Eugène Mercier, genius in advertising

"The balloon will soon rise up" cried Eugene Mercier, enthusiastically in front of his balloon in 1899.
In 1900, a monstrous balloon was the key exhibition at the 1900 Exposition (World's Fair).

The founder, renowned in the Mercier household, fastened the balloon in the Champs-de-Mars, loaded large quantities of Mercier champagne into the basket and invited the ladies and gentlemen to take a flight with him into the air, nine by nine, each tasting the champagne.

"It's wonderful! What a modern publicity miracle!" cried the first passengers.

The tethered balloon began functioning on June 2 and executed flights until November 12, during 104 consecutive days, without needing to be revarnished one time. It lifted approximately 20,000 people to 300m in altitude.