Meet Kay Bishop

We were lucky to catch up with Kay Bishop recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kay, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I absolutely got my work ethic from my mom. She was a single parent with two children to take care of. I can remember her taking a 2nd job because my sister wanted to take dance classes. She wanted to make sure we had and didn’t mind sacrificing her time to make it happen.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am Kay Bishop, owner and creative designer for Sparkle CIty Balloon Boutique. We are a decorating and delivery service based out of Spartanburg SC.

I started Sparkle City Balloon Boutique after my son graduated High school. His graduation party was the catalyst for the inspiration. We wanted to give him a graduation party but wanted something over the top and after looking online I discovered a balloon arch. I had never seen anything like it before, I was accustomed to just a balloon on a string. from Party City. I did a little more digging and found out how to execute my vision. Everyone at the party was so impressed I started getting requests for other events. After time things just morphed into a full fledged business.

What excites me most about what we do is the opportunity to transform spaces into something magical while creating smiles and cherished memories. Balloons are more than just decorations—they’re expressions of celebration, love, and connection. What sets us apart is our attention to detail, personalized service, and ability to bring our clients’ visions to life, no matter the scale or theme.

In 2025, we’re thrilled to introduce new “grab-and-go” options for those who need convenient balloon designs on the fly and pick up where Party City has left clients to figure out where to get balloons from! Additionally, we’re expanding our offerings for corporate and university clients, focusing on innovative, interactive balloon installations that engage and wow attendees. We’re also launching the “Sparkle Bucks” fundraiser, where schools can raise money while bringing joy to their communities through our balloon bouquets.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Reflecting on my 20+ year career as an Executive Assistant, I can confidently say it played a significant role in shaping my entrepreneurial journey. My experience in creating and managing events provided a strong foundation, while skills like time management and a customer service mindset have been pivotal in defining what I want my business to stand for.

For anyone starting a new business, I can’t stress enough the importance of building a solid foundation to round out your skill set. While I brought a wealth of experience from my career, I knew that elevating my business required additional guidance. That’s why I sought out resources and programs to sharpen my business acumen and take Sparkle City Balloon Boutique to the next level. Programs like StartMe Spartanburg, Power Up Spartanburg, and SBDC Spartanburg were instrumental in providing me with the tools and knowledge to refine my approach and grow my business.

Investing in yourself and seeking support from the right programs can make all the difference when pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

If I had to choose one book that truly impacted me, it would be *The E-Myth Revisited*. This book transformed the way I view my business, helping me see it from a broader perspective. It opened my eyes to the potential for growth beyond just myself, inspiring me to envision building a team and even exploring the possibility of franchising—ideas that were nowhere on my radar before. *The E-Myth Revisited* gave me the clarity and confidence to think bigger and dream bolder for the future of my business.

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