Add a new voice to the saga of Red Balloon Co. — Red from the red isnt dead blog is a RB Co. insider with a few thoughts on the business and its reception on 15th Ave:
Let me be clear that I have a lot of opinions on what people have been saying (when do I not have an opinion?) Perhaps one day I will post them on here. For now however I am sticking to the facts since many people who are complaining about us seem to be completely ignorant about the truth. In an attempt to also bring a little context to the situation, I am posting some other bits of info to round out the views about us.
- The Red Balloon Co is a Seattle based business. We aren’t a corporate mega chain as many people seem to think. We started on Capitol Hill circa 1981 just a few blocks away from our location on 15th Ave E.
- We had a location in The Broadway Market in the late 80’s/early 90’s.
- We employ less than 10 people full time with a few part time people thrown in for good measure.
- We are a gay owned business.
- Not everything we sell is made in China. We have items that are made all over the world, including stuff made by local Seattle people.
- We have only two retail locations…which I guess technically makes us a chain.
- The business owners pay for my (very comprehensive) health insurance 100%.
- We didn’t kick Rainbow Grocery out of the spot on 15th. They went out of business.
- We sell more than just balloons…we started with doing balloon deliveries way back when but have evolved into much more.
BTW, formatting above is ours for readability — but the words and notes on Red Balloon’s history are Red’s. Lots of reasons to rethink Red Balloon or to at least rebalance the situation in the above. Still some good questions to ask. Hopefully Red finds a useful dialogue in all of this and we can keep the conversation going.
For now, we only have one question — has Dan Savage bought is first bag of Jelly Bellies yet?
Welcome to the neighborhood, Red.
Thanks. I’m happy to be back in the hood. ;)
Walking by on my way to Victrola I noticed that the items in the window were very gay themed. Reminded me of the racy card shop in Broadway Market that eventually became The Gap. I am wondering if they are not being given a fair shake.
So, I wonder why everyone’s given it such a negative welcoming? Perhaps because red baloon’s store front, product line, and general aesthetic appeal are devoid of any character particular to the neighborhood? Red Baloon looks like a store front you’d expect to see in a middle america shopping mall, right next to KB toys.
It might not be a chain, but it sure smells and looks like one. I think that’s the primary source of revulsion.
Right Jesse, because QFC, Subway and Walgreens are all so gorgeous. Sheesh! If it’s not one thing it’s another!
Wait. I’m confused. We were upset because we thought Red Baloon was a chain but now we are upset because it only looks like a chain?
For the record, I was one who complained about RBC coming in. I know it’s local and I know it’s not a national chain.
That’s not really the issue for me. I just think that the neighborhood could have used something better and more useful than toys and balloons. I’m not principally against toys and I think that there are a few things in there that little big noise would like. But damned if that’s not a huge, central lot to use for toys and balloons. It’s nothing personal but that’s my opinion and I stand by it.
I understand the free market and I accept it. But just because we didn’t get something that I think would have been better does not mean that we can’t wish it would have happened or say that it could have happened.
Where do you live pffft? I would love to personally hand deliver a huge, obxnoxious, balloon bouquet to you. :)
I was hoping for a hobby shop to go into that space to satisfy my R/C ways… but I just noticed that RBC has a Snoopy Sno-Cone maker in the window. How cool is that?
Red – I’ll probably never get the appeal of balloon bouquets.
I like toys, though.
Are you sure you can’t sell a few tools too? (Adult toys!).
And maybe add some hobby stuff.
And an olive bar and a deli case.
There. Everybody’s happy!
So the Red baloon is “gay owned!”
Jeez
Wow
Am I re=leave=ed.
I could care less about the sexual preferences of its owner. I ma just sorry that such a boring store is goi8ng to add so little to the ambiance of 15th. I do suppso0e it could be worse. How about:
a soft drink store owned by Gypsies
a Hallamrk store ownded by Republicans
a burger king owned by Brits
an IHOP owned by Austrians
a Husky paraphanalia store owned by lesbians
a Christian Science Book Store owned by blonde people
an Allstate Office owned by recent Iraqui immigrants
a survivalist store owned by Mormons
a clothing store owned by Hassidic Jews
a naturopathy office owned by a Creationist
a used mac store owned by Paul Andrews
a bookie joint owned by Mormona
… enough, I guess I will have to visit the RB. Willthey be selling a rsio controlled drigible? That si omehting I might buy!
SeattleJew
charming as usual, seattlejew
“Sexual preferences”?
Hmmm.
SeattleJew, can you offend a few more groups in your post.
I think you missed midgets but bonus points for somehow finding a way to include gypsies.
how bout a typo store run by grumpy jews?