Inflatable holiday decorations are everywhere. Thank car dealerships for that

Long before inflatable holiday decorations were a top seller for Texas-based Gemmy Industries, the company was better known for producing an animatronic fish called Big Mouth Billy Bass.

But then, one magical day, the company's ownerdrove past a parking lot full of vehicles and had an idea.

"Dan Flaherty saw all thesebig inflatables at car dealershipsand thought that could be a great decoration," saidSteven Harris, vice-president of product development for the company.

Harris estimates up 95 per cent of all inflatable holiday decorations sold in North America are produced by Gemmy Industries.

Danarra Spears, who lives in Dartmouth,saidit was her young children who talked her into getting one.

"I promised myself we would never have a blow-up on our front lawn, but with COVID and everything, we just want to make people smile."

These days, it's not uncommon to find multiple inflatable displays on a single residential block.

Not everyone is a fan

"I think it's definitely a lack of creativity," said Hadley Keller, asenior editor of House Beautiful magazine.

"There's a certain convenience behind it which is maybe why they're becoming more popular.You know, we're in this era of, 'Order it on Amazon prime, have it there the next day, put it up and you're done.'"

Keller also dislikes the way inflatabledecorations look when people leave themdeflated on their lawn.

But Harris saidhome decor experts with a mature esthetic aren't the target audience.

"It makes you feel like a kid again," he said. "You're looking at something so big and it kind of puts you in the perspective of a child and sort of gives you that excitement for Christmas."

Gemmy Industries now partners with other companies that hold the copyright to popular intellectual properties,resulting in everything from inflatable Star Wars figures to giant Paw Patrol characters wearing Santa hats.

Thereareregional differences when it comes to what's popular.

"In Canada, for example, we sell beavers, raccoons, moose, those kind of animals." said Harris. "Nativity does not do well in Canada, for example, whereas in the U.S., nativity is very popular."

Harris saidhe and his team are always looking for the next big thing, while also refining their current product line. Inflatable items that move with more lifelike fabrics are already on the market.

But he saidthey are still guided by the company'smore humble and whimsical beginnings.

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