Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Stone.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Pop & Flair officially launched in August 2024, but the spark started a little earlier — and in a way I never expected.
I grew up in Arizona and moved to Central Minnesota in 2012 to raise my kids in the St. Cloud area. Professionally, I’ve built my career in Human Resources, and I currently work full-time in HR — something I genuinely love. But I’ve always had a creative side that needed an outlet.
A friend created a balloon garland for my niece’s college graduation and showed me how she assembled it. I remember being completely fascinated by the process — how simple materials could transform into something so impactful. The following month, I made my first garland for my son’s high school graduation. Watching it come together — the color, the texture, the scale — and then seeing everyone’s reaction when it was finished, I was hooked.
What started as curiosity quickly became passion. I realized I didn’t just enjoy making balloon installations — I loved designing experiences. I love taking someone’s vision and elevating it beyond what they imagined.
Today, I run Pop & Flair alongside my full-time HR career. Balancing both worlds requires intention and discipline, especially as a mom, but I’m incredibly proud of building something creative and meaningful while maintaining a professional career I value. This season of life is about growth — learning, refining my craft, and building the business thoughtfully.
What truly sets Pop & Flair apart is that this isn’t just décor — it’s personal. I care deeply about the details and about how people feel when they walk into a space. Whether it’s a corporate event, fundraiser, graduation, or milestone celebration, I approach each installation with creativity, precision, and heart.
Being part of the Central Minnesota community has made this journey even more meaningful. The support for small businesses here is real. I’ve met incredible people who are generous with encouragement and opportunities, and that sense of community has allowed Pop & Flair to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
The long-term vision is to continue expanding, collaborating with local venues and planners, and eventually transition into Pop & Flair full-time. For now, I’m building it intentionally — one installation, one relationship, and one celebration at a time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road — but I didn’t expect it to be. Building something meaningful rarely is.
One of the biggest challenges has been logistics. Balloon installations are larger and more complex than most people realize, and transporting them requires significant space and planning. Since Pop & Flair is still in a growth phase, I don’t yet have a dedicated cargo van — which means coordinating rentals and carefully mapping out delivery timelines for each event. It’s doable, but it adds an extra layer of strategy to every installation.
At the same time, I’m balancing the business alongside a full-time HR career and motherhood. That requires discipline and very clear boundaries. There have been opportunities I would have loved to say yes to, but building sustainably has been more important than growing too fast.
Financially, entrepreneurship also requires patience. You’re constantly reinvesting in inventory, tools, and education to elevate your work while making sure the business remains stable. Every decision matters.
That said, the challenges have clarified my vision. Purchasing a dedicated van is one of my next major business goals — not just for convenience, but as a symbol of growth and expansion. Each step forward feels earned, and that makes it even more rewarding.
It hasn’t been effortless, but it has been intentional — and I’m proud of the foundation I’m building.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My professional background is in Human Resources, and I’ve been working in HR roles for several years. I started my career in staffing before transitioning into broader HR roles, where I’ve focused on employee relations, leadership support, compliance, and organizational development.
HR has taught me how to think strategically, communicate clearly, and operate with integrity — all skills that directly influence how I run Pop & Flair.
In HR, you’re constantly balancing people, process, and performance. You learn how to manage complexity, handle challenges calmly, and build trust. That foundation has shaped the way I approach entrepreneurship. I treat Pop & Flair like a real business — with systems, structure, financial discipline, and long-term vision.
Working in HR also keeps me grounded. I understand what it takes to build strong teams and cultures, and that perspective carries over into how I interact with clients and collaborate with other local businesses. Professionalism matters to me just as much as creativity.
For now, I truly value being able to maintain a meaningful HR career while growing Pop & Flair thoughtfully. Both worlds fulfill different parts of who I am — one analytical and strategic, the other creative and expressive.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The best way to work with me is to reach out through my website or social media and start a conversation about your event. I love collaborating early in the planning process so we can design something custom and intentional for the space.
I’m always open to partnering with local venues, event planners, photographers, and corporate teams who want to elevate their events with thoughtful balloon installations. Becoming a preferred vendor or creative partner with more Central Minnesota businesses is something I’m actively growing toward.
For those who simply want to support Pop & Flair, the biggest impact comes from choosing local, sharing our work, and recommending us to friends and colleagues. Word-of-mouth has been incredibly powerful in this community, and every referral truly means the world to me.
At the end of the day, I want Pop & Flair to be known as a reliable, creative partner that brings energy and polish to every celebration. If someone has an idea — big or small — I’d love to help bring it to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.popandflair.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pop_and_flair/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565702244728
