press, and a new American industry was born. There are now more than 20,000 balloon services nationwide, trade journals, and a national toll-free intercity balloon delivery and decorating service with outlets in 5000 communities (BALLOON BOUQUETS^® Nationwide Delivery Information Service).

BALLOON BOUQUETS^® franchises have staged balloon spectaculars at diverse events and locations including the American Bicentennial Celebration in Washington, DC, the 100^thAnniversary of the Statue of Liberty in New York City (please see photo of Closing Ceremony), the Great Wall of China, movie premieres, presidential inaugurations, conventions, groundbreaking ceremonies, product unveilings, fancy balls, weddings, ordinations and countless other events and locations.

Balloon deliveries, originally conceived as an alternative to sending flowers, have come into their own as a unique way to send greetings, frequently accompanied by gifts. Balloon decorating provides low-cost, dramatic, larger than life visual effects and impact not attainable by other means.

The BALLOON BOUQUETS^® network handles over a quarter million intercity deliveries and decorating requests each year, and the industry continues to grow.

FOR INFORMATION: 202-785-1290 or 800-424-2323

July 5, 1997, Scripps Howard News Service:
"America's Chronicler Moves On"

"Charles Kuralt ... of course would die on the Fourth of July. For 27 years he was on the road in America...in search of unusual characters and every day inspiration.... In Boston, Kuralt chatted with an Italian immigrant who'd sent his two sons to college and graduate school by selling balloons on the street. Despite their degrees the boys became balloon vendors. 'Kids!' the dad lamented to Kuralt, 'What are you going to do about kids who don't listen to their old man?'"
NOTE: Those "kids" established Balloon Bouquets^®, Inc..