Italian balloon company Gemar has been running a number of virtual events and challenges since March in order to help balloon professionals continue to ‘lift the moment’, even if it is from their living room.
The latest of these has been the Gemar Weekend, which took place on Instagram from 1 – 3 May and was created with the help of Gemar partner @funnyballoons_ and hosted by @havin_a_party. Product discounts were available and four Gemar ambassadors joined forces to offer spectacular live workshops.
“We wanted to create a weekend full of party fun, like having a balloon convention in your living room,” said marketing manager Clara Vaugelade-Tafani.
The Gemar Weekend followed hot on the heels of the flash mob and flash mob challenges, which have been running since March, when Gemar’s social media platforms were handed over to Gemar Masters and Ambassadors for two weeks. They held 32 live shows and produced over 40 wonderful sculptures between them, bringing people together to immerse themselves in creativity and the joy of balloons as they learnt new skills.
“We were blown away by the reaction to our flash mobs,” Clara continued. “Thousands of people watched live and we received countless messages thanking us for our support. We were thrilled to see people using #IDidIt to show us their own creations as they put everything they learnt into practice. It really did feel like a shared project, bringing people together.”
The Gemar Flash Mob Challenge saw viewers choosing their favourite sculpture from the flash mob and create it for themselves. A goody bag was awarded to every entry, with five sculptures being chosen to receive a winner’s prize pack.
“The challenge proved the perfect opportunity for everyone to stop watching from behind a screen and get hands on,” Clara continued. “We loved seeing entries from beginners to budding balloon professionals alike.”
More than 45 video workshops from the Gemar Flash Mob and Gemar Weekend are now available to see online, offering a fantastic resource for balloon artists.
“More Gemar Weekends will be taking place throughout the year,” added Clara. “We hope that many more people will continue to join us live to lift the moment without leaving home.”
