NABAS - The Balloon Association is the only independent national trade association for balloon decorators, retailers, wholesalers & manufactures and suppliers of balloon related services such as gas & air in the party and promotional balloon industry.

What is NABAS?

Promoting YOUR business

Benefits of membership

Membership fees

Apply for information

NABAS is an association for people in the balloon industry run by an independent committee elected by its members. The members of the committee all have balloon orientated backgrounds as decorators, retailers, wholesalers or manufacturers and all have the common goal of furthering the interests of NABAS members and the industry as a whole.

Membership of NABAS adds credibility to balloon businesses and gives them an opportunity to voice views on issues affecting the industry to people who have a vested interest in ensuring the industry goes from strength to strength.

Some current issues that are absorbing the NABAS Management Committee are: fighting the campaign to ban balloon releases; the development of the NABAS website; furthering public awareness of balloons via such events as National Balloon Week; extending and enhancing the Annual Balloon Show; increasing the NABAS approved training courses into key skill areas; the implementation of a new marketing initiative to promote Members to the public.

So, if you are in the balloon industry, NABAS is here for you. Request our Information Pack and find out how being a NABAS member will benefit your business and how you in turn, by supporting NABAS, can further improve the business prospects of the balloon industry and thereby your own business.

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Every industry needs an Association to which it can be affiliated as it gives the member businesses status.

In an ever-competitive market, membership of a trade organisation such as NABAS will give you a business advantage over a competitor without such endorsement.

The public is increasingly aware of the advantages in choosing a company who demonstrates its standards by agreeing to adhere to the code of conduct which is an inevitable part of the commitment a firm makes when it joins its sector’s trade association.

Being a member of your trade’s association means you are committed to:-

• maintaining standards
• keeping in touch with what is new
• ensuring that you are aware of good practice and committed to follow it
• aware that it is in the best interests of everyone that the industry has a good reputation based on a service to the customer that under promises and over delivers
• seek to continually improve your performance to the benefit of your business and ultimately your clients

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• PUBLIC & EMPLOYER LIABILITY INSURANCE - The law requires that as a business you must have adequate liability insurance cover. Insurance cover is included for all UK Retailer/Decorators (Full & Associate) with NABAS membership. Cover up to £5 million. The combined liability insurance cover is for UK retail and decorating businesses only and provides cover for those working for the firm or trader with balloons and related accessories, both at the firm’s premises and working away at different venues. The employers liability is limited to members with no more than 5 employees at any one time. Members who have more than 5 employees at any one time can be included for an additional premium per employee. The insurance cover is intended for members where balloons are a major part of the business, however the insurance provided also covers a wide variety of party/wedding products, please contact NABAS for further information if required. NOTE: Provisional Members are not entitled to insurance cover.

• TRADE MAGAZINES - You will receive two trade magazines on alternate months: "Balloonies" our in-house magazine is put together with contributions from our Members, information, handy hints, useful contact numbers and articles on current issues regarding your industry. "Party Party" a bi-monthly glossy trade magazine featuring balloons, costumes, party products etc.

• LEGAL HELPLINE - If you have a problem, whether it is business or private, where you need legal advice, you can call the Legal Helpline for up to 5 telephone consultations a year.

• PROMOTION OF YOUR BUSINESS - NABAS Website - All Associate and Full Members are listed on the website by county and each member has the opportunity to provide a short write up to go under their entry indicating what services they offer. Extensive Advertising in National Wedding/Bridal Magazines - NABAS advertises extensively on a national basis resulting in numerous enquiries from the public seeking a retailer or decorator in their area.

• The credibility of your business

• Subscription discount on trade magazines

• “Designs for Balloon Decorations” sheets that you can add to your portfolio

• Sample documentation for Booking & Confirming your client’s events with Terms & Conditions

• Membership Certificate to display

• NABAS Membership List for referrals and contacts within the trade

• NABAS support helpline

• NABAS logo for use on your own publicity (available by email)

• Discounted training opportunities

• 1 free A4 full colour promotional leaflet with order form for further supplies at low cost

• Guidelines & Code of Conduct for Balloon Releases

• Public referrals from the NABAS Secretariat & website

• Gas warning sticker for vehicle

• Networking opportunities

• Advice freely available from other NABAS members who are leaders in the industry

• Opportunity to participate in the National Balloon Week (3rd week of May each year)

• Opportunity to gain NABAS approval for a training course that you may have developed on a specialist skill or technique

• Opportunity to become a NABAS approved teacher

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Provisional - Description: New to the industry with no recognised training*. Not eligible for the insurance

Associate - Description: New to the industry with recognised training* OR have recognised training* but insufficient trading experience

Full - Description: Have recognised training*, at least one full year of trading experience, with evidence of the last three jobs undertaken. The evidence to be a non-returnable 7"x5" photograph for each job with the following on the back: (a) applicants name and company name; (b) client's name and telephone number; (c) venue name, address & telephone number; (d) date of event
OR
have training evidence showing commitment to learn good practice including evidence of Health & Safety Training to include Risk Assessment, have at least 18 months trading experience with evidence of the last three jobs undertaken. The evidence to be a nonreturnable 7"x5" photograph for each job with the following on the back: (a) applicants name and company name; (b) client's name and telephone number; (c) venue name, address & telephone number; (d) date of event

* Recognised Training = NABAS Basic, NABAS Level 2, Qualatex Fundamentals, CBA, City & Guilds in Balloon Display 7722/7822/7922

Associate and Full members details will automatically be promoted on the NABAS website

Paid by Monthly Standing Order: = £13.00
(plus an additional standing order administration fee of £24 payable on joining and on 1st January of each subsequent year of membership)

or

Paid as an annual lump sum: = £161.00

Wholesalers, Printers, Manufacturers, Distributors, Importers & other service providers to Retailers & Decorators

Paid by Monthly Standing Order: = £26.00

or

Paid as an annual lump sum: = £300.80

Note: Membership is in the name of the firm or the trading name

The membership renewal date is a year after the first day of the month of joining for those paying in one annual lump sum. Members paying by standing order have a rolling membership and will be issued with their new certificate of Membership at the beginning of each calendar year.

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