EP63 - GIANT INFLATABLES MAKER - John Spence

Owner of Megaflatables, a manufacturer of giant inflatables. Megaflatables designed the giant monsters that were all over the city of Chelmsford. They’ve designed giant Squid Game characters for Netflix promotion, including a giant 15 metre inflatable red light green light doll Young-Hee. NIck has worn a real Squid Game tracksuit. John smells gorgeous FYI. What makes you a Mudite if you live in Maldon?

John started his career at Canon reprographics for 20 years - but was tired of this work - so he started a new business with variable voice recognition. His business partner had an unrelated idea to start selling Air Dancers AKA Wacky Waving Arm Tube Guys! Air Dancers were designing in the USA in the 1970s to draw attention to car dealerships. Making a giant inflatable Rylan. John’s company made the huge Camilla Walala inflatable installation for London Design Festival. There are a lot of Health and Safety considerations in the inflatable industry to ensure public safety. Megaflatables design in two dimensions, and their manufacturer works out the three dimensional model. Inflatables don’t like straight edges, so you’ll end up with more curved shapes in designs.

Why do new warehouses use 1:1 scale inflatable articulated lorries? To give an idea of scale. Making a 15 metre floating Loch Ness Monster to surprise a stag on a stag do. Finding inflatable manufacturers around the world. How a deal with Pizza Hut in Upminster really kickstarted the creativity at Megaflatables. How John ended up on Dragon’s Den, and did they invest? If you can think it, we can make it.

Don’t chase quick money - Make good quality products that’ll keep people coming back. Making stage inflatables for bands on tour. The art of hand painting inflatables to look solid. Making giant boobs for the Scissor Sisters. Making inflatables for the Lord Mayor’s New Years Parade and Pride. Making art for David Shrigley, crazy swans and giant thumbs up. Working with Jason Wilshire-Mills to make giant art inflatables with disabled children. Inflatables are such a joyful medium.

Megaflatables
Megaflatables on Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA for their support