A Scottsdale husband and wife whose balloon-decoration invention exploded across social media have taken their product national, landing shelf space in more than 500 Michaels stores across the country after years of trial, error and persistence inside their own home workshop.
Erik and Angie Josephs, founders of Totali EZ Balloons, officially launched their reusable balloon arch system in Michaels stores this month after what they describe as a five-year effort to simplify one of party decorating’s biggest frustrations: building professional-looking balloon arches without spending hours assembling them.
The couple said the idea began taking shape in August 2020 but was not fully perfected until August 2025 after hundreds of failed tests, repeated engineering setbacks and years spent trying to solve a deceptively complicated problem.
“To get all the balloons to inflate at the same time took many years,” they said. “To get the right parts and manufacturing company to produce at a good price” also proved challenging.
The product ultimately became a reusable balloon arch system that allows users to quickly create decorative arches, columns and garlands at home without the time-consuming process normally associated with balloon décor.
One starter kit can create multiple configurations, including traditional arches, square arches, balloon columns and garlands, with larger sizes and additional shapes already in development.
While the company now is reaching a national retail audience, the business began much more modestly.
The Josephs, who have lived in Scottsdale for 25 years and have been married for 17, developed the product while balancing careers and family life.
Angie previously worked as a nurse assistant at Banner Desert’s pediatric unit before becoming a stay-at-home mother. Erik is a district manager in Medtronic’s vascular division. The couple has three children: Ethan, 25, Connor, 16, and Aliana, 11.
Much of the development work took place inside their Scottsdale home and at their engineer’s office as they repeatedly revised the design trying to create a system simple enough for everyday consumers while durable enough for repeated use.
The breakthrough eventually caught attention online.
Videos demonstrating the product began circulating widely on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, where Totali EZ Balloons says its content has generated more than 200 million views worldwide.
That viral momentum helped open the door to national retail expansion.
According to the couple, a third-party distributor familiar with Michaels stores approached them after seeing the product and believed it would fit the retailer’s customer base.
“He had the connections and arranged the meeting and they were amazed with the results and we signed an immediate deal,” Angie said.
The timing coincided with actress Jennifer Love Hewitt – described by the company as one of Michaels’ brand ambassadors – posting about the product online and encouraging company contacts to look into it.
The current arrangement gives Michaels a one-year exclusive deal as the company explores broader expansion plans, including possible international distribution.
The Josephs say they see Totali EZ Balloons as more than a single novelty item and hope the brand eventually becomes synonymous with at-home balloon decorating.
“Yes, opportunities to expand shapes, sizes, grow internationally and become the go-to name brand when people think of balloon arches,” Erik said.
For now, though, the entrepreneurs are still absorbing the reality that an idea tested for years around their kitchen table and home workspace is now sitting on store shelves nationwide.
To see how their product works: youtube.com/shorts/8r8Yta6_7ug.