Top Balloon

WillM

SGR seems to be getting a new shop opening. Next to Venezia, top balloon claims to be offering Party and Events accessories.

No word yet on whether this will include them trying to muscle in on the lucrative SGR wig trade...

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WillM

<a href="http://www.topballoon.co.uk/">Top Balloon</a>

They seem to be primarily balloon focussed. Not sure whether this isn't a niche too far for SGR, but I suppose if we can manage 2 wig shops, 3 pizzerias and close to a dozen kebab/chip shops, who knows what we can manage.

Arkady

Just what we've all been waiting for. Does this count as gentrification?

Emma

"Say it with balloon", amazing.

ADGS

It's the perfect location! Balloons + Wigs = Comic and/or Scary Fake Floaty Heads!

andy

Just looked on their website: *"We hope you can find everything you need"* Just so long as that by the word 'everything', you mainly mean 'balloons'.

Gregspar

That sounds a bit like The Prisoner ADGS!

andy

<http://www.topballoon.co.uk/Testimonials.html>; I've never seen such a positive set of balloon related testimonials. Had I balloon needs, Top Balloon would be my first and only stop. Regrettably, I have nearly no Balloon needs at all. Ever.

Ian

@Andy. They have obviously chosen their name wisely. They could have gone "average balloon" then felt like right chumps when the plaudits rushed in. I'm going to go in and replay that bit from the Wedding Crashers and ask if they can do a bicycle then start stomping my foot if they refuse.

emine

@andy I can't believe you have no need for a balloon sculpture. Especially the third one from the end. [Sometimes I wish I wasn't so puerile and should probably grow up](http://www.topballoon.co.uk/Sculptures.html)

Ian

Just saw the shop. Now believe me I will spend a large proportion of my income in there as I have a baby daughter. I might ask if they do a loyalty card scheme. I think it is a nice thing to have on the street, and am definitely pro. However, the biggest sign in their window is for "Seat Cover Rental". Is this a big market? Presumably it is insurance against messy kids...

andy

The market for seat cover rental is up to four times larger than the market for emine's slightly phallic balloon sculptures. If they also do teapot repair, they'll have an unstoppable triple threat of a business model .

Ian

True, true, people tire of their lounge theme and want a change of seat covers every now and then.

andy

I think the predictability of income from the seat cover rental market can be used to smooth out the volatile ups and downs that you find in the balloon sculpture market. Fortunes are made and lost in a day in balloons. That's why it's so cutthroat.

Ian

I'm worried that they are leveraging dominance from the balloon market into the seat cover market.

miss annie

The seat covers will be the cream canvas ones that cover plain chairs at weddings etc. They usually have a big bow on the back in the chosen 'theme' colour. I would draw the line at those (and I love a bit of tat), it's a bit Gypsy Wedding.

Ian

@missannie I still might get them for my front room.

Marquis

I don't know, I've got a bad feeling about this. Nothing against it in principle, although balloons in my experience only tend to get in the way.

Emma

Aren't the seat covers for weddings?

I'm a bit scared of balloons - or balloons popping. It's the tension, you know it's going to happen but <i>you don't know when</i>. An extra layer of menace comes to Stroud Green Road.

Sevlow

Just what the area needs. Thank you Top Balloon!!

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jandb

<a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/question185.htm">quite a few</a>

Ian

I walked to a friend's house in Stoke Newington yesterday and as I reached the end of Lordship Park at the point at which it becomes Manor Road I saw [Balloon Lagoon](http://www.balloonlagoonoflondon.co.uk/). Turns out it's a fierce and thriving market.

Marquis

I heard bad things about Balloon Lagoon. Don't want to go into detail.

MHP

I like the look of this place, will probably never shop there, but it's quite funky for SGR

ChangN4N6

Is this place still going? I have a kids party for my nephews next week and balloons might beva good thing to take if the are a but creative (or not the Clinton Cards ones!) Chang