I recently had the pleasure of working with Fataima Ahmad, Owner and Lead Designer of Balloon Zoom. Her work is amazing and she is just such a sweetheart! Read on to learn more about Balloon Zoom.
How did you get started with Balloon Zoom?
I fell into balloon decor by accident! I was a journalist and then an attorney, but took a break from the working world when I became a mom. Fast forward several years and my three elementary school-aged daughters wanted to start a business. They learned to twist, and were soon making balloon animals at events all over Washington, DC. Balloon Zoom, which focuses on classic and modern balloon decor, gew from there. I’m now a Certified Balloon Artist who has trained with balloon artists from all over the world. My youngest daughter, Noor, now a high school senior, still regularly designs and builds decor for the company.
What’s your favorite part of what you do?
I never get bored designing balloon decor. Every balloon arch, balloon wall, table centerpiece, sculpture or installation is different because I design it for a specific Client, event and venue.
What’s your pop color–that something special that makes you, you?
I try hard to take the stress out of choosing the right decor. As a mom, I know how much my Clients are juggling! Part of the joy of decorating is knowing I’ve lifted a burden from another mom’s shoulders, and helped her enjoy her child’s milestone day.
What’s your favorite moment of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah?
I love seeing the family’s reaction when they first walk into a beautifully-decorated space. Balloons are bubbly little packets of joy.
What questions should parents ask someone in your field?
Balloon decor is a creative, visual thing, and photos or videos of the event space are really important when I’m designing. Parents should always ask a decorator to look at photos of the space before they connect to chat about balloons!