Floating children’s boats

Alicia Robinson

Every parent who has navigated the treacherous waters of a circus,

amusement park or street fair knows the danger of vendors with shiny

objects.

Now there’s one more place to distract the children in the hope of

avoiding the plaintive wails that arise when they see something they

absolutely must have: South Coast Plaza.

Since mid-February, shoppers may have been catching glimpses of a

canopy of brilliant balloons floating near the carousel in the

shopping center courtyard. The bunch is made up of smaller colorful

balloons inside larger, helium-filled clear balloons that are eye

candy for the 8-and-under crowd.

These “glass house” balloons are new, but the man behind them has

sold balloons at South Coast Plaza before. Newport Beach resident

Treb Heining has made a buoyant career out of balloons.

His first job was selling balloons at Disneyland; he was 15. Since

then, he’s invented all kinds of balloon-related decorations, made

the Guinness Book of World Records three times for the largest

simultaneous balloon release, and planned balloon decor for

illustrious events including 15 Super Bowls, presidential

inaugurations and the 1984 Olympic Games.

“People [once] thought of balloons only for birthday parties,

circus parties and New Year’s Eve,” Heining said. “I said to them,

‘Balloons can be used at any event to enhance it.’”

He sold balloons at South Coast Plaza from 1984 to 1993 but left

to work for a balloon manufacturing company. He got the idea for the

glass house balloons after receiving a sample product that used a

small plastic balloon with items packed inside.

He realized if the plastic balloon was bigger, another ballon

could be inflated inside. He sold the concept to Disney, and now he

includes Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh in his balloon offerings,

along with flower-shaped and shiny, translucent balloons.

The Mickey Mouse balloons -- shaped like Mickey’s head -- are the

most popular with children, balloon saleswoman Amber Kendrella said.

On a good day she’ll sell about 100 balloons; on Valentine’s Day

she sold 400 balloons, she said.

The glass house balloons cost $6, but Heining said they’re worth

the price because they float for at least a week and sometimes two.

Kendrella and Heining both said one of the highlights of the

balloon business is making children happy.

“We love seeing the kids come up and choose their balloon,”

Heining said. “I think the adults get as much of a kick out of it as

the kids.”

Heining’s balloons are available in the carousel court at South

Coast Plaza Wednesdays through Sundays.