Goshen native Karen Pletcher raised four sons with her husband, Ernie, before joining the workforce in her downtown business Balloon Express.

She explained that she first worked at her neighborhood school, Chandler Elementary, while the boys were in school, then at Salem Insurance for a time. When the Balloon Express became available, Karen and Ernie bought it from Dave Wright in 1995.

They moved the business across Main Street from the corner of Lincoln Avenue to 125 S. Main, plus expanded it in 2002 to include Merle Norman cosmetics, along with the cards, gifts, flowers and balloon arrangements. They work with people planning weddings, using flowers and/or balloons, Karen said.

The Merle Norman business “has done very well,” she said.

Karen runs the downtown business six days a week with the help of three part-time employees.

“I love what I do. This is my dream. Most of the time I enjoy servicing the people who come into the store,” Karen said cheerfully. “You can’t please everyone, but we try. And we back what we sell,” explaining that a customer recently broke a balloon putting it in her car in front of the store. Karen insisted on making a replacement for the customer, even though the customer admitted she broke it herself.

She delivers balloons all across Elkhart County, and last week even took some to a valued customer at a South Bend hotel.

“I like to do it. Sometimes we sing ‘Happy Birthday,’” she explained. “It’s a fun job, with a lot of perks.”

Karen went on to explain that she and four fellow classmates of the Goshen High School Class of 1965 are operating businesses along Main Street now. She pointed out that the group includes John Sorg at his jewelry store, Jeff Snyder at Snyder’s Men’s Shop, Kathy (Pafflas) Andersen at the Olympia, Ernie Pletcher owns the Maple City Hobby shop at Main and Lincoln, and Karen runs her balloon business.

“We all graduated in 1965 and here we are on Main Street,” Karen said. She said she gives Goshen High School the credit for the education they received.

Married 41 Years

After graduation, she and Ernie married 41 years ago. They raised four sons, Rodney, Gary, Greg and Chad. Three are married and Gary, who runs the hobby shop, is planning a wedding. The Pletchers have seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Karen explained that Ernie works in maintenance at KMC at New Paris, owns the hobby shop and is also a Realtor. They have lived at their home on Emerson Street the past 37 years, and now Karen’s mother makes her home with them.

Karen has been a member of the Goshen General Hospital board for two years, and said she is still learning. “I love it,” she said. “It’s awesome.”

The family is active in the First Baptist Church, where Karen is Sunday School superintendent and Ernie is head usher. Besides this church family, the couple enjoys spending time with their friends, often going out to eat.

Karen and Ernie are able to enjoy traveling and often attend the various trade shows, product shows and training with Merle Norman. They have traveled on business to California, Hawaii, Texas, Chicago and Atlanta, she explained.

“I enjoy looking for new things I can bring here and have unique products for our customers,” she said.

Cheerful and full of energy, Karen is busy all day, walking from front to the back of her store. There are entrances on Main Street and the alley to the rear. She pointed out the store is one-half block long, and she is on her feet nearly all day.

“Most days fly by. If you love what you do, it makes the day pleasant.” She admitted she “was bored” on Labor Day, as the business was closed and she stayed at home.

She went on to credit the cooperation of downtown merchants and the Chamber of Commerce programs for bringing new customers to the downtown. There are few vacancies on Main Street, she pointed out.

She usually participates in “First Friday” events, although they seem to draw residents downtown to hear the music, enjoy food and window shop. But if customers see what is available for sale, they just might return to buy items, she pointed out.

Karen pointed out that many business people are working hard to provide quality goods and services in Goshen.

“If you put out the best product and do the best work you possibly can, it can make a difference. They are working hard to take care of customers and keep the city looking good,” she said of local business operators.

She said that visitors to Goshen often comment on how nice the city looks and on the variety of businesses here.

“I attribute it to people working hard to keep the city vital,” she said.