Business: Funtime Events

Address: 536 Route 59, Naperville

Phone/website: 630-922-6100; www.partysaver.com

Owner: Stacie Chase, 55, of Oswego

Years in business: 30

What does your business do? “We have all the elements you need for any style and size celebration. Under one roof we have rentals, entertainment, décor. It’s like baking a cake. We have the tents, tables and chairs. Entertainment is what makes it fun. Décor is the icing. Put all the elements in, you can bake a cake,” Chase said.

“We work with bands, deejays. All your essentials. From there we can elevate the event for any occasion. We do a lot of corporate events and a lot of backyard parties for graduations. We do weddings. And we do birthday parties with bouncy houses.”

What’s the background? “We’ve been in this building for four years. We were in Naperville on 95th Street, then in Plainfield, then Aurora by Fox Valley Mall, then we landed here. We kept growing so we had to keep moving. … It’s been me all 30.”

Where do you keep the supplies? “We have 40,000 square feet between three buildings. We have an Oswego building, another building in this complex and we have this building.”’

How did you get started? “I was 11 in Collinsville when I started doing what I do. It all started with one balloon. My aunt said, ‘Come to the fair, I need you to sell helium balloons.’ I sold them for a quarter (each). People asked if I knew how to make balloon animals. I didn’t but I knew where the library was so I went and figured it out.

“The next year (at the fair), they dressed me as a clown. … I made balloon animals and then people wanted me to come to parties. … People asked about face painting. I learned how to face paint. … I met a professional clown who was retired from Ringling. He mentored me. … I traveled with a carnival for a while, saw the country, landed in New Orleans, worked a Super Bowl. … I met my husband and moved to Chicago. Started working at Olive Garden, making balloon animals for kids. Next thing I knew, I was booking parties.”

Do you enjoy your job? “I really do. I like to help people, although they may not realize it at the time. Parties are very stressful.”

Anything you don’t like? “You are showing up when someone is in a high-stress mode. You want to say to them, ‘It’s going to be fine,’ but sometimes you can’t.”

And when someone comes in? “My job is to curate their experience into helping figure out what they need. Usually, my last question is, ‘What do you think we still need that you don’t think we have?’ It’s impossible for us to display everything we have. We have well over 16,000 items. … Understanding the event helps me make suggestions. My first question for a graduation party is, ‘How many are you inviting?’ You don’t need a huge tent because people don’t come at the same time. People party hop.”

Are you busy all year? “We are. Right now, we are doing prom send-offs and prom décor. Senior celebrations. People move into graduation season. … Summer is company picnics and festivals. … It is slow in November, but that’s when bookings for Christmas pick up. … We do 350 to 360 events in December.”

How many employees do you have? “Ten to 21 depending on the season.”

Are you always on the go? “I take January and February off and go away. I teach (about the events business) and I mentor. I do that in January and February.”

What else should people know? “I’m an international award-winning balloon artist. That’s kind of cool. And I teach balloon (art to) people.”

What about competition? “Having been in business as long as I have, I know my strong suits. I prefer to be friendly with my competition. I know most of the bounce house owners in the area. I have over 150 units, and they have six, 10 or 20. We like to be friendly so we can share product if needed.”

Any favorite stories? “Special needs students are near and dear to my heart. I do have some (special needs) students who come in to work with us a couple times a week. … My (late) daughter Olivia was special needs. … Those parties mean the most to me.”

What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Get a mentor from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). Retired people, prior business owners. … If you’re exploring getting started, they’re retired, they’re bored and they want to teach you.”

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.