What Anagram does

Anagram International, LLC is a US-based balloon manufacturer headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, founded in 1977 and operating for over 40 years with 251-500 employees. The company designs, manufactures, and globally distributes a comprehensive portfolio of celebration balloon products spanning latex balloons, foil balloons, and specialty formats including proprietary lines such as Orbz (spherical self-sealing balloons), AirWalkers (animated walking character balloons), AirLoonz (hand-pump air-filled shapes), SuperShapes (oversized character balloons), Stackers (stackable tower components), Crystal Clearz (transparent balloons), and Ultrashapes (oversized cubes and diamonds). Anagram's technology is rooted in physical balloon engineering—proprietary film sealing, helium-efficient constructions that use up to 40% less helium, and licensed character production partnerships with Disney, Marvel, and Pixar.

The company operates a wholesale-only business model, selling exclusively through a global distributor network of 100+ partners across 35+ countries and 8 regions (North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Latin America, Middle East). It maintains a wholly-owned Australian subsidiary (Anagram Australia, Pemulwuy NSW) and supports distributors with a dedicated ordering portal, seasonal product catalogs, instructional video content, and a helium calculator tool. Pricing is wholesale and not publicly disclosed.

Anagram's customer base consists of B2B distributors who resell to party stores, balloon decorators, event planners, florists, and retailers. The company competes on proprietary product formats, licensed character IP, brand reputation, and sustainability positioning (including a 20% material reduction through supply chain partnerships and an energy-efficiency partnership with Xcel Energy). It participates in industry associations including the Coalition for Responsible Celebration and the European Balloon and Party Council, signaling engagement with regulatory and responsible-use standards around balloons. The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, funding events, or institutional investors.

Name

Anagram

Legal name

Anagram International, LLC

Website

https://anagramballoons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Anagram is a US-based balloon manufacturer that designs and globally distributes proprietary latex and foil celebration balloons—including licensed character and specialty formats—wholesale through 100+ distributors across 35+ countries. It serves party stores, event planners, decorators, and retailers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Party Balloons

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930), Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423920)

SIC

Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Party Games, Novelty & Impulse Toy Distribution (CRAOAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Balloon Decor & Installations (HSACAOAC)

Keywords

• Foil balloons
• Latex balloons
• Balloon manufacturing
• Party supplies wholesale
• Celebration balloons

Headquarters

HQ city

Eden Prairie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Balloon Sales: Anagram manufactures balloons and sells them wholesale to a global network of distributors. Distributors then resell to party stores, balloon decorators, event planners, and retailers. Revenue is generated through product sales with no consumer direct-to-consumer pricing visible.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Anagram manufactures and wholesales celebration balloons—latex balloons, foil balloons, and proprietary specialty formats (Orbz, AirWalkers, AirLoonz, SuperShapes, Stackers, Crystal Clearz, Ultrashapes, Bouquets)—to a global network of more than 100 distributors across 35+ countries. The company does not sell direct to consumers; distributors resell to balloon decorators, party stores, event planners, and retailers. The portfolio spans everyday decorations, licensed character balloons (Disney, Marvel, Pixar, sports leagues), and professional decorator components.

Product overview

Anagram is a balloon manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of celebration products. The core offering consists of multiple balloon product lines: Latex balloons (natural rubber in various colors); foil balloons including Orbz™ (spherical self-sealing design), SuperShapes® (oversized character shapes), Ultrashapes (cubes and diamond forms), and Crystal Clearz™ (transparent balloons); AirLoonz® and AirWalkers® (air-filled character balloons); Letters, Numbers & Phrases (alphabetic and numeral balloons); Standard and Jumbo shapes; Air-Filled balloons for outdoor/ceiling use; Decorator products for professional installations including arch components; and Bouquets (pre-arranged themed groupings). The portfolio is complemented by Merchandisers & Misc accessories including retail displays, balloon weights, and inflation tools. The company publishes seasonal catalogs (Valentine's Day, Spring into Summer, Fall into Winter) alongside year-round everyday catalogs, and operates through a global distributor network across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Orbz: spherical balloon product line that can be inflated with helium or air
• AirWalkers
• AirLoonz
• Stackers
• Insiders
• MagicArch
• SuperShapes
• Crystal Clearz
• Ultrashapes
• Bouquets
• Foil Balloon Weights
• Twirlz
• STRAWeights
• Diamondz
• Cubez
• Satin Luxe
• Dazzler

Products and services

• Latex Balloons Natural rubber latex balloons available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes for celebrations and events. Sold wholesale to distributors serving party stores, balloon decorators, event planners, and retailers.
• AirLoonz Balloons

Quantifiable outcome

• Balloons use up to 40% less helium to inflate
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Wounded Nature – Working VeteransminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partnership supporting cleanup and conservation efforts. Works with veteran and non-veteran volunteers to clean up rural coastal areas that other nonprofits cannot reach, returning them to pristine condition. Part of Anagram's community involvement and creating a better world initiative.
• Coalition for Responsible CelebrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry group that Anagram aligns with to encourage customers to use balloon weights and enjoy balloons safely. Promotes responsible balloon use and best practices.
• European Balloon and Party CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association aligned with to promote balloon safety and responsible celebration practices in Europe. Supports the company's sustainability and responsible use messaging.
• Xcel EnergyminorOthersEnergy utility partnership for Anagram's sustainability initiatives. Xcel Energy provides energy-efficient LED lighting at Anagram facilities as part of the company's environmental stewardship program.
• Toys for TotsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership through Anagram's charitable giving program. Contributions help bring joy to deserving organizations including children's hospitals, schools, and Feed My Starving Children.
• Feed My Starving ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership through Anagram's community giving initiative, supporting food security for children.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Qualatex (Pioneer Balloon Company): Qualatex is Pioneer Balloon Company's consumer balloon brand and the most direct competitor to Anagram in latex and foil balloons for the party and decor market. Both companies sell wholesale to balloon decorators and party retailers through global distributor networks, with overlapping product portfolios in standard, jumbo and shaped categories.
• Folat: Folat is a Netherlands-based balloon and party manufacturer listed as one of Anagram's own European distributors. It competes head-to-head with Anagram in foil and latex balloons across Europe with comparable licensed character offerings and proprietary shaped SKUs.
• Betallic: Betallic is a US-based foil balloon manufacturer specializing in custom-printed and shaped balloons sold through wholesale distributors and decorators. It directly competes with Anagram's SuperShapes, Orbz and licensed character foil SKUs in the professional decorator channel.
• Sempertex: Sempertex is a Colombian latex balloon manufacturer with strong distribution across Latin America, a region where Anagram also maintains significant distributor coverage. Both compete in standard latex balloons and bulk decorative formats for party and event customers.
• CTI Industries Corporation: CTI Industries is a US publicly-traded manufacturer of foil and latex balloons sold under the CTI brand through balloon distributors and party supply wholesalers. It is one of the few publicly visible direct competitors to Anagram in the foil balloon category.
• Burton + Burton: Burton + Burton is a US-based balloon and floral decor manufacturer/distributor that appears in Anagram's distributor list but also competes with its own branded foil and latex balloons in the professional decorator and florist channel.

Broad incumbents

• Party City Holdco: Party City is the largest US specialty retailer of party supplies and a major downstream customer for balloon manufacturers like Anagram. While it is a customer channel rather than a direct manufacturing rival, its scale and private-label ambitions make it a broad incumbent shaping category dynamics and pricing.
• Amscan (Party City Holdings): Amscan is the wholesale manufacturing arm of Party City Holdings, producing a broad range of party supplies including tableware, costumes and balloons sold globally to retailers. It competes with Anagram in the broader party-goods basket rather than exclusively in balloons.
• Gemmy Industries: Gemmy Industries is a US-based manufacturer of seasonal and novelty decorations, including licensed character airblown and inflatable products. It overlaps with Anagram's character-licensed and shape-based balloon SKUs at major retail during Halloween, Christmas and other celebration peaks.
• Oriental Trading Company: Oriental Trading is a large US direct and wholesale supplier of party supplies, novelties and balloons to consumers, schools and businesses. It is both a downstream channel that competes for end-customer balloon spend and a broader incumbent across the party-supplies category where Anagram's distributors also operate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/anagramballoons
• Facebookfacebook.com/anagramballoons
• Xx.com/anagramballoons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Anagram