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Monday 9am - 6pm Tuesday 9am - 6pm Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm

BAPIA

Name: BAPIA
Address: Unit 12, Fairview Estate, Newtown Road, Henley on Thames, RG91HG, GB
Telephone: +442081231746
Rating: 4.6

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The fastest growing independent trade organisation for the Balloon and Party industry, representing What is BAPIA and why should you join?
(1)

BAPIA is the Balloon And Party Industry Alliance
A pro-active industry organisation set up to achieve 2 main goals:
To represent the Balloon and Party Industry
To build benefits for and offer support to BAPIA members
Are you already part of the Balloon and Party industry or thinking of becoming part of it? Balloons, Fancy Dress, Candy Carts, Venue Decor, Party Goods, Face-painting, balloon twisting and much more, if you offer any or all of these then you are part of our industry and BAPIA is here for you. As a BAPIA member you will receive:
Public and Products liability Insurance cover up to £10million
Employers liability insurance cover up to £10million
£100,000 Legal expenses Insurance cover
£100,000 Professional Indemnity cover
BAPIA membership is £160 per year, which makes the Insurance extremely competitively priced but add to that the other benefits and it is an absolute must for anybody who is part of the industry. Other Benefits include:
Exclusive discounts from wholesalers and suppliers
Discounted training courses
Online promotion of your business through BAPIAonline.com
Promotion through ongoing social media campaign
Business referrals
Training and education support from leading industry educators
Monthly photo competition with 3 prizes per month
Support from an established, rapidly growing and well recognised industry organisation
BAPIA newsletter
Industry magazine
Exclusive industry events (such as Great Ormond Street Hospital charity event)
Be part of a pro-active, forward thinking trade organisation that is focused on its members and the industry that it represents. The Balloon And Party industry Alliance is also committed to investing in our industry and our members, having recently sponsored and supported The Great Ormond Street Christmas Party Class, Guinness World Record attempts and World Balloon Convention 2014 Team GB large sculpture, being headed up by BAPIA member Mike Harris of For All Occasions. With a wealth of experience and support from all areas of the industry, BAPIA is best placed to fulfil the requirements of an industry organisation and to serve its members to the best of its ability. Among its members BAPIA proudly lists many established and recognised retailers, decorators, entertainers, suppliers and manufacturers from across the industry. On a global level we have established links with other international industry organisations such as those in the USA, Europe, Australia and South Africa ensuring that we are aware of industry issues before they hit our shores.

15/10/2026

ONE INDUSTRY. SO MANY AMAZING TALENTS!

What an incredible few days we’ve had at UKFABAC, celebrating the wonderful world of face and body painting!

But today, we want to celebrate something even bigger… OUR ENTIRE BAPIA COMMUNITY!

From balloon artists to face painters, party shops to entertainers, soft-play providers to sleepover specialists, event stylists to backdrop creators… and everyone in between!

You are all part of an amazing industry that brings happiness, colour, excitement and unforgettable memories to people’s lives.

And although our businesses might look very different, we have so much in common.

We work hard, we juggle a hundred different jobs, we face similar challenges, and we all know that running a creative business takes so much more than simply being creative!

At BAPIA, we’re proud to represent and support this wonderfully diverse community.

So let’s hear from YOU!

Tell us in the comments:
✨ What does your business specialise in?
✨ Where are you based?
✨ How long have you been in business?

Let’s celebrate the people behind the businesses and discover more about the amazing talent within our community.

Because together, we’re stronger! ❤️

SupportSmallBusiness

13/10/2026

🎀💕 THINK PINK, MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 💕🎀

What an incredible evening of love, laughter, friendship and generosity! 💗

Our Pink Party at UKFABAC was about so much more than wearing pink! It was an opportunity to raise awareness of breast cancer, celebrate those who have survived, remember those we have lost and support everyone whose life has been touched by this disease. 💕

Thanks to the amazing generosity of our wonderful UKFABAC community, we raised an unbelievable £4,000 for Breast Cancer Now! 🎉🎀

A huge thank you to Nat Saunders of The Balloon Room for creating this absolutely stunning pink balloon backdrop, and to GRABO Balloons for generously sponsoring the balloons. You helped make our evening truly special! 💖

Photo credit: Gillian Child of Emerald Face Painting

Breast cancer awareness matters. Check yourself, know what’s normal for you, and never ignore a change. Early detection can save lives. 🎀

Together, we made a difference! 💕

BreastCancerSupport TheBalloonRoom GRABOBalloons TogetherWeMakeADifference

12/10/2026

Well it’s a wrap at this year’s UK Face & Body Art Convention and what an amazing convention it has been! We’ve made so many special friends and met so many talented face and body painting artists from around the world! Our theme this year was Masquerade, and this beautiful backdrop decor was created by Helen Wolverhampton Balloon Styling and Facepainting and Kez Kezs Face Painting & Balloons with the balloons sponsored by Gemar Balloons Gemar UK 🇬🇧🎈 thank you so much for your support, we truly appreciate it 😍

10/10/2026

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY | 10 OCTOBER

Today is a reminder to think about someone who can sometimes get pushed to the bottom of the priority list…

YOU.

When you run your own business, it can feel as though you’re always “on”.

Answering messages.
Posting on social media.
Preparing for the next job.
Worrying about bookings.
Comparing yourself to other businesses.
Trying to keep customers happy.
And somehow fitting everyday life around all of it.

It’s very easy to keep saying “I’m fine” and just carry on.

But looking after your mental wellbeing is every bit as important as looking after your business.

💚 Take a break without feeling guilty.
💚 Step away from social media when you need to.
💚 Talk to someone if things are getting on top of you.
💚 Stop comparing your business to someone else’s highlight reel.
💚 Celebrate what you have achieved.
💚 Remember that you don’t have to say yes to every job.
💚 Give yourself the same kindness and encouragement you would give to a friend.

And perhaps, today, ask yourself:

“How am I really doing?”

Running a small business can sometimes feel lonely, but being part of BAPIA means being part of a community too.

So on World Mental Health Day, check in with yourself — and maybe check in with another industry friend as well. A simple “How are you?” can mean more than we realise.

💚 Your business matters. But so do you.

08/10/2026

CHRISTMAS MARKETING – A LITTLE EARLY? MAYBE. BUT WORTH KNOWING NOW!

We know it’s only the beginning of October, but many of you are already planning, photographing and advertising your Christmas products and services – so now is a good time for a festive IP reminder.

Every year we see Christmas balloon deliveries, elf arrivals, personalised gifts and festive packages appearing across social media. But when you’re using well-known characters and brand names, it’s important to understand the difference between selling a genuine licensed product and using somebody else’s intellectual property to market your own service.

For example, purchasing an officially licensed balloon or genuine branded toy does not automatically give your business a licence to brand an entire balloon arrangement, delivery package or service using that protected name or character.

Equally, trade mark law isn’t quite as simple as “you can never mention a brand”. There are circumstances where businesses can legitimately refer to genuine branded products they are selling. The important thing is not to create the impression that your business, service or creation is officially licensed, sponsored or endorsed when it isn’t.

And remember – this isn’t just about elves! Well-known Christmas characters, artwork, logos and names can be protected by trade marks, copyright or both.

So before those Christmas posts start appearing:

✔️ Buy genuine products from reputable suppliers
✔️ Check licensing where relevant
✔️ Use generic festive descriptions for your own packages and services
✔️ Be particularly careful with logos, character artwork and branded imagery
✔️ Don’t imply an official association that doesn’t exist

Christmas may still feel a little way off, but your Christmas marketing starts now – and getting it right from the beginning is much easier than changing weeks of posts later.

Save this post and share it with another party or balloon business that might find it useful.

This post provides general information for BAPIA members and isn’t a substitute for legal advice on a particular use or dispute.

07/10/2026

TEAM BAPIA IS HEADING TO UKFABAC!

Team BAPIA will be at The UK Face and Body Art Convention from Wednesday 7th October until Tuesday 13th October.

During this time, we’ll still be here to support our members, but as the team will be busy working at the convention, responses may take a little longer than usual.

If you have an enquiry, please email [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

And if you’re joining us at UKFABAC… come and say hello! We’d love to see you!

To see what’s happening at the convention follow UK Face & Body Art Convention

Team BAPIA

06/10/2026

Come for the insurance… discover everything else.

Like many of our members, Ange Francis of Hula Stars Creative originally joined BAPIA for Public Liability Insurance.

But it’s the wider community and business support that Ange has come to value too — connecting with other professionals, sharing ideas, learning from others and having somewhere to turn for advice.

Running your own business can sometimes feel quite isolating. Being part of an industry community means you don’t always have to work everything out alone.

Thank you Ange for sharing your experience and recommending BAPIA to others in the balloon and party industry.

05/10/2026

WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY | CELEBRATING THOSE WHO TEACH & INSPIRE

Today we celebrate teachers everywhere — and not just those in schools and classrooms.

Within the balloon, face painting and creative event industries, we are incredibly fortunate to have talented educators who generously share their knowledge, skills and experience with others.

From teaching someone their very first balloon technique or brush stroke, to advanced designs, business skills and professional development — every educator plays a part in helping our industries grow.

So today, we say THANK YOU to everyone who teaches, demonstrates, mentors, encourages and inspires others.

And to all those who have ever taken the time to show someone how rather than simply doing it themselves — you’ve made a difference.
Tag a teacher, instructor or mentor who has helped you on your journey and say thank you!

Thank to Online & in person training with Chantel Lord for the fantastic balloon setup photo

CreativeIndustry NeverStopLearning IndustryEducation

02/10/2026

WORLD SMILE DAY | DO AN ACT OF KINDNESS

Sometimes the smallest gesture can make the biggest difference.

A kind word.
A compliment.
A helping hand.
Checking in on someone.
Supporting another small business.
Or simply giving someone a smile.

This World Smile Day, we’re encouraging everyone to do one simple thing:

Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.

You never really know what someone else is going through, and your small act of kindness could be exactly what they need today.

And remember… kindness costs nothing, but it can mean everything. 😊

SmallBusinessCommunity

01/10/2026

🎀 OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH 🎀

This October, we’re adding a little more pink to our BAPIA community in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

For many of us, breast cancer isn’t just something we read about. It may have affected us personally, or touched the life of a family member, friend, colleague or customer.

So this month, alongside all the beautiful pink balloons, face paints, decorations and events, we want to share an important reminder:

🎀 Check your breasts regularly
🎀 Know what is normal for you
🎀 Never ignore a change
🎀 Attend your screening appointments when invited
🎀 Speak to your GP if something doesn’t feel right

And if you know someone going through breast cancer treatment, sometimes the smallest gesture — a message, a coffee, an offer of help or simply checking in — can mean more than you realise.

Throughout October, we’d love to see how our members are turning BAPIA pink. 💗

If you’re creating something pink, supporting a fundraiser or raising money for a breast cancer charity, tag BAPIA so we can share and support what you’re doing.

Together, our wonderfully creative community can help raise awareness, start conversations and remind each other to check. 🎀💕

Thank you to Online & in person balloon training by Rebecca Phelps for inviting us to be part of this wonderful project 💕

PartyIndustry BalloonIndustry FacePaintingCommunity

Address

Unit 12, Fairview Estate, Newtown Road
Henley On Thames
RG91HG

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

+442081231746

Website

https://www.bapiaonline.com/join

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