Forest Park’s 99 Haus Balloons brings color and creativity to events throughout Chicagoland.
The owner and CEO of 99 Haus Balloons, Aubrey Jacknow, explained that the inspiration for 99 Haus Balloons came during the uncertainty of the pandemic. After purchasing a building and launching a bar and event space in 2019, they had begun creating balloon decor for gatherings. When COVID-19 forced operations to shut down and the business did not qualify for assistance programs, they pivoted to balloon design as a way to stay afloat.
“As a bar, we could not remain open. Since I had already been doing balloon arrangements for the event space, we decided to put the balloons on the bar’s website and advertise outdoor, contact-free deliveries. The balloons did so well that we made it a separate company. Eventually we shut down the bar and now the space serves as my workshop,” Jacknow said.
The business operates through two main services: an online shop where customers can place orders for pickup at the workshop and a custom-order option for more personalized events. Custom orders have become a major success with clients requesting balloon arrangements to full backdrops. The company provides decor for a wide range of events, including celebrations to milestone occasions and corporate events.
“We love all of our events, even something as small as a birthday arrangement because we enjoy personalizing everything. Our team loves being part of every event and handling personalizations, whether it’s for something small or a much larger occasion,” Jacknow said.
Since opening, 99 Haus Balloons has completed more than 6,000 orders. Jacknow says this number is largely due to a focus on exceptional customer service and offering balloon designs that stand out from competitors.
“We offer slightly different and more unique balloon arrangements than our competitors and aim to provide a different kind of experience,” Jacknow said.
Sustainability has been a priority for the business from the beginning, driven by Jacknow’s desire to minimize their environmental impact.
Being a member of the Pro Environment Balloon Alliance aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainability Jacknow said and influences operations by ensuring they do not participate in balloon releases.
“You should not release balloons into the environment. We’re very much against that. If someone calls to purchase balloons for a release, we do not sell for that and do not recommend it. We always offer alternative options and try to educate our clients,” Jacknow said.
