2017 The Bookings Began

In 2017 I added a few of my photos and videos to my website and just like that I started to get enquiries and eventually booked a few bubble parties.

Self teaching

I’m a big self teacher so I went to work researching all I could about bubbles, not much came up. I went to work experimenting to get the solution right as I couldn’t find anything online apart from Soap Bubble Wiki. Now recognising Bubble Wiki as a great source of information at the time as newbie it was overwhelming and I couldn’t decipher what I needed from it.

Reaching out to existing bubbles entertainers and groups with now joy. So I experimented, its funny looking back but at one point I was adding golden syrup to the mix! This was never going to work. However I got there and I created a decent giant bubble solution recipe (the method wasn’t ideal yet but it worked).

Looking back I am glad I found it so hard to learn otherwise Bubbly Heaven may not have ever existed. 

First Party

For a start I did my first bubble party at one of my friends kids birthday parties, to have a run through before my first professional job. It was amazing, the kids reactions were more than I could ever imagine.

Realising The Lack of Learning Resources

Coming from a background of balloon modelling and face painting where training and starter help was in abundance, seeing the difference in the bubble world was black and white. The bubble world was small and still is now, but growing thanks to people slowly realising that training and open resource is beneficial to everyone.

So I really recognised a big need and wondered, could I fill it? I started to talk to face painters/balloon modellers that I knew and word got around. That I was a new bubble entertainer and interested in facilitating bubble entertainer training as there was none existing at the time. Apart from Tom Noddy’s book “Bubble Magic‘, he was one of the bubble pioneers, discoverer’s and inventors and he was a rare bubbleologist who was an open resource. 

The best day!

Caroline Ainslie from Bubbly Maths sent me a message and said that she was too struggled to learn and wanted to share her bubble knowledge. We met and very quickly realised we was of same mindset and we became very good friends. Both having some personal issues going on it felt like we met at the very right time, as we soon realised bubbles are very therapeutic and creates happiness!

Like magic we put our existing company names together (Bubbly Maths and Little Party Heaven) to create a new name ‘Bubbly Heaven‘. Also creating the Newbie Soap Bubble Entertainer Face Book group so people have a place to ask any question and be a newbie in a welcoming place.

Bubble training was born

Working together to produce training content we began planning our first in-person training days.  We also planned our pre-filmed content for all those people who were enquiring from abroad. I had developed great knowledge in outdoor bubbles and Caroline had superb indoor bubble knowledge, so together offered the whole training package. And I was very grateful that I could also learn from Caroline.

Merging our recipe knowlegde

Merging our recipe, we kept the ingredients I originally worked out. However Carolines method of mixing was a vast improvement on mine so we put our knowledge together and had an amazing bubble mixture that we was very proud of and ready to share. Recipe for sale today. 

2018 Dr Zigs Wholesale

We took a trip to visit Dr Zigs to acquire a product source so that we could supply our trainees (and other customers) with bubble kits. Our visit to Dr Zigs was successful, we also brought ourselves a big amount of kit, kid in a bubble moat and while we were there we filmed some bubble promotion videos.

On our arrival home we learn’t how to add products to our website, spending many months developing our website adding products and advertising to customers our new product line. The future looked bright. 

Why we wanted to share our recipe

Recognising a huge need for people wanting to make bubbles at home we wanted to share or recipe to the public (for a small fee) to help those that 1) Wanted to make bubbles at home 2) Wanted to make big batches of juice however couldn’t afford £100’s on pre-mixed solution. People would often struggled (like I did) with the lack of help points and most free content wouldn’t make giant bubbles very successfully. 

First bubble training course

Throwing our first bubble training day was a blast! Everyone including ourselves had fun, learn’t a-lot and we got great feedback. The best thing about it is watching them grow and blossom into their own amazing bubble act.  

Here are some of our success stories:

• Richard Corcoran with his Lovely Bubbly Show. (In person training)
• Emma Pickering with Ebublio. (In person training)
• Louise Whotton with Cosmic Faerie. (In person training)
• Cressida Cooper with Siren Bubbles. (Online course)

Daze 5

Shortly after this we attended Bubble Daze 5 hosted by Dr Zigs, where we got to meet the amazing Tom Noddy, Louis Pearl, Pep Bou, Brian Lawrence & Sterling Johnson some of the bubble pioneers.

2019 First Indoor Bubble Show

Early in 2019 I performed my first indoor bubble show. (Indoor and outdoor bubbles are VERY different and use a different skill set). The shows went well and I started to enjoy them and not fear them, however this progression was short lived with what happened to the world in 2020 (COVID). 

Bubble training progress

Caroline and I got to work and filmed all the video content we needed for the online training course and recipe, so we launched that and its been popular and we get great feedback. 

It was a delight training Tweddy The Clown, as you can imagine that was a very fun day for all.  

Unexpected wholesale deal change

Sadly our wholesale deal with Dr Zigs ended due to decreasing profit margins, which meant it was no longer viable for us to continue working with them. So we had to rethink how we were going to fulfil the need our customers had, we tried other companies but nothing else was available. Trying back with Dr Zigs but they couldn’t improve on the offer so we needed to come up with another solution.

We still love Dr Zigs products and still today recommend their items. They still offer wholesale and ambassador options. Amazon affiliate program is also another great way link products to your website or business without having to do the leg work of selling. 

Realising my bubble wand making skills

Around this time I was developing my knowledge on how to make bubble wands, as we included many lessons in our online training classes. I had developed good bubble wand making skill through much trail and error. Plus gathering many supplies, I already had created a mini bubble wand workshop without intending too. 

Sources for wand making guides

There is a few sources I would like to credit including the Soap Bubble Wiki, youtube (see example inspiration video) and google (see example pages). I also went out and brought lots of different wands, this included many brands. Brands like Gazillion, Uncle Bubble, Dr Zigs, Bubble inc and many more not so well known brands. Lots of these wands I still have in my kit today. Finally I would like to credit Kalvin Klundt, the inventor of the Tri-String bubble wand. Without his ‘Dip Stix’ bubble wand for inspiration the bubble world would look much different. 

Learning curve

The most sensible solution to this problem was for me to create my own bubble supplies. I could then relax and not have to worry about the risk of another company changing terms. It took many months of work to get Dr Zigs products on our website that now all needed to be removed, so I needed a consistent product line which now I had the skills to create.

Product creation

Plunging into the world of product creation was daunting and overwhelming at first but I am so glad I did as it has completed Bubbly Heaven nicely as an one stop shop for training, supplies and entertainment. Making the bubble world accessible, which was the vision. If anyone is looking at making and selling their own bubble equipment here is some handy links toy safety laws UK and self testing kits, don’t let this part discourage you.   

Magic Powder

Realising that many people wanted to make DIY bubble solution at home. At that time there was only pre-made solution which was expensive. Then there was online recipes which many people struggled with. Or they don’t have the reason to buy lots of different ingredients and make huge batches. They only want to make one batch every now and then at home with their kids. So this inspired me! In the creation of my kits, to include a powder that enables people to make their own juice. I was filling a gap in the market.

Bubble Therapy

Around this time I was also working in Nursing homes with Katie Bray (So Sensory Bubbles). Also running some messy play bubble sessions for babies and toddlers. During this time I discovered some new ways of creating products and Katie taught me all she new on how to sell on Ebay. The time spent with Katie was very valuable and extremely fun! Bubbles bring joy to all ages! Thank you Katie! 

2020 Lock Down!

We all remember being locked down. At this point I had already established my Ebay seller account and starting selling products on the Bubbly Heaven shop. So I was able to use the time in lock down to develop and focus this side of the business as I wasn’t allowed to go out an work at parties or events. 

2021-2022 In and Out of Lockdown!

We just continued to do the best we could going in and out of lockdown. It gave me time to develop the bubbly heaven website more and focus on creating more free content. 

2022-2023 Back to training

Life finally felt like its getting back to normal. Bubble training sessions contined on an on-demand basis. New people trained this year were Lucy Spielburg (Lucy Lost It), Louiza Thomas (Lipstick & Powder Paint), Daniella Smith (Fabulouse Faces) and Louise Walters (Pixie painting). I am sure we will see great things from them soon. 

Seeing growth

Caroline and myself have seen an increase of sales of the online training content. Perhaps the google ads are working or perhaps the SEO work I did kicked in. Or maybe there is an increasing interest in becoming a bubble entertainer. Our Newbie Bubble Group on Face Book is growing day by day. We can’t wait to meet you, encourage you and point you in the right direction. 

Current time – Balloon modelling next

Caroline and I are planning balloon modelling training videos next, although there is lots of great free content out their at the moment, there isn’t a place that brings it together that will help a newbie as a training course online to get started and cover the important things. (Or at least we don’t know if one, please correct me if I am wrong).

Back to working on indoor show

Finally I have started developing my indoor bubble show again. I have been working on my set up and developing and realising my own personal performance style. 

Future plans 2024

I plan to continue the website development. . The plans are to create more free content and seek new collaborations. I have plans for some new products, still at idea stage at the moment. So watch this space! 

Thanks for reading, if you got this far then BRAVO. If you have any questions, just ask! cheryl@bubblyheaven.co.uk