THUNDER BAY – Whether it be births, birthdays, graduations or weddings, Julie Lesuk has played a significant role in helping members of the community celebrate milestones.
But after 35 years, Lesuk and the rest of the Helium Highs crew are preparing to close their Simpson Street doors for the final time as the year reaches its end.
“We’ve had such great and loyal customers and they’ve become friends. We’ve been with them from the births of their children, delivering balloons when their children are born, the birthday parties for their children, the graduations, the weddings and even the funerals,” she said.
“We’ve gotten to know them. In 35 years we’ve gone through a few generations of children becoming adults and having their own children.”
Lesuk, a co-owner who started the business when she was in her early 20s because of a lack of a local lack of buying options for party supplies, said the rigours of running a small business, which include working anywhere between 50 to 70 hours per week, were taking a toll.
As well, an increasingly condensed local retail market and the expansion of online shopping have made sales even more competitive.
“With my generation you wanted to go somewhere to look at the stuff, touch the stuff and try the stuff on to see what it really looked like,” she said. “That did affect us. Everything from the pop-ups, the dollar stores, the big box stores, the internet, little by little that does cut in so you have to find new things.”
The business was home to one of the city’s most recognizable figures, the pink gorilla, which paid countless visits to schools and workplaces for celebratory occasions.
Noni Fullum, who started working for Helium Highs 24 years ago, was one of the people who donned the costume to spread joy and have fun.
“The ad said deliver balloons, put on a costume and sing a song. I thought, ‘how hard can that be?’” she said.
“It turned into not how hard work can be, but how much fun work can be…I’ve met thousands of wonderful people. The customers have been great, the people you go see when you’re in the costume always get a good laugh. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Even though Helium Highs will be closing its Simpson Street storefront, that doesn’t mean the business will completely go away.
While plans are still being developed, Lesuk said they will continue to work on other projects such as special events, corporate customers and develop an online store for theatrical makeup, wigs and specialty balloons.
She said there was an overwhelming amount of feedback and urging from the community to continue in some way.
“It was really nice to have that support. That’s why we decided to continue on in a smaller way, doing things to help people. If we can help you we will,” she said.
