Episode 19: Gene Nifenecker, Balloon Kings

Gene Neffenecker II — aka King Gene — is the founder of Balloon Kings. What started as a single store on the Upper West Side with and a cult following among locals (including me) is now a growing franchise. Before all of this, Gene was a Marine Corps veteran who survived cancer, lost his sign-making business in the 2008 financial crisis, and was picking up landscaping work to make ends meet. A chance visit to a friend's balloon store changed everything. We talk about leaving his family's sign-making legacy, the four hours that turned his life around, and why he decided to grow through franchising instead of just opening more stores himself. 🎈 Balloon Kings: https://balloon-kings.com/📩 Dana's Newsletter: nationofdoers.substack.com