Sarah Cole is the owner and creative director of in Massillon. She is a 2002 Northwest High School graduate. She is married to Dennis, her partner in life and business.
Together, they are proud parents to two daughters, Raia and Nora. Their family includes Layne, a rescue Bernese mountain dog who adds joy and companionship to their home. “Amidst the uncertainties brought by the pandemic, Dennis encountered a career setback but seized the opportunity to establish his own successful business," Cole said.
"This achievement enabled me to transition from my nearly 11-year career to focus on being a devoted full-time mom to our daughters.” Balloon decor is a natural extension of Cole’s creative endeavors. She has showcased her talent through community involvement, including providing balloon decor for local nonprofits and their church, Perry Christian Church.
In 2023, I founded LIFT UP Balloons & Designs, a home-based business dedicated to "lift up" any occasion with custom balloon creations. From colorful balloon arches to intricate sculptures, our services encompass both traditional and organic balloon styles, ensuring a perfect match for every event. Whether it's a festive birthday celebration, a grand wedding affair, or a professional corporate gathering, our team takes pride in delivering one-of-a-kind designs that leave a lasting impact.
I want our clients to discover the endless possibilities that balloons offer and to realize that there's so much more we can create together. My design inspiration is sparked by collaborative brainstorming sessions with each of our clients. By engaging in open dialogue and building strong relationships, I gain insights into our clients' preferences, ensuring that every design is custom-tailored to their specific needs.
From color palettes to event locations, I work closely with them to create personalized plans for their event. At LIFT UP Balloons & Designs, every event holds significance for me, just as it does for clients. The goal is to help them create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
I believe that the significance of an event isn't the size, but in the milestones and memories shared with people. While I’ve had the pleasure of creating balloon decor for various scales — Celebrations of Life, birthdays, corporate events, weddings and showers — what truly matters is the impact made from the balloon designs. The team has had the privilege of collaborating with Gigi's Playhouse in Canton for its annual "A Night Out With the Keys" fundraiser.
Other events include the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce for its Women In Business Summit, and Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital's Wine Women and Shoes event. Most recently, the team and I were honored to be part of the Akron-Canton Airport's Inaugural Flight with Breeze Airways to Los Angeles where we created a 10-by-15-foot custom balloon pixel wall. For myself and the team, it's the collective journey and the connections we make along the way that truly define the success of the work.
I lost my mom to suicide nine years ago. I got pregnant and had our girls shortly after. Losing my mom the way I did before I became a mom didn’t hit me until a couple of years ago.
I realized I wasn’t OK. I was never OK but until I had time to feel and think, I was putting one foot in front of the other. Before balloons, I loved being a mom and a wife, but I also loved where I worked and my job of over 10 years.
I will forever be grateful for the lessons learned and the many business experiences. They helped plant the seed of my entrepreneurial journey. Yet, I was going through the motions most days.
When I started to accept that it was OK to not be OK, and that strength comes from doing hard things like asking for help, I found , literally and figuratively. Light After Loss is a trauma-focused support system for suicide loss survivors. It is located at the Hope for Healing Center in Canton.
There, I found help and hope, faith over fear, and how to take something unbelievably painful and turn it into my creative purpose. I received the encouragement to believe in myself to be the best version of myself. The name "LIFT UP" embodies more than just balloons floating.
Its significance resonates deeply with me. During one of my support group sessions at Light After Loss, a close friend expressed how everyone in the group "lifts her up." The sentiment hit me hard and really stuck.
While I was drawn to the phrase "Lift me up," I intentionally avoided including "me" in the name because I wanted my business to prioritize my clients' needs. Later that evening, as I scrolled through Facebook, I stumbled upon a post by a friend featuring a quote by Booker T. Washington: "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up others.
" This quote immediately struck a chord with me and became the guiding principle of my mission. By bringing joy to others through my talent for creating beautiful balloon decor, I find solace in the healing process of my grieving heart. I hope my story inspires others, letting them know they're not alone, and that even in the darkest moments, there's a way to turn things around for the better.
I'd say I'm more of an "any time" kind of person. With my kids being my top priority, I want to be available for them at any hour, for any event they're involved in. This means my schedule can be quite flexible, often leading to late-night preparations for upcoming jobs.
It's not unusual to find me inflating balloons or designing as late as 3 or 4 a.m. But it's all part of the plan.
My calendar may be packed, but my job allows me to balance my passion for balloon design with my commitment to my family. I'm grateful to have a career that accommodates both my professional and personal responsibilities..
