We had the good fortune of connecting with Seledonio “Sam” Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Seledonio “Sam”, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
There was a lot of thought given about starting our business. We were offering face painting and Balloon twsiting already. We had done this for 5yrs. In April 2016 we decided we wanted to offer balloon decorations as well. In June 2016 we opened our store and in Nov. 2016, I left my full time retail managment job. That was a scary moment! The first couple of days or weeks it was not bad, but then the longer it goes on, you realize there is no regular paycheck and you have to hustle to keep things going.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Getting here and staying here are not always easy. As a self-employed person in any niche, you start to dive into a whole new world. This leads you down a rabbit hole of new thoughts and ideas, one of which is that there are more people than you think in your field. This can be a problem in many ways, one of which is the dreaded imposter syndrome. This is probably the biggest hurdle to overcome. When you are busy, it can be easy to feel like you’ve made it. When you are slow, you still see others working, and it causes me to question why I do this if there are so many others.

One way I bring my thoughts around is to think of how and why we started. Although you can get balloons from just about every dollar store, none of them offer the uniqueness of our balloon creations or sculptures. They cannot personalize the items as we do or offer the one-on-one service we can. And for that, that is my ‘why.’

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’re located in the charming small town of Chesaning, MI, surrounded by neat bars, restaurants, and other attractions. Despite our town’s size, there’s a lot to explore. We also have great neighboring towns with plenty to offer.

In Chesaning, kickstart your mornings at a delightful local coffee shop. Enjoy excellent lunch spots in town, and wrap up your evenings at our downtown pub. Throughout the week, mix it up by venturing to nearby Owosso, Birch Run, and Saginaw. In Owosso, catch a show at the theater or explore unique shops in the bustling downtown area. A day in Birch Run offers outlet shopping and a variety of dining options, including local spots and national chains—all doable in just one day.

Spend another day exploring the Saginaw/Bay City Area, where there’s a range of attractions. Depending on timing, you can even enjoy the beach and boating on Saginaw Bay.

In the Mid-Michigan area, travel is essential due to the spread-out rural nature. Yet, the journey itself can be the highlight—take a backroad drive for a good time. When you’re not in the mood to travel, we love entertaining our guests with a cookout and casual conversations about random things.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My biggest shoutout would have to go to a Magician named Doug Scheer of Scheer Magic Productions. Doug was a magician, and he was working kids’ night in a restaurant we frequented. One night my wife was face painting for a birthday party and he asked if she would like to work kids’ nights with him. After a few short months, he noticed I was with her often. He then asked if I had any talents or hobbies like balloon twisting or Magic, to which I answered no. He suggested that I try balloon twisting and make 10 different balloons. Just simple ones, and when I was comfortable with that, he would have me rotate in on some nights at the restaurant. Well, that was 2011 and that is the smallest decision that changed our life in the biggest way!

Website: www.poppindecor.com

Instagram: @poppindecorballoonco

Facebook: www.facebook.com/poppindecorballoonco

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/poppin-decor-by-a-family-affair-chesaning?osq=Balloons&override_cta=Request+a+Quote

Youtube: www.youtube.com/balloonmansam8142

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@balloon.man.sam

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMichigan is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.