What’s Poppin’ Freddy is Blowing Up, Literally
FREDERICTON – What’s Poppin’ Freddy is spreading across the province with its balloon décor business. Emma Andrews, the owner of What’s Poppin’ Freddy, says she cannot believe how much the business has grown in such a short time.
Andrews started the business in 2021. She says What’s Poppin’ Freddy specializes in organic balloon décor — things like balloon arches, garlands, or anything that can be made out of balloons.
Andrews says she had initially started the business because her daughter had a Covid-19 birthday on her first birthday and she wanted to make her feel special even though there were so many restrictions in place. So, Andrews decided to make her daughter a balloon garland. After that, she couldn’t start.
“When my maternity leave ended with my son, I thought I could just post a Marketplace ad for doing balloons and décor for events, just to make some extra money, and then after I posted the ad it kind of blew up,” Andrews tells Huddle.
On June 19, What’s Poppin’ Freddy launched its new Bubble House. Andrews says it’s a twist on a typical bounce castle, bringing a life-sized snow globe-esque element to the mix.
“It’s the first one [of its kind] in New Brunswick,” says Andrews. “Four or five kids can go in at a time and it basically creates a vortex, like a snow globe effect, with the balloons and kids go absolutely nuts for it, they love it.”
Along with this, What’s Poppin’ Freddy also offers services like a Champagne Wall and Sailboards.
Andrews says that What’s Poppin’ Freddy also has a program called What’s Poppin’ Freddy Party Project. This is a program where people can nominate others or themselves to receive a free installation. Each month, Andrews selects five deserving events to be entered in a final draw.
“They can be a birthday party, a fundraiser for a charity, or whatever, and anybody can nominate anyone,” says Andrews. “I noticed I was doing a lot of donations, so this was kind of a way to kind of, keep it all in one spot.”
Having done events such as The Mental Health Fundraiser in Fredericton, the East Coast Music Awards Festival, and more, Andrews and What’s Poppin’ Freddy has come to be well recognized within the community and around the province. Along with this, all the products she uses are eco-friendly. As long as everything is cleaned up following the popping of the balloons, they will decompose back into the earth.
“I reuse absolutely whatever that I can: I’ll reuse hooks, rubber bands, everything. I am so passionate about leaving as little of a footprint as possible after events,” Andrews tells Huddle.
Doing between five and 15 events per week all across New Brunswick, What’s Poppin’ Freddy is well booked up this summer. This August, Andrews says that she will even be creating décor for the Guns N’ Roses concert in Moncton.
“It’s super cool that even in like, just a year and a half of starting my business I am now going to go do décor for Guns N’ Roses. That is so cool to me.”
Ryley Roach is a Huddle student intern, based in Fredericton. Send her your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].