Case Study : XEUK - Keith Stirman & Dominic Cassidy
The business is owned by Keith Stirman and Dominic Cassidy, long term best friends who decided to take the leap and combine years of customer service experience with their interest in balloonology, magic and, of course, partying to form their own company.
That was in 2005 and since then the pair have never looked back and certainly have no intentions of going back to a ‘proper job’. The company has steadily grown in size and reputation and by keeping a watchful eye on the entertainment market so they can add the very latest products, services and novelty ideas to their portfolio.
The pair received support from Be Enterprising’s Fastest 50 programme, which helps businesses that have the aspiration and potential to grow.
Shaun Stuart of The Enterprise Agency, runs the programme on behalf of Be Enterprising, County Durham’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative.
He said: “Through Fastest 50 we aim to help businesses to develop and grow through mentoring and workshops.
“Our programme is hugely beneficial to those businesses that show real promise and are potential high achievers. We support them to introduce sharper processes and encourage owners to look at things with a new perspective for a lasting impact on strategy and performance.”
Through Fastest 50, Keith and Dominic attended intensive workshops which enabled them to improve the way they do business and helped with areas such as marketing, finance and strategy.
Keith and Dominic, originally from Sedgefield, are qualified electrical engineers. After looking to move into a people-centred role, they moved first into the customer service sector before realising their potential in the party industry.
Keith explained how it all started at XE UK: “It was Christmas at the contact centre where I worked and in the secret Santa I received some modelling balloons. It’s actually a past hobby of mine but none of my colleagues at the time knew about it.
“I immediately got to work twisting the balloons into all sorts of wacky and wonderful shapes and that same night a colleague booked me for her kid’s birthday party.
“Everyone was so impressed, it seemed to entertain the adults that night as much as it did a couple of months later with the kids’ party. By then of course, I’d made myself a magician’s outfit and the kids must have liked it because the bookings started flowing in and Magic Jack was born”
Dominic found he too had a real flair for balloons and is now a master balloonist and entertainer. He recently developed the character Wacky D, the Doctor of Balloonology, who can make anything from balloons, from wedding dresses to crazy hats.
Magic Jack and Wacky D are also working together as an alternative ice-breaker at corporate events as The Balloon Brothers.
Through their party supplies store It’s Time to Party in Horden, County Durham, and their website www.xeuk.eu the pair have now catered for everything from fashion shows and weddings to Christmas parties and 18th birthdays. Always adding a special touch with their balloon twisting and decorating skills.
