Popularity in the inflatables industry has blown up in recent years — especially for The Blanco Bounce owner Gracie Omerbasi.
She and her family live in Warren, where they rent out bouncy castles and ball pits for events in Warren, Winnipeg and surrounding areas. Omerbasi, who came to Canada from the Philippines in her teens, launched the business this past September after she struggled to find an affordable inflatable rental company for her son’s first birthday party.
The Blanco Bounce offers eight modern white inflatables available to rent for events in Warren, Winnipeg and surrounding communities
“Everything I was finding was so pricey, so I figured I would just buy my own, and from there I kept ordering more and more inflatables,” she said.
The Blanco Bounce currently offers eight different white inflatables, including several sizes of bouncy castles, an eight-foot-wide ball pit and a bubble balloon house. Omerbasi prefers the all-white colour scheme to keep the business modern and fresh — and because white fits seamlessly into any event theme.
“Whether it is a birthday party or wedding, these inflatables will fit in with the rest of your decorations,” she said. “We also have different coloured balls for the ball pit to further match your party’s theme.”
The Blanco Bounce provides full setup and takedown and rents inflatables for five-hour periods, with the option to extend rental times when booking. They are licensed and insured for both indoor and outdoor events and offer a range of packages tailored to different party sizes.
Although the business has only been open for a few months, Omerbasi said she already feels like a successful entrepreneur, especially with most weekends booking up completely. For her, success looks like one booking per week — so fully booked weekends feel like a bonus.
“I truly never thought I would be in this kind of business,” she added. “Now I want to provide an entertainment option for families in the community so they can have fun just like the kids had at our own party.”
Omerbasi and her husband, who is Bosnian, have lived in Warren for only three years but say they have felt warmly welcomed. As immigrants, moving to Canada alone was a major change, but both have found a sense of home in the community.
“Moving to Warren has been the absolute greatest. It is so quiet, we have a beautiful piece of land and it’s been such a good community — we love it here.”
Looking ahead, she hopes The Blanco Bounce continues to grow at a steady pace and would eventually like to add soft-play items to the rental lineup if there is enough interest. She recommends booking at least two weeks in advance.
Inquiries can be made through Instagram and Facebook at @TheBlancoBounce, through their website www.theblancobounce.ca or by email at theblancobounce@hotmail.com.
“Thank you for supporting our family business and letting us be a part of your special moments,” Omerbasi added.
