Mayflower Partners With Anagram International to Bring Extra Revenue And Extra Smiles To Specialty Toy Retailers
Watch a child’s eyes light up when presented with a beautifully giftwrapped toy. Then watch kids jump with glee when presented with a brightly colored foil balloon!
Shoppers at specialty toy stores regularly ask for balloons. Every day there are birthdays, new babies, and fun events to celebrate. But until now retailers haven’t had a foil balloon program tailored to their unique needs.
In 2014 Mayflower Distributing has partnered with Anagram International, the world’s foil balloon leader to study the needs of the specialty toy retailer and present an exciting new source of revenue designed just for them – AnagramExtra – a curated collection of best-selling balloons selected to help grow the business of specialty toy retailers and delight their customers.
AnagramExtra offers balloon designs to make any day extra special. There are little Inflate-A-FunTM balloons and giant AirWalkers®; amazing SuperShapesTM and OrbzTM in thrilling new balloon dimensions; and AirWalker® Balloon Buddies that walk on air at child height! In addition,Mayflower knows that some licensed characters are important to specialty
retailers and offers from Anagram’s vast catalog Disney®, Hello Kitty®, Thomas and Friends®, and Sesame Street® to name a few. All of this is available at suggested retail price points of $2 to $20-plus and at excellent margins for smart retailers.
Balloons are a great fit for the 5-star service that specialty toy stores already provide their customers and the AnagramExtra program makes it easy. Each balloon is equipped with the self-sealing reusable valve developed at Anagram. Automatic balloon filling regulators make inflation effortless, and all of the accessories and merchandising tools that retailers need are available with the program!
“Our strength has always been in serving the independent retailer”, stated Joe Abelovitz Mayflower’s CEO. “We teamed with our long-term partner Anagram to build a complete program and support system geared to the specialty toy retailer.”
“With AnagramExtra we’re dedicated to helping store owners increase sales and delight customers. Balloons are the extra WOW that consumers don’t find if they shop online”, explains Anagram manager Roger Bildsten.

ASTRA Marketplace attendees who stop by Booth 822 will be able to take advantage of EasyStart packages that make it easy to add balloon sales. These are curated assortments of top selling designs for birthday, baby, congratulations and every day fun. There’s even an EasySetUp Pack that includes automatic balloon-filling regulator, helium tank stand with cover, and delivered helium with easy re-order instructions.
“We’re excited to introduce the AnagramExtra EasyStart packages, but we also know that toy store owners understand their customers best”, says Marketing Manager Heather Moseley. “Retailers can customize their orders with the perfect mix of designs, shapes, and sizes for their market.”
Extra sales and profits for retailers. Extra excitement and convenience for customers. Extra smiles for kids. AnagramExtra presented by Mayflower!
To learn more visit www.anagramextra.com or call toll free 855 511 0061 and be sure to visit Booth 822 at ASTRA Marketplace.
About Mayflower Distributing Company
For over 30 years, Mayflower has been a leading national distributor of party supplies; including balloons, helium, catering/food service and many other categories. Mayflower distributes over 25,000 products to thousands of customers across North America. Their corporate headquarters is in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, with a new showroom and second distribution center in Los Angeles, California.
About Anagram International, Inc.
Anagram is the global innovator and leader in foil balloons. Founded in 1977, and part of the Amscan family of companies since 1998, Anagram is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where it designs and manufactures the world’s largest collection of both non-licensed and licensed balloons. Anagram balloon products are marketed in over 140 countries and are fully tested and compliant with CPSIA and EN71 standards, ensuring that distributors and retail partners sell the best balloons in the industry.
