Progressive Party Europe July/August 2017 by Max Publishing: Print, Digital Media + Events (London)

Jul/Aug 2017

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Europes leading neon cosmetics brand +44 (0)1438 525 999 sales@moonglow.co.uk www.moonglow.co.uk

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WELCOME The home of market leading trade magazines

The home of market leading trade magazines max-publishing.co.uk The Thehome homeofofmarket marketleading leadingtrade trademagazines magazines March/April 2013

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Welcome to the Party Barbecues, cocktails and sunshine; these have been the classic ingredients for any summer party for the past 20 years. A Hawaiian-themed partyware range and a few fun garden accessories and it’s a case of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, that was the situation, until now. Summer 2017 will be remembered for two things by the party world – the glitter explosion that has taken the industry by storm and the blurring of reality and fantasy as legendary characters from unicorns and mermaids to dragons and warriors are Above: Progressive Party Europe’s Rob Willis and Jacqui Parr. embraced by the party-going public. The glitter effect (as we shall call it) can be seen almost everywhere that there is a party – whether it is kids playing pass-the-parcel or adults playing spin-the-bottle, glitter face paints and make-up are sure to be part of the fun. Also falling under this trend is the associated fashion for bright, neon and UV colours – standing out is all part of the attraction. Ideal for summer parties and festivals, these styles offer savvy party retailers the opportunity to attract a brand new audience who might not otherwise have stepped foot in their local party shop. The party industry also has a lot to thank social media for, with Instagram and Pinterest overflowing with selfies of people sharing their own summer-time looks (glittery party unicorn with oversized wings, anyone?) and driving the fashion for dress-up forward into the mainstream. In fact, the unicorn motif is making a big splash in the mainstream this summer in general – as a cursory glance around the high street will show, the mythical horse is emblazoned upon t-shirts, bags, toys and even soft drinks. There is no doubt that summer 2017 is the Year of the Unicorn – followed closely by the mermaid. Using fancy dress as a fashion cue is nothing new, but this summer has seen the lines between the two become increasingly blurred. In fact, the unicorn and the mermaid link very closely to this summer’s other big party trend – for product influenced by the myths, legends and fantasy genre. The much-anticipated series seven of Game of Thrones has undoubtedly had an effect on the industry as partygoers clamour to channel their favourite characters from this and other similar shows. The beauty of fantasy-based fancy dress is that there really are no limits, outside of the customer’s imagination. It’s great fun for costume shops who are willing to embrace the new lines being created by suppliers as they meet the public’s increased demand. Other notable trends which have been making an appearance over the last few months include gender reveal parties. Following in the trend for embracing all It was good to get hands-on things Instagram, the balloon-based events are a novel recently with the product we way of announcing the gender of a new arrival. cover in this magazine, when I “Gender reveal has been very popular recently,” Party organised a stag do weekend Planet’s Gale Brocklebank told PPE. “We’re seeing more for a good friend. Big thanks and more requests for them, which is great fun for us. It’s to Opposuits, Smiffys and lovely to be part of something so important in someone’s Morphsuits for helping me life. It’s that sort of thing that makes all this worthwhile!” out - but just one question for retailers; why aren’t you all Being in the party business means you are in the stocking ‘Mike Tyson style’ business of making people happy, even though it might temporary tattoos? We were not feel like it when you’re in the middle of a stocktake asked more than 50 times or the last three customers have walked out emptyby total strangers where it handed. So grab that glitter, get creative and let’s make could be bought - and as your this a summer to remember. After all, it’ll be Halloween industry publisher I hated before we know it.... Happy summer! telling enquirers that it was via Am*zon! (I don’t fancy Jacqui Parr – Editor negotiating a licensing deal with the man, though…) @Prog_Party_Eu Rob Willis – Publishing Director

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M I LANO

Party Fashion

WIDMANN S.r.l. M I LANO

Party Fashion

Viale dellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Industria, 3/C 20020 Busto Garolfo (Milano) - Italy Tel. (+39) 0331 560001 - Fax (+39) 0331 537565 E-mail: info@widmannsrl.com

www.widmannsrl.com

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National UK Wholesaler/Distributor Tel. 01702 447676 - Fax 01702 447677 E-mail: sales@sanctointernational.co.uk

www.sanctointernational.co.uk

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CONTENTS

What’s inside: JUL/AUG 2017

Make Celebrations with

Qualatex balloons! ®

33 News

The latest from the party world.

The Jester

Trade show talk

New Products

Brand new and twice as exciting

New Products EU

European suppliers latest

Licensed To Party

The latest licensed loveliness

Colour me Crazy

Facepaint and special effects

Facing Facts

Industry Association; FACE

Myths & Legends

Sector focus on a growing trend

Feedback

Business so far in 2017

FOLAT EU

Interviewing Holland’s party people

Unsung Hero

Smiffys’ logistics man talks teamwork

Merry Christmas

Not yet, but time to plan for it

Best Sellers

Retailers share tales from the tills.

09 17 19 21 23 26 31 33 36 39 43 45 50

Visit Pioneer Europe Ltd. at the Autumn Fair in Cardgains Village (Hall 4, Stand D40/F41) to see more magical new products from Qualatex and receive exclusive discounts when placing orders! Email: pelorder@qualatex.com Web: www.qualatex.com Tel: 01279 501 090 Freephone: 0800 28 12 15 USA ©2017 PBC SB – PPE1707029

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NEWS PAGE

NEWS UPDATE Rubie's Acquires BuySeasons

Global Ghouls

Rubie’s Costume Company has formally acquired BuySeasons, one of America's largest fulfilment companies in the costume and party category. The strategic move – which was announced to the trade in early July – will mean that Rubie’s is now able to offer its customers one of the most modern and efficient third party logistic facilities, capable of fulfilling all costume and party needs. “BuySeasons will now allow Rubie’s to offer the leading fulfilment operation to our wholesale customers,” said Howard J Beige, evp of Rubie’s. “We are extremely pleased to finally be able to offer a state of the art fulfilment solution for our customers.” Giuseppe Soccodato, global chief financial officer at Rubie’s,

added: “I am very excited with the thought of joining together two of the leading companies in the Halloween and party industry. This is sure to expand the range and variety of products available in the market, while providing a best in class delivery system to the consumer.” Rick Barton, president of

Party Names Shortlisted For The Licensing Awards The finalists for The UK Licensing Awards Product categories have been announced, with a strong brace of party industry contendors in line for the Best Licensed Dress-Up or Partyware Range. Judging for the category took place at the Emirates Stadium back in July, with 140 retail buyers assessing the entries, each selecting their preferred products in each category. This year's finalists in the Best Licensed Dress-Up or Partyware Range are: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

C Girls Dress-up for George at Asda from Rubie’s D Disney Princess Dress-up for Sainsbury’s from Rubie’s Horrible Histories Dress-Up from RH Smith & Sons LEGO Batman Dress-Up from Jakks Pacific PAW Patrol Party Range from Amscan Toy Story Disney Baby Dress-Up from Travis Designs

The winners will be revealed at a glittering ceremony on Tuesday 12 September, at The Grosvenor House Hotel, London. Visit www.thelicensingawards.co.uk to find out more. Above: Rubie's Tracey Devine collected the award at last year's event.

Bristol Novelty Celebrates 20 Years Bristol Novelty will be celebrating its 20th year this summer with an open day, taking place on Sunday 20 August 2017. “We would love to see you all, so please put the date in the diary and come down to Bristol,” said business development manager Gary Vincent. “We have plenty to offer! New lines and a brand new showroom plus an open day discount and the opportunity to look take look at our new warehouse. And of course let’s not forget our legendry buffet!” Doors open at 10am until 4pm. For further information and to register your attendance please email susan@ bristolnovelty.co.uk Got a story? Send your news to jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk

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Wisconsin-based BuySeasons, is equally pleased with the new partnership. “Partnering with Rubie’s will allow BuySeasons to dramatically increase our product offering, as well as enhance our worldwide sourcing abilities,” he explains. “BuySeasons is very excited when we think about the synergistic benefits of this exciting combination as we look forward to enhancing our customer experience.”

Taking place in New York at the beginning of December, the International Halloween Show will once again be offering buyers a sneak peak at next year’s Halloween selection. Held over four days, from Monday 5 December to Thursday 8 December, the show takes place across two locations within a short walk of each other – The Halloween Tower at 1115 Broadway, and 230 Fifth Avenue. For more information or to register, please visit www. hiaonline.org

Amscan Launches LEGO Batman New 2017 Costume Recalled A LEGO Batman Movie prestige costume Winter Book for kids has been recalled because the Amscan has recently released a new One Stop Winter book for 2017, featuring a great variety of partyware, balloons and costumes to help make the festive celebrations even more memorable. From holly-patterned tableware to festive photo props, reindeer costumes and some fantastic balloon designs, there is something to suit every taste and budget. Retailers can also get ready for the big countdown to 2018 with Amscan’s expanded range of New Year’s Eve collection including over 100 new items. The catalogue also contains a new Hanukkah section featuring themed tableware and decorations. The catalogue and full product range is available to view online at Amscan.co.uk.

material does not meet the required fire safety standards. No other LEGO Batman movie costumes or any other LEGO-branded costumes are affected. Toy supplier Jakks Pacific has recalled approximately 340 costumes because the material does not meet 'applicable EU fire safety standards'. The company stressed that no incidents have been reported, but it is taking the precautionary step of a recall because it 'takes safety very seriously'. Only costume style numbers 23742G (size L), 23742K (size M) and 23742L (size S) with date code 2606EF01 printed on the front of the sewn label, under the barcode are affected. Retailers should advise customers who have bought the costume to contact Jakks directly on +44 (0) 1344 638 909 or at ukcustomerservice@jakks.net for a full refund or replacement.

Right: The LEGO Batman Movie prestige costume being recalled by Jakks Pacific.

A Fond Farewell It's time to bid a fond farewell to Unique Party's Southern-based sales representative, Tony Esden, who is retiring from the party trade after serving Unique Party for the last 17 years. A familiar face to many, Tony has worked in the party industry for over 30 years, in both retail and wholesale, and has been a significant contributor to the category over the years. His skills and knowledge will be sorely missed throughout the industry. Unique Party would like to thank Tony for his dedicated service over the years, while we at Progressive Party Europe and his many industry colleagues and friends wish him well in his future retirement plans.

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PARTY NEWS

A Poundland Party Bargain high street retailer Poundland has recently unveiled a new wedding party range, with prices starting at – you guessed it – £1. While Poundland has carried basic partyware and party accessories for some time, this is the first time the retailer has made a deliberate move into the party sector. The new trend-led wedding collection, which has been rolled out across

Premium Appoints New European Manager Premium Balloon Accessories, the exclusive international distributor for the Western range of helium balloon inflators, has appointed John Bowler as its European business development manager. “John has many years of experience in this industry,” says Premium president David Nelson, “and combining his expertise with the quality products offered by Premium Balloon Accessories and Western is the perfect fit.” “I am really looking forward to working with many of the distributors that I have worked with before,” adds John, “and it’s great to have a high-quality product supported by a keen and motivated team.” Contact John for more information at john@ premiumballoon.com or +44 (0) 7955 270679.

the UK, is already available instore. It features shabby chic styling with white lace and gold calligraphy across a variety of essential wedding products including a wedding planner, bunting, wedding invitations, table decorations and place cards for seating arrangements. “Wedding days can end up costing an absolute fortune and because we’re a nation of savvy shoppers who love a bargain,

it’s no surprise that more people are looking to save money on their big day,” said Barry Williams, trading Inset: Poundland's £1 wedding range has been designed to help couples 'tie the knot in style'. director for Poundland. on-trend colours and design A baby shower range has elements and including also been launched, which baby shower accessories, has been designed using décor and balloons.

HIA Grows In Size

US Town Considers Foil Balloon Ban The village of Southampton, in the American state of New York, is currently considering placing a ban on the sale of foil – or mylar – balloons. The mayor, Michael Irving, has expressed concern with the fact that the metallic balloons are harmful to the environment and don't degrade as quickly as latex balloons. "Mylar balloons in the last few years have become a major issue in the waters," he told Long Island News. "You can walk along the beach and find dozens of them." Latex balloons will not be included in any new legislation, with the Mayor adding that "they have a limited shelf life. You do find them floating, but they have a tendency to degrade quickly." The ban is being pushed by the Southampton

Advocates for the Village Environment, the same group that successfully recommended that the village should ban the use of plastic bags in 2011.

Foil balloons have previously been the subject of unwanted media attention in America, with a number of states calling for them to be banned following power outages – 1,897 in California in 2015 alone.

Mid-Year Launch

Above: Foil balloons are coming under scrutiny in the US.

Party Shop Is Super-Powered! Celebrating its 13th year in business – and proving the superstition wrong once and for all – is Bristol-based retailer Harlequin Party Shop, which has been identified by npower as one of Britain’s Super Powered Businesses. The energy company's initiative celebrates and rewards innovative and engaging SMEs who are going the extra mile to deliver success. Businesses need to demonstrate that they are innovative, successful and engaging. Founder of the company, Carol Evans, launched the company with the intention of creating a business which could not be threatened by online competition. She decided to focus on helium balloons as a way to ensure people would keep coming through the doors. Today, they account for more than 80% of her sales and her business is busier than ever. "People are always going to be having birthdays and celebrating life, so I'm not worried about the future,” she said. "Most of our customers come simply because of word of mouth, which must mean we are doing something right!" Left: Carol Evans, owner of the successful Harlequin Party Shop in Bristol.

Got a story? Send your news to jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk

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As the official voice of the Halloween industry in America, the Halloween Industry Association (HIA) now has upwards of 50 members, including manufacturers, retailers, sales reps and associated businesses/individuals. In addition to providing industry support and networking opportunities, the association ensures that members receive significant discounts for both the International Halloween Show and the Halloween & Party Expo. Members will also be given the full buyers' list after each event. The HIA is also continuing to push its two key marketing initiatives for 2017. The first will involve establishing a National Trick-or-Treat Day on the last Saturday of October, dedicated to the safe celebration of Halloween. The second focuses on promoting the celebration of Halloween, particularly with regard to purchased costumes. Visit www.hiaonline.org for more information

A new trade-only catalogue for Sancto, the official UK distributor and wholesaler for Italian fancy dress and accessory company Widmann, is available now. Please contact Anna Solly on +44 (0) 1702 447676

Fabulous Fancy Dress It's not unusual to see a smattering of fancy dress on a night out in Bristol, but Thursday 19 July was a sight to behold, with more than 1,000 people dressed in costume as they took part in a popular fundraiser. The team hailed from Lloyds Banking Group and showed off some fabulous outfits as they took part in the 29th annual Bristol Pub Rally, which raises vital funds for mental health charities in the city.

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PARTY NEWS

Halloween Shows Double Up US-based party trade show Halloween & Party Expo will be taking place alongside haunted house trade expo and conference HauNTcon in January 2018, bringing the two major Halloween buying groups together under one roof for the first time. The partnership was announced by H&P Expo show organiser Urban Expositions, which acquired HauNTcon in June 2017. The industry leading events will be taking place from 12 – 15 January, and will be reinforcing the market for the Halloween, party and celebration industries.

Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, the events have joined forces to provide a new, enhanced experience for all Halloween and haunt professionals, offering access to a wide range of products and services. The cross-over between industries will allow Halloween experts to share industry trends, while providing a collaborative environment for networking. “We are thrilled to offer our customers this opportunity to develop relationships with professionals representing the entire spectrum of the Halloween

Register For H&P Expo Now Registration for Halloween & Party Expo 2018 is now open. The trade-only shopping destination for all things Halloween and party will be playing host to 350 exhibitors, many of them offering exclusive discounts and special show-only offers. The show is also bolstered by a full education programme, with an independent retailer conference comprising of 15-minute popup sessions and a packed Haunted Trends Runway schedule. An industry party will also be taking place on the Saturday night. To register, and to find out more, visit www.halloweenpartyexpo.com.

Folat Gets Its Fright On With more than 60 new lines introduced specifically for the upcoming Halloween season, Folat has released a new mid-year catalogue highlighting its newest and best-selling lines across this party season. “Halloween is a growing market in Europe, and consumers' spend is increasing,” sales and marketing manager Greg de Jong told PPE. “Therefore, we invested in a wider assortment and added more than 60 new items for Halloween.” To see the new brochure

market in New Orleans this January,” said Michael Carlucci, senior vice president of Urban’s specialty show portfolio. “The decision to co-locate these two events was made to offer face-to-face business and networking solutions to

Big News For Little Suits It's been on the cards for a while, but OppoSuits, the novelty suits company, has launched two new collections. The ranges were made available at the end of July, with one range catering for younger boys (between two and eight years old) and the other for teenage boys (from 10 to 16 years old). They are both available in four different prints – The Lumberjack, Red Devil, Testival and Badaboom – all of which are also featured in the successful male and female suit collections. Perfect for co-ordinated family occasions!

NABAS Turns 30!

Above: Steampunk is expected to be a popular choice for Halloween 2017.

online, please visit http://online.flipbuilder. com/fwmj/pkue

The Disney For Mums UK group is followed by over 142,000 people, while Snazaroo has more than 61,000 fans. Above: Iron Man is the first tutorial in the Snazaroo series.

Got a story? Send your news to jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk

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haunted attraction owners, as well as Halloween and party retailers, to network and share best practices all under one roof,” agreed Michele Biordi, executive director of the Halloween Industry Association and partner of the H&P Expo. “The goal is to continue to offer customers – both buyers and exhibitors – new business opportunities and in-person connections within the industry.” For more information, please visit www.halloweenpartyexpo. com or www.hauntcon.com.

Above: The two new suit collections are expected to do well.

Snazaroo Embraces The Disney Magic As part of an new partnership with Disney Junior UK, face painting expert Snazaroo has been featured on the popular Disney For Mums UK Facebook group. The social media campaign sees the two companies coming together to offer parents face painting tutorials for popular Disney and Marvel characters.

Below left: The combined events are expected to bring 3,000 industry professionals and 350 vendors together under one roof.

The balloon and party professionals association will be turning 30 this year and is celebrating with an anniversary event on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 November, 2017. The two-day celebration will be taking place at the Slate conference facility at Warwick University and will include a dedicated programme of masterclasses and competitions (see side story) as well as a fabulous black tie dinner and award ceremony on the Sunday evening. Classes will include everything from a hands-on big event décor to ceiling clouds/drops, and from wow entrance décor to photo-framing. There will also be a mix of masterclasses and advanced hands-on training. For more information or to book your place, contact the NABAS office on +44 (0) 1989 762204 or email Kate Walker at info@ nabas.co.uk.

Be In It To Win It There will be three separate competition categories to enter at the NABAS 30th birthday celebration event this coming November. Each category is themed, and entrants must enter all three in order to be eligible for the overall first prize of a ticket to World Balloon Convention 2018 (held in San Diego, California from 14 – 17 March), plus flights, accommodation and $500 spending money. The themes are: centrepiece – 'Under The Sea', deliverable bouquet – 'Happy Birthday' and deliverable sculpture – 'open'. Entrance fees are £10 per competition entry or £25 for all three.

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PARTY NEWS

Pop My Mind When does a balloon sculpture become a work of art? When it's part of the interactive and immersive art installation which transformed the Waterfront Gallery at the University of Suffolk in late July. The ambitious exhibition – named Inflated Inspirations – was created in order to tell the story of Pop My Mind, a curated online hub for artists of all disciplines, from musicians and dancers to painters and balloon artists. The 360-degree walkthrough sculpture was based on a forest theme, with the branches of a life-sized tree in the centre of the gallery leading out to new works inspired by pieces in the Pop My Mind collection. It took a total of four days to build, using 10,000 Qualatex balloons – comprising everything from 5" to 5' 6" balloons, 160Q, 260Q and 350Q as well as foil starpoints. The sculpture then acted as a backdrop for a whole programme of other interactive performances, with shows

running daily until Monday 7 August. Spearheaded by Samuel StampDod (VIP Balloons), the project also included a number of workshops led by Mike Hurst, Natalie Saunders and Lucy Hennessey. Samuel would like to officially thank all ten of the balloon artists who gave up their valuable time to be involved in the exciting campaign: Natalie Saunders (The Balloon Room), Mike Hurst (Reds Balloons and Parties), Lucy Hennessy, (Balloon Power), Graham Laycock (Absolute Balloony), Nicci Gibson (Balloon Bouquets), Jacqueline Allcock

(Jacqui's Balloons), Helen Garrett (Creative Decorations), Helen Martin (Bend it, Shape it Balloons), Aimee Smith (Celebrations) and Vicki Ward Hibbins (Bishy Balloons). "I am really, really pleased with how the project came out,” Samuel told PPE. “I was prepared for it not to look how I was expecting and it didn't – it looked better! One of the

NSFW

BLE Visitor Registration Is Open A must-attend event for anyone interested in the licensing world, visitor registration is now open for Brand Licensing Europe 2017 (BLE). Taking place from 10 – 12 October at London's Olympia, retailers and manufacturers can now register online at www. brandlicensing.eu/register. This year’s event promises a raft of new visitor attractions and exhibitors. The brand new Gaming Activation Area will serve as an interactive space for demos and competitions, while an expanded Brands & Lifestyle Theatre Programme will include interactive performances and demonstrations each day. More than 2,500 properties will be on display at the show, including essential party licences such as the hugely successful Minions (NBC Universal), PAW Patrol (Nickelodeon), Hello Kitty (Sanrio) and Barbie (Mattel). Above: The Minions will be making an appearance at BLE (pic courtesy of Star Cutouts).

Creative, colourful or controversial fancy dress is often a popular story for consumer media outlets looking for something light-hearted. The latest costume to make headlines across traditional print media and go viral online was the 'unsolicited d**k pic' – a modern take on the classic costume often favoured by stag dos everywhere. Worn to a party which was themed 'the internet', the outfit (which includes a messaging thread attached to the front) has been huge hit across social media, with the original twitter post attracting over 6,000 responses. Above: The home-made costume was widely praised for its attention to detail.

Party Packs Make Easy Picks Rubie’s has introduced new range of officially-licensed dress-up ‘Party Packs’ aimed at themed kids parties this summer holidays. Packed into a branded CDU ready for point of sale display, each unit includes a total of 36 dress-up packs across a variety of characters within each brand. Each of the 36 packs consists of printed tops or dresses and either cardboard mask or tiara accessories, and is aimed at a low price point so parents can buy multiple costumes across various brands without breaking the bank. So far Rubie’s has introduced Party Packs for Disney Princess and Marvel and DC Comics super heroes for both boys and girls which are available now to order, while new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Paw Patrol packs will be landing in mid-August. Contact Rubie’s on +44 (0) 8453 070707 for further information. Right: Instant Wonder Woman dress-up with Rubie's new party packs.

Got a story? Send your news to jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk

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best parts of the exhibition is sitting in the gallery, out of uniform, and listening to the public's reaction. Several of the university staff have been dragging their visitors in to look round the works. Most people are in awe of what they are seeing." Above: Visitors were encouraged to walk through, touch and explore the art. Photo credit: Karis Lambert and Samuel Stamp-Dod.

Book In Early Costume and accessories company Fun Shack has released its newest catalogue and collection for Children’s Book Week 2018 (Thursday 1 March). The catalogue is bursting with classic favourites and exciting new lines, designed to ignite imaginations for Book Week and all year round. Pre-orders can be placed before 18 August 2017 to guarantee all the stock you need in plenty of time for Book Week 2018.

Spiffing Fun! Party company Smiffys has added a number of nostalgic Enid Blyton licences to its portfolio, designed to appeal to children and adults alike. The new deal will see Smiffys producing a number of brand new fancy dress lines in time for World Book Day 2018, featuring popular characters from The Famous Five, Malory Towers and The Twins at St Clare’s. “We are dealing with a huge amount of interest in the Enid Blyton brand,” says Bulldog Licensing director Vicky Hill. “Licensees are anxious to tap into the huge nostalgic appeal of Enid Blyton’s work.”

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Â©Disney

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The Jester Says

THE

JESTER

S SAY

Writing freely, from behind a magical cloak of confidentiality, The Jester draws on an entire lifetime of party experience to bring us controversial opinions, interesting viewpoints and all the latest industry gossip, fresh from the grapevine...

DEATH OF THE HIGH STREET “D

Right: Retailers in British high streets ear reader, before you start have been struggling for some time. reading this please note this article may offend. It is important to note that all views are ask ourselves what is the mine and mine alone and as such do reason that there has been not reflect the views of this magazine such a decline? nor anyone who works on it. The first thing that We are all to blame that the typical everybody mentions UK high street is half empty, and is that rents are too the rest is full of coffee shops, estate high. I currently own agents, charity shops and betting several shops and I can shops. Why? Well let’s face it we all tell you that – from my shop in out of town stores and I would perspective at least – that think you would be in a very small the rent has not increased minority if you have never brought in several years. The anything off the internet. Even my same cannot be said for exempt from paying full rates, and a 84-year-old mother uses Amazon! rates, unfortunately. The problem lot of their staff costs are reduced by While some party retailers do with rates is that the landlord is liable people volunteering. Now, this was operate from out of town stores, and a whether the property is let or not, so all fine when they were only few more may even be situated selling second-hand goods, but in large shopping malls, most There are certain types of stores so many of them now sell brand of us own stores that are just new items that the balance off the high street, so while the which have not kept up with the has changed dramatically. As diversity is there it may just changing consumer market – such, I believe they should not be in the middle of town. record shops and book sellers are pay more towards having the There are certain types of stores benefits of being based in the which have not kept up with prime examples of this, as more town. A lot of these charities the changing consumer market people download their music and now are multi-million pound – record shops and book sellers read using electronic devices. companies and a great deal of are prime examples of this, as their profits go on administration more people download their and executive salaries, so they music and read using electronic devices the local authorities have no incentive this market was always going to to help fill empty units as they get paid should no longer be able to hide behind their charitable status. falter – but as for the rest, we have to regardless. Local government also has Let’s make the retail playing a lot to answer for with its focus on Below: Opening a retail store is now field level for all of us and maybe, out of town development. Why allow commonplace for charities of all sizes. these retail parks to have plentiful just maybe, we might start to see high streets begin to fill up with free parking and yet continue to independent stores like ours. charge such high prices to park As always, I’ll end on a joke which in the town centre? It’s hardly surprising that people will go and might resonate with any retailers out there dealing with irksome landlords... shop where it is cheaper to do so. A group of tourists were being While we all struggle to guided through an ancient castle in pay rent and rates, a sizeable England. “This place,” the guide told proportion of the high street pay them, “is 600 years old. Not a stone in hardly any tax, so it’s so much it has been touched, nothing altered, easier for them as their costs nothing replaced in all those years.” are therefore greatly reduced. “Well,” said one woman dryly, “they Now for the controversial must have the same landlord I have.” piece. Charity shops. They are

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Go Bright

Party cosmetics brand Moon Glow has introduced this new range of UV face paint boxsets. Ideal for retail display, they include six paints, brush and sponge applicators and a UV keyring to check the designs before hitting the club. Four different sets are available in the new eye-catching packaging; UV Pastel, UV Glitter, UV Intense and Glow in the Dark.

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Happy Hair

Summer means endless opportunities for all things bright and colourful and Fun Shack has seen an increase in sales of colourful wigs – ideal for anyone looking to cover up the infamous festival hair! New lines include Mermaid, Ombre and this fantastic Glow in the Dark wig, which has been especially popular and is ideal for clubbing.

What’s New?

New products don’t come much better than this...

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Feline Good

A whole new range of cat-themed dress up items and accessories has been introduced by Bristol Novelty in its new August flyer. The mini-catalogue is jam-packed with new additions for the second half of the year, with feline dress-up proving to be a strong trend. New items include everything from ears, ‘claws’ and jewellery as well as complete outfits.

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Glow For It

Glow sticks are a party classic for all ages and now Amscan is offering a whole range of new ways to light up the party with its fab new glow stick range featuring a great mix of bracelets, necklaces and glasses. Ornamental masks in a number of different styles and ‘mouse’ ears are innovative additions to the classic glow in the dark collection.

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Push Pineapple

Get ready for a multi-coloured multitude of new products from Qualatex this summer, including the trendy golden pineapple microfoil shapes, with coordinating latex designs. Pineapples are a key fashion trend for 2017 with most of the latex designs ready for midJuly. The 18” foils will be released end of July, while the large foil shapes are due mid-August.

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Purr-fect Party

Plan a purr-fect party with this fantastic new kitten-themed range from Creative Party. Available to order now for delivery in August, this range is proving extremely popular already. Assorted shaped kitten dinner plates are the star of the range, while the addition of photo booth props capitalise on the ongoing popularity of this strong trend.

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Ghost Face

These exciting new balloons from Globos Payaso are expected to be extremely popular. The company has added to its range of LED balloons with a new ‘Light Up’ flashing LED ghost balloons, perfect for the upcoming Halloween season. The balloons are 12” in size, with six different scary faces in each pack and will stay alight for approximately 15 hours once inflated.

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Helium Help

Thanks to a new helium filling factory based in the Netherlands, Folat is now able to offer fast delivery on BalloonGaz compressed high quality helium. The innovative new concept means that the smaller tanks have the same capacity as traditional larger tanks, making it possible to store more tanks per pallet and ensure a higher turnover per sqm2 instore.

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Steampunk Power

Steampunk – a look which involves mixing Victoriana style with steampowered machinery – is a very popular and growing trend in fancy dress, making it an interesting option for customers looking for original costumes. Godan’s new steampunk collection for adults focuses on accessories such as hats, goggles and printed tshirts.

Hooded Horrors

Over 800 new lines recently launched by Widmann include everyday and carnival themes plus Steampunk, 70s, Oktoberfest, inflatable costumes, Halloween and much more! There’s also a new range of oversized hooded masks which arrive early September and include five different styles; Grim Reaper, Horror Clown, Evil Ghost, Werewolf and Gorilla.The 26 new styles of full head latex animal masks including hippos, pandas, owls and bulldogs are also expected to do well.

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One For All

This new Enchanting Musketeer dress from Leg Avenue is perfect for a fun, fresh take on period costume, which is always a top-seller, especially during festival season. The detailed outfit, which includes the fabulous muskateer’s hat, has already been received very well by retailers looking to offer customers something a bit different. Available at the end of summer.

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Pumpkin Power

New Halloween lines are added every year by the Party Deco team and pumpkins, ghosts and spiders are expected to be popular for 2017. Halloween props, which are ideal for photo booths and selfies, are now available and have been selling well. The child-friendly Boo collection has been selling through particularly well.

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Progressive Party rounds up the latest licensed releases.

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■D rive Time Have a blast with Amscan’s new licensed range of partyware and balloons featuring Lightning McQueen. The popular racecar is back on the racetrack in Cars 3 and fans can celebrate with new party accessories and foil balloons from Amscan! The new range includes 18 winning items including wall decoration kits, party games, candle sets and foil balloons.

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Rock fans rejoice! This latex mask which bears an uncanny likeness to the one and only Alice Cooper is now available from Palmer Agencies, the sole and exclusive distributor to the officially licensed masks from Trick or Treat Studios. Other masks from the world of heavy rock music include Motorhead’s Warpig and Iron Maiden’s Eddie.

With Despicable Me 3 currently in cinemas and in anticipation of the inevitable return of Minion mania, Rubie’s has introduced a range of spectacular inflatable Minion costumes. Adult and kids versions are available to order right now, offering a whole host of incredible group dress-up opportunities! (Bananas not included.)

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■W eb Slinging With an extensive collection of licensed balloons and partyware, Pioneer Europe is pleased to welcome a new partyware line to coincide with one of 2017’s biggest film releases, Spider-man Homecoming. This partyware range will get your spidey senses tingling and when combined with Qualatex Spider-Man balloons, completes the collection for a perfect party.

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Thanks to the new same-day drop shipping service from Star Cutouts, your customers won’t have to wait long for these adorable Minions cutouts. The complete range of Despicable Me 3 cutouts features a number of the more popular Minions, as well as Agnes with her much-loved fluffy unicorn. These cutouts come in a range of sizes and are perfect for fans of all ages.

Gemma International has launched a new range of licensed cards, gift packaging and partyware for Care Bears, the latest 80s reinvention to take the UK by storm. The initial party range complements the card and wrap collection and will include invites, plates, cups, napkins, banners, masks and stickers, latex balloons and loot bags, all available from September 2017.

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Industry Issue: Face-Painting and SFX

Changing Faces Face paint and SFX make-up made their debut appearance in the PPE party barometer this year, appearing in the list of best-selling product areas for the first time. PPE spoke to some key players in this creative sector to find out more.

he beauty of truly effective face painting lies in its simplicity. A few clever strokes of a brush, and the client – or canvas – can be instantly transformed into a ghoulish zombie, a beautiful bird or almost anything else they desire. That’s not to say it’s a simple skill to learn though; far from it – in fact, exciting new techniques and the latest up-to-date methods are being developed and introduced to the market all the time. Face paints and SFX make-up broke into PPE’s list of bestselling product areas for the first time in 2016. Festivals, children’s parties and Halloween remain the key occasions for face-painting,

Top right: Gory SFX prosthetics from Palmer Agencies. Right: Fantasy make-up set from Tinsley. Below: Splashes & Spills, blurring the line between professional and beginner.

Social Sharing “People don’t settle for second best when it comes to their look anymore. The line between professional and beginner has been blurred with social media and the new wave of quality special effects make-up brands acknowledges this trend. We take our product to exhibitions across the USA and Europe and ensure retailers see new lines each season so they can make sure their own social media channels will have customers tweeting away until next Halloween!” Adnan Rasool, director, Splashes & Spills

but retailers also told us that face paints and make-up sales have increased across the board, with customers keen to have a go at DIY versions of the latest YouTube tutorial. Crucially, face painting and body art is much more visible now; it can even be taught as an A-level option in many colleges across the UK. According to Cat Finlayson (founder of Body Painting By Cat, member of FACE and previous UK Professional Face Painter of the Year), professional face painters have seen a huge increase in bookings from tutors who need to learn these new skills. “I demo and judge face and body art at a number of large industry events in the UK and Europe,” says Cat, “and I definitely have more students asking questions and more amateur adults wanting to try it out.” After working as a full-time face painter at a popular attraction (“It was backbreaking but interesting – I could complete their most-requested rainbow butterfly in under 60 seconds!”) Cat now works mainly at large events, corporate days and adult occasions such as club nights and weddings. One downside of the rush of new painters is that professionals like Cat are losing long-term repeat national clients to people who will do a day in-store for less than minimum wage – or even for free. “I do think it is awful,” Cat offers. “They may have their reasons, but will soon find that they have shot themselves in the foot and damaged our industry.” Cat also finds the rash of YouTube tutorials worrying. “Of course some are great and give good advice, but last year there was a craze for gluing real broken bottles, cans and even nail scissors to faces, as a trendy SFX/Halloween look. One accidental trip or shove and those objects could have made the fake gore a reality! It is things like this that

Inset: Superhero on Matt Matrixx pic by TT Visuals.

Trend Spotting “Facepainting is an expression of creativity and so our sales vary massively throughout the year, with key events including summer holidays, festivals, live events, concert and charity runs, among others. Social media is undeniably one of the key influences in design and trend, and will be for many years to come. I would say it is leading the industry, with people sharing their ideas, concepts and designs with each other. It’s the go-to place for any facepainter. Jams are also are important for spotting trends, with lots of new ideas and funky designs. We have seen a massive increase in our presence at these events, which really helps with setting our brand apart.” Cameron Martin, sales manager, Moon Glow

Above: Moon Glow’s core product, the 12ml neon UV face paint.

FACE, Paintopia and good colleges are trying to educate people about.” The large industry jams and events such as Paintopia (which takes place each May) have had a huge effect on the public profile of face painting. “In the last ten years people have realised there is much more to face painting than the barely-recognisable tiger created

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Industry Issue: Face-Painting and SFX

with a set of tired brushes and four small paints,” says Cat. “Even hobby painters tend to have ‘split’, ‘one-stroke’ or ‘rainbow’ cakes of paint and know how to use them effectively. Famous face painters tour the world teaching, and there is a dedicated pay-per-view face paint channel. Professional brands are easily accessible online and several makeup shops now stock them too.” It’s a sentiment echoed by Gary Vincent, business development manager at Bristol Novelty, who agrees that: “Face paints and SFX products have certainly grabbed the attention of the UK party industry over the last couple of years, and there have been some fantastic new product innovations to suit every occasion in the party calendar.” This growing demand for face paints and make-up has allowed suppliers to be creative in terms of packaging new product lines for key themes such as Day of the Dead, Clowns and Glow in the Dark. “The market

Clever Kits “Face paints are a great creative way to transform any look and customers are finding new, innovative ways of achieving their desired result, often incorporating SFX make-up and accessories. Recognising the appeal of achieving a complete look, the Amscan Create face paint range launched last year, including kits for themes such as Zombie, Gothic Rag Doll and Day of the Dead. The range is ideal for events such as Halloween where customers are looking for good value products that they can use for a one-off occasion.” Charlotte Cox, marketing executive, Amscan Right: Designs from the Ultimate Party Kit from Amscan.

for these products has grown exponentially, which is great news,” says Gary. “It gives consumers a huge choice of products from an ever-expanding number of suppliers, and coupled with online makeup tutorials, this has helped partygoers take their look to a whole new level.” Emma Angel, director of Angels Fancy Dress, believes that customers are becoming far more adventurous in general. “We are seeing face paints combined with glitter, gems and fake eyelashes to create truly striking looks,” she says. “This is mostly seen at festivals and at Halloween, but can also be found at sporting events, student events and is a prominent feature of Pride.” Being aware of local and national events where face-painting might feature allows retailers to offer consumers relevant products and up-to-date advice. With new fashions emerging all the time, predicting future trends and best-sellers is important. “Instagram and Pinterest are great places

for inspiration and to encourage people to try out new and interesting ideas,” says Emma, pointing out that these tutorials are heavily influential in creating new trends. “Make-up and face paint can be just as important as the costume when it comes to achieving the desired look.” This sentiment is echoed by Palmer Agencies’ marketing director Sergio Battaner. “These days, the power of the selfie means that partygoers are focusing more than ever on how they look from the neck up. SFX make-up and face paints are an effective way to gain those all-important ‘likes’ across social media and so people are often looking to decorate their faces even when they haven’t opted for fancy dress at all.” The inspiration for much of this has come directly from the glut of face paint blogs and tutorials widely available across Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. “The online community has given consumers an accessible platform to experiment and share different looks,” says Smiffys’ director, Dominique Pecket, “whether that means showcasing new techniques or creating full-length DIY videos. This has, in turn, driven demand for a wider choice of colours, formulations and ranges.” Smiffys has responded to this by expanding its make-up and special effects range extensively over the past year, with product designed to support a wide range of skill levels; from foam latex prosthetics and masks and realistic 3D transfers right through to professional quality liquid latex and blood. “Make-up and SFX are no longer just a Halloween gimmick,” continued Dominique. “They are becoming integral to any number of events and club nights,

Left: Colourful make-up kits from Bristol Novelty. Below: White liquid latex face and body paint from Smiffys. Below left: Cat Finlayson: Sugar Skull on Emily Quantrill, pic by DR Cook Photography. Bottom: Festival fun from PaintGlow.

while the neon trend is also going strong with PaintGlow, which allows consumers to customise their look with vibrant hair dye and shimmering body glitter.” The power of the internet has helped drive demand and opened the doors to a previously overlooked audience, as PaintGlow’s managing director Lee Dobinson can attest. “We have seen a significant growth in 2017 compared to 2016, with sales up by over 35% so far,” he says. “The Instagramfriendly festival season has been fantastic for us, with everyone going crazy for neon face paints and UV hair sprays.” Lee puts this success down to a number of new product launches, with more surprises planned for the second half of the year. “We have a few new spooktacular lines being launched for Halloween,” he says, “which will see some groundbreaking items entering the industry.” So with face painting now available in one form or another at almost every public event, its clear that this is one party trend which has made it into the mainstream. “Face painting can be horribly stressful and badly paid,” says Cat, having the final word. “But bringing a touch of colour and a smile to so many faces is worth it!”

Neon Nights “With festivals, carnivals and Halloween all creating individual needs for face paints, Widmann has seen a definite rise in the demand for various cosmetics. The latest introduction of new neon make-up sticks and neon make-up creams have met the needs of festival goers while a gory zombie range of blood, latex and skin makes a great addition to our well-loved Halloween SFX range.” Anna Solly, Right: Going bright with neons from Widmann. sales director, Sancto

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FACE

THE

FACE

Glyn Goodwin is a professional face painter and deputy head of FACE, the S T face painting industry association. FAC

THE EYES HAVE IT Festival or glitter eyes are the latest ‘must-have’ craze among teens and adults at this summer’s festivals and concerts. In Glyn’s guest column for PPE, she touches on the latest fashion in face painting and shares a few key essentials for anyone looking to capitalise on the latest craze.

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any trends have come and gone in the 23 years since FACE has existed, and the advance of social media in the past few years has meant there is more (so-called) advice and ‘help’ available these days. With YouTube and other step-by-step video tutorials, it’s easy for a novice to access lots of advice from many different painters. Of course, while some of that advice is good, some of the information can be downright dangerous and should not be followed. But it can be very hard for a beginner to know the difference... As an association FACE has always advised members to follow safe practice and observe manufacturer’s guidelines on all products. The following advice has been agreed between our insurance policy providers and FACE representatives, and all our members are covered for festival /glitter eyes as long as they follow the advice below. These guidelines are also good to follow even if you are not a member, as they are mostly common sense!”

(or the newly available biodegradable glitters) and approved fixing products, obtained from reputable suppliers.

THE GOOD GLUES

Only specific cosmetic grade glues and gels for glitter made by face painting and cosmetic suppliers will be covered by PLI insurance. This includes products such as Kryolan glitter gel, Glitzer, Snazaroo, Global glitter gel, Stargazer and Pixie Paint, as well as other reputable brands. Some of these glitters and gels come already mixed together while others are sold separately. Other ‘glues’ include eyelash adhesive, which can only be used on adults and pure Aloe gel,

which should be used with caution. Liquid bandages, lip gloss, Vaseline/ petroleum jelly are all produced for use on the skin so are safe to use, as are sunblock and chapstick. However, mixing two or more of these products is not recommended, in case of possible reactions.

THE BAD GLUES

Products you will never be insured to use on the face include: glitter tattoo glue, Pritt Stick, craft glue, hair product, liquid latex, craft glitter, nail art glitter, copydex, PVA or acrylic glue, hand sanitizer, body and hand lotions and gels and of course superglue (yes, someone did actually use that on themselves!).

SAFETY FIRST

DITCH THE CRAFT GLITTER

Glitters in gel, dust or loose form have been used for many years and when used sensibly can enhance lots of face paint designs. All FACE members know not to use craft glitter, and PLI insurance will only cover painters using cosmetic grade polyester glitters

FACE (the international face painting association) was formed over 23 years ago to promote safe practice and high standards of face painting. For more information or to find out how to join, please visit the FACE WEBSITE.

Above: Glitter beard and tash, by Val Daft of Limelight Faces, California. Right: Glitter and jewels, by Angela Youngs of I Paint Faces, Kent.

Clean Faces FACE also recommends that customers are advised on the safe removal of glitter products, which should all come off with soap and/or plain water. Any glitter design which requires a specific remover – including baby wipes or lotion – is not suitable for festival eye work or on children.

FACE is aware that manufacturers often say a product is ‘not to be used close to the eyes’ as a precaution, but that can be open to interpretation. It is deemed that only outside of the eye socket is considered ‘not too close’ to the eye. As such, FACE advises that glitter embossed designs remain outside the eye socket area and well away from the eyelids. There is also no age limit put on the chunky glitters and gels, although the general opinion is not to use them on under seven-year-olds who may not understand that rubbing the glitter with their hands may move it closer to their eyes. Older children and adults should be advised not to rub the eye area and to remove the glitter with care. JULY/AUGUST 2017 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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Focus On: Myths, Legends and Fantasy

Legends THE STUFF OF

There are no limits within the fantastical world of myth and legend, making it a perfect genre for the party world. PPE takes a look at a market which includes everything from unicorns, fairies and mermaids to Game of Thrones-style warriors and dragons.

Above: Creative Party’s unicorn partyware collection. Right: Colourful unicorn balloon from Pioneer Europe. Below: Bristol Novelty’s overhead latex unicorn mask.

Offering the opportunity for some muchneeded escapism, the latest trend to hit the party market has fully embraced a whole host of colourful characters from myths, legends and fantasy. While there is no doubt that epic television shows such as Games of Thrones have promoted the popularity of the increasingly weird and wonderful, social media is also a huge influencer, with Pinterest and Instagram users styling themselves as glittery unicorns and colourful mermaids. As a result, partygoers are inspired to create their own versions, “We’ve seen a huge increase in requests for certain mythical characters in both of our London stores. Mermaids and unicorns are both hugely popular, and are already proving to be a big hit at festivals this year. Customers are also combining typically ethereal costumes such as mermaids with gory makeup and transfers to create creepy, unique characters – we saw radioactive mermaids last Halloween! Make sure that customers know you’re stocking these costumes – they’ll be big sellers this year.” Emma Angel, director, Angels Fancy Dress

often combining make-up and fancy dress to great effect. According to Gary Vincent, business development manager for Bristol Novelty, the myths, legends and fantasy genre has been creating lot of interest over the last 12 months. “Many suppliers are looking to introduce new lines to meet the demand created by popular cult shows like Game of Thrones,” he explains. “It has raised the profile of this style of costume dramatically, with party goers looking for higher-end products to emulate their favourite characters.” The unique combination of festival trends and fantasy TV have come together to create a strong trend for the magical and mysterious, agrees Alice Knight, sales and marketing manager for Fun Shack. “There’s an element of escapism in the fantasy genre that allows customers to transport themselves into a different world,” she explains. “Our Medieval cape has been selling well, as have Mermaid and Fairy Nymph which are great for parties and festivals.” It’s a similar story right across Europe, with Leg Avenue reporting an increased popularity in the trend. “We are not only seeing this as a party or costume trend,” explains Joyce Mallow, marketing and communications for the fashionled fancy dress company. “It is also visible in the fashion industry and streetwear. Instagram is overflowing with mermaid inspired make-up, hair and outfits. It’s everywhere.” Leg Avenue’s upcoming collection will be adding several new myths and legends styles to its current portfolio. A unicorn-obsessed Polish market has seen the mythical horsey motif

“Importantly for fancy dress, myths and legends do not discriminate. Everybody can dress up as a mythical or legendary character – even Quasimodo is fair game! This theme is currently very popular and will be even more so this summer with festivals and groups holidays.” Sergio Battaner, marketing director, Palmer Agencies Right: Palmer Agencies mask featuring the Night King, leader of the White Walkers from Game of Thrones.

playing an important role in Godan’s party business. Company director Krzysztof Malewski points out that the world of fairy tales and mystic characters will always stand out from other products. “Fantasy costumes allow us into another, more magical, reality,” he says. “A world in which everything is possible!” The unicorn and mermaid trend is also strong across partyware, décor and balloons, with themed collections proving popular for children and adults alike. “You’d have to have been living under a rock not to notice the unicorn trend at retail in the last 18 months,” laughs Creative Party’s Holly Forder. “It can be seen on everything from swimming pool inflatables to homewares, partyware and of course cake decorations!” According to Holly, Creative Party has seen a real increase in demand for fantasy themes such as unicorns, dragons and mermaids. “Unicorn Sparkle is our Early Release 2018 new addition,” she adds. “It’s a great new range for all age groups.” Also reporting strong sales of unicornthemed product is Amscan, and marketing executive Charlote Cox describes the trend as ‘unmissable’. “Our SuperShape Rainbow Unicorn balloon has performed particularly well throughout 2017,” she explains. “Unicorns are everywhere at the moment and are cute, colourful and appeal to girls of all ages, which makes for a fantastic party theme.” With countless characters and themes to inspire partygoers, the myths, legends and fantasy genre is an exciting one for party retailers to embrace. Help your customers’ imagination run wild! Far left: This fab Medusa is a new Forum Novelties line from Bristol Novelties. Left: This classic knight is a popular line from InCharacter.

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02/08/2017 10:38

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Focus On: Myths, Legends and Fantasy

MYTHS AND LEGENDS

Customers can transform into an ancient warrior with Amscan costume accessories including dress, wig and leg warmers.

This Lady of the Thrones and Mighty Warrior costume from New Temptations can be paired together for the perfect couples costume.

New mythical and fantasty lines from Bristol Novelty (via Forum Novelties in the US) include this inflatable centaur, Cyclops and Medusa accessories.

Folat’s on-trend Unicorn offering includes a partyware line, an inflatable costume and this dress-up set which includes hat, tail, tiara and leg warmers.

Be Sherwood-ready with these Maid Marian and Robin Hood costumes from InCharacter.

These fantastically detailed and officially licensed Game of Thrones masks are available from Palmer Agencies.

Fun Shack’s Medieval cape has been selling well as customers dress as their favourite warrior. Pioneer’s new unicorn collection includes four brand new balloons; 38” Magical Unicorn Microfoil face shape, 18” Birthday Magical Unicorn, 18” Have a Magical Day and 11” Unicorn in Diamond Clear. This fun children’s rider unicorn is a good seller for Bristol Novelty.

Widmann’s new Lady Archer and Medieval Prince capture the mythical theme with abundance.

Unicorns are also playing an important part in the Polish party market, as these new lines from Godan show. This vibrant rainbow unicorn SuperShape balloon makes a stunning statement decoration alongside a fun and quirky new party theme range, both from Amscan. Unique Party’s mermaid range just got even better and now includes everything from tableware to party games for all those magical mermaid parties.

The popular party theme means that Henbrandt’s unicornthemed party bags, boxes and toys are all selling well.

This Dragon range from Creative Party is a new addition for 2017 and has been performing extremely well.

This year Seatriever has added a fiery new fella to its Make Your Own range of illooms with George the Dragon, who doubles up as an enchanting night light.

Mermaids and warriors are strong themes at Leg Avenue with a number of different styles and versions available.

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02/08/2017 10:39

FEEDBACK THE PARTY REPORT A few things are customary at this time of year; complaining that it’s too hot, complaining that it’s too cold, restocking the inflatable palm trees and taking stock of the first half of the year before everyone goes Halloween crazy. PPE spoke to a number of retailers to find out how the party business has been so far in 2017. “Business has been up and down so far this year! There just seemed to be a lack of parties going on. March picked up with World Book Day and the nice weather has meant June and July have been much better. From talking to suppliers and other shops I’d say that is a fair representation of the party industry at the moment. We’d like to wish everyone at Pam’s all the best for the future... we are starting to miss the bits we used to buy from them. Unicorns are a popular craze at the moment, while the 80s are as popular as ever and flower power seems to be on trend again. Smiffys’ new 1960s range has added some much needed fresh designs to what was starting to look a little tired. Balloons and party are also doing well for us at the moment, probably due to the fact that so few places stock it. We’ve made a few changes this year – we’ve taken on new team members who have added some fresh ideas and enthusiasm, and we also now offer same day delivery within the local area. We’re always positive so we expect business to continue to improve and are looking forward to having a bumper Halloween and Christmas period.” JUSTIN ATWELL Harlequin Fancy Dress, Maidstone

Above: Balloons and 80s themes are doing well at Harlequin Fancy Dress.

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“We had a little bit of a quiet start to the year, although it’s hard to say why. One small clue could be when customers look up Amazon on their phones and find the same costume at a cheaper rate! I usually point out that we have the costume in stock now, they can try it on to make sure it fits and that we are always here to be helpful! World Book Day is really good for the Fancy Dress shops – whoever thought it up deserves a medal! Packet costumes have also been selling well – I think the Robin Hood costumes (female and male) always look good on. They are my favourite! Our main stay is hire quality costumes, in stylish and beautiful materials – we have them through the ages. Henry VIII is impressive, as are Elizabethan, Victorian and 20s-style dresses. Company functions are always great to cater for, especially if they are planned to an historic

Above: This royal trio are Jean’s dream customers.

theme. We have recently dressed a huge Elizabethan banquet which was great fun and supplied costumes for a Georgian-themed wedding. I sometimes design and make new costumes myself, but we also have some made by Make Believe Designs – they are excellent designers. My dream would be to dress William, Kate and Harry – I think they would look great as Gladiators with Cleopatra!” JEAN HARPER Masquerade, Watford

“Revenue is up on average by over 150% on last year – so business is good! Dinosaur-themed parties have had a reprise this year, as have farm-themed parties. I have also noticed a growing trend towards more unique party favour options, with parents choosing larger, quality gifts with longevity, as opposed to lots of smaller throw-away items. The launch of our new retail arm, www. dazzleandfizz.co.uk, offers our pick of the best party product on the market, curated by our inhouse styling team. Our lead product is the Partyin-a-Box, offering a stylish and environmentallyaware party package (no plastic cutlery, plates or straws) without the luxury price tag. We expect the rest of 2017 to be busy! We are looking forward to developing partnerships with exciting retailers such as Notonthehighstreet. com and have a wealth of new product waiting in the wings for release later in the year.” CHARLOTTE BRISCO Above: Kid’s party planning company Dazzle and Fizz Dazzle and Fizz, Woking has recently launched an online retail arm.

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03/08/2017 12:02

Feedback

FEEDBACK C O N T I N U E D “Business is strong in the balloon decorating field, however, we continue to be bogged down with requests for time-consuming ideas that people see on Pinterest. Dealing with these calls and messages has a knock-on effect on the amount of time you have for orders – as well as your own attitude when dealing with genuine customers, as you just get a bit worn down by people asking for the impossible. Jumbo numbers and letters have been particularly popular so far this year, especially as the increase in volume and competition in sales has meant a reduction in price by the wholesalers. Although sales of 18” number foils have decreased, customers love the Anagram jumbo numbers, and the large numbers still attract a higher price and profit. We have deliberately gone for high volume, simple sales with less time-consuming hands-on work. We find it is more profitable to make 20 deliveries of 12 clusters, an arch and a banner than to spend the same amount of time ‘decorating’ a room with hands-on work. We have also noticed the increase in customers calling on a busy Saturday and expecting to have something ready or even delivered within the hour! Despite this, it is a great business to be in and very satisfying when making deliveries as customers are always delighted when the job is in place.” TONY WHITE Academy Balloons, Liverpool Below: A recent job by Academy Balloons at Liverpool’s Titanic Hotel, featuring 36” latex balloons in pink, blush and ivory.

“This year started off very slowly, but business has picked up a lot in the last few months, as customers are being let down by online traders with regards to quality and delivery times. If their disillusionment with online ordering continues then business will hopefully keep improving. Trends are all about colours – with neon, dayglo and rainbow themes all doing well. For decades, 80s/90s is the new 60s/70s. Our hire trade has definitely picked up. Customers like that we can offer them a full hirequality outfit which includes accessories, so they don’t have to buy accessories separately at an additional cost. We are thrilled to bits that the hire market is coming back, and very relieved that we didn’t sell off loads of our hire costumes when the boom was all Above: A colourful selection of Jollyjesters’ recent happy customers. for pre-packed costumes! Smiffys has been great to deal with this year. It hasn’t always been our favourite company in previous years, but the rep (Shaun Altoft) has listened to us, taken note of the changes we needed in our ordering patterns, and worked with us. We now place more frequent orders with Smiffys, we can accommodate our customers’ requests better, and we are spending more with them than with our previous favourite wholesaler, whose rep has totally worked against us, to the point where we have less than one order every four months with that company now. We couldn’t do any of this without the commitment, patience, and enthuiasm of co-worker Leonie. Some customers can be quite ‘challenging’, but Leonie is Employee Of The Month every month!” KATE MOORE Jollyjesters, Derbyshire “Balloon, party and balloon décor has easily been the stand-out department for us so far this year. Dress-up on the whole has struggled, although the last few weeks seem to have turned a corner and sales have been on the rise. We are hearing a lot of complaints about Inset: Fun ‘n’ Frolic celebrates 30 years in business this October! This team online retailers, shot includes Dan (centre) and the owners Jan and Kelvyn Marketis (seated). eBay and Amazon Smiffys and Pioneer, have given us so letting customers much support through marketing, huge down. This can be only a good thing for amounts of POS and customer support bricks and mortar businesses! Balloons and décor have been by far the and service that they deserve a special thank you. best areas of growth in the last six – 12 If we can judge it on the last few months. We are inflating more balloons weeks, I have high hopes for the than ever, which I feel is down to the reminder of the year. We have reserved huge amount of work we put into creating expectations of Halloween, but are fresh ideas. We also have a dozen or so confident we can beat last year’s figures different décor pieces made up in the and have a smile come November. I store at the same time, so people can’t really hope dress-up will have an upturn ignore the fact we do balloons! in sales and we can then breathe a It truly was sad to see Pam’s of little easier, because it’s been difficult Gainsborough closing their doors for so far this year, but the future looks a the last time this year as we have had little brighter and I for one am certainly a great relationship with them over looking forward to the next few months 30 years and I’d like to thank them for and this year’s silly season!” outstanding customer service along with DAN PARSONS many other things. All of our suppliers Fun ‘n’ Frolic, Reading are great, but two of our main suppliers,

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03/08/2017 12:02

Face to Face: Folat

FOLAT: Delivering Smiles The rapid growth of Dutch party company Folat has seen it sharing its passion for high-quality party products, superior service and exciting concepts. PPE spoke to sales and marketing manager Greg de Jong to find out more about the company’s bid to become the best party supplier in Europe.

ach year the dedicated product design team at Folat develops more than 800 new products. With a full compliment of fancy dress, décor and tableware in its expansive portfolio, the company is able to cater for everything from everyday celebrations like birthdays and family parties to themed occasions such as Halloween, carnival and Christmas. So it’s no surprise to hear that the company has been growing steadily year-on-year and is already beating initial forecasts for 2017. It all started in 1993, when Folat was founded by business partners Alex Adrichem and Marc Mulckhuyse, who wanted to create ‘fun and happiness’ on an international scale. To this day, Folat remains a 100% privately owned company, and Alex and Marc are fully supported by a dedicated team who share their passion and dedication for the party business. “The company started in a 50sqm garage

with a passion for balloons and party products,” explains Greg. “We began with only a few products and today we have more than 8,000 different lines, which are distributed to 38 countries around the world.” In delivering to so many different territories and markets, Folat supplies a number of distribution channels, including party stores, toy stores, food and non-food retailers and online stores. “The number of party occasions and events we are seeing across Europe is growing every year,” says Greg, “and so too is the availability of party products. We are now seeing party product being sold across multiple channels, while the consumer looks for and makes purchases in a similarly multi-channel approach. We know we need to operate in the same way if we are to remain successful.” As an international company, it is also crucial that Folat considers the specific needs and desires of consumers in each different country. “We respond to differing customer needs by offering a variety of colours and designs,” he says. “The retail market is changing in that the number of discounters is increasing, so we believe that the real party specialist needs to differentiate themselves in order to truly grow their business.” It is these independent party retailers

Left: On-trend balloons are a popular choice.

that Folat primarily develops products for, adding value to its core product range by using on-trend colours, innovative designs and qualitative packaging. “We also help our customers by implementing total concepts in party goods,” Greg adds. “This can mean supplying larger retail chains with private label products and designs that meet their specific needs. We can then go on to develop full in-store concepts for these products in order to offer a total solution for any store, product or theme presentation.” With such a broad oversight of the retail market, how does Greg believe the party and fancy dress industry has changed over the last few years? “Despite there being no specific figures on overall consumer spend for party products, we can see quite plainly that the market is growing,” he offers. “We think that growth can be attributed to three different reasons. Firstly, we are seeing a growing number of retail outlets sell party products and so availability and consumer awareness are both increasing. Secondly, the range of party products is increasing – there are more suppliers and so the the range and variety of product available is growing. Lastly, the number of events and themes where party products can be used is growing. This is partly due to celebrations like Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Sweet 16 becoming more international as they are embraced by more countries.”

Left: Greg de Jong, marketing and sales director.

Left: The new, smaller BalloonGaz tanks save both space and money. Below: Themed product, like this unicorn partyware, often follows consumer trends.

PERFECT PRODUCT “We offer a wide range of products to our consumers, which are available in a variety of different themes and licenses, such as Disney, Peppa Pig and Smurfs. We continue to develop products and concepts that help create a fun and unforgettable experience for the consumer.”

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02/08/2017 17:35

Face to Face: Folat

DISTRIBUTION DETAIL DistriParty is the logistical arm of Folat’s organisation. Operating from a centrally located warehouse, it is able to provide a reliable and efficient shipment throughout Europe, using the world’s most efficient warehouse system, Blue Cube. “In a market that is becoming more complex, there is a need for a solution of the whole supply chain,” Greg explains. “From the handling of containers, pallets, cartons, and inners, to the shipment of individual pieces, DistriParty means that we have the complete solution, all under one roof.” With a fairly even product split between dress-up, partyware, tablware and décor, Folat is able to see strong growth across all categories, due to both the changing market and product development. “We deliver party products for themes and events all year round,” explains Greg, “so our team has to be constantly monitoring the changing market. We recently increased our offering across costume and accessories to meet the increased demand.” When creating these new product ranges, design, innovation and quality are always of utmost importance to Folat’s in-house product team. “Our own design studio and product development team is based in The Netherlands and is continuously working on creative new product and concept development,” explains Greg. “At the same time, our production facilities in China enable us to be flexible and to maintain the product’s high quality.” “This year we have built our own helium filling station in the Netherlands and started to sell our latest innovation; BalloonGaz,” says Greg. “We use compressed helium to fill the tanks so our tanks are much smaller than before but have the same capacity. Smaller tanks means more product on one pallet, less space while being transported, less space instore and less waste overall. We have had great success selling these items throughout Europe.” By managing the complete process from product development right through to production and distribution, Folat is able to ensure it retains its strong position in the market and can give customers the ultimate service they have grown to expect. A purchasing department is also constantly on the lookout for trendy, innovative and high-quality products. A quality assessment team is able to guarantee the production process follows specific European regulations such as EN and BSCI standards, to which Folat is fully committed. “Our quality control team guides and oversees every single production process from sourcing the raw

Above: Folat’s colourful headquarters are based in the Netherlands.

material right through to shipment and beyond,” Greg explains. “Each production output is tested to European quality levels and is throughly checked to ensure it meets the high quality level Folat is known for.” While these full in-house testing facilities mean Folat can guarantee a trouble-free manufacturing process at each and every stage of production, it’s also essential that distribution, sales and customer services are equally impressive. All deliveries are shipped from a central warehouse in Veslen, the Netherlands, ensuring the process

remains as straightforward as possible, while a strong sales team is bolstered by working from key locations in a number of countries right across Europe. The field sales team are well supported by an international customers service team, which is based in Folat’s Dutch office and has excellent knowledge of the products and their applications. “Our expert staff enjoy advising the customers in terms of the layout and presentation of the range,” says Greg. “We have a great day if the customer is satisfied and happy, and as a result looks to develop a long-term customer relationship with our organisation.”

“Quality and customer satisfaction remain our top priority,” Greg continues, “but at the same time we communicate in an informal way and we appreciate everyone’s opinion to remain distinctive. We believe in our core company values – we like to see chances instead of problems, because we know that responding to the needs of customers with innovative solutions will contribute to success. We think it is always better to decide than to make no decision – to let go of the past to embrace new opportunities. And if everyone says you’re a fool, you are probably on the right track for finding new ideas and inspiration!” This refreshing approach to business helps Folat ensure it remains competitive in the crowded party market. “Becoming the best party supplier in Europe is our main drive,” says Greg. “Everyone in the company is very well aware of our goals and we work well together as a team, motivated to develop the best products for our customers.” It’s one small step for a supplier, one giant step towards creating that big Folat world of happiness.

Above: Classic birthday lines do good business all year round. Right: Steampunk is a popular costume trend across Europe.

FOLAT FACT! The name Folat was created from Foil and Latex (balloons) because the business started with these two core party products.

JULY/AUGUST 2017 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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Behind The Scenes

UNSUNG

Unsung Heroes takes us behind the scenes at some of our favourite suppliers, to find out who keeps the wheels turning behind the scenes. This issue’s hero is Smiffys head of global logistics Ross Johnson. PPE finds out how his organisational skills ensure that Smiffys costumes can be found in retailers around the world...

VITAL STATS Name: Ross Johnson. Role: Head of logistics. Time Served: More than 20 years. Experience: Joined the business in 1995 straight after leaving college and has been in current role for 18 months.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN LESS THAN 50 WORDS?

“I take care of the ongoing development of Smiffys’ sites globally. My job consists of reviewing the outbound supply chain, providing the optimum service to our international customers at the best cost possible.”

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A ‘NORMAL DAY AT WORK’?

“A normal day consists of expecting to do one thing and end up doing something completely different. No day is the same at Smiffys, that’s the exciting thing about working in such a fast-paced, fun environment.”

Europe, America, Australia and soon to be China. Flying through different time zones can make it hard to keep in touch with my family. ”

HOW WILL THE IMPACT OF BREXIT AFFECT THE PARTY INDUSTRY, IN YOUR OPINION?

“Until full details of Brexit are identified it’s difficult to answer. However we have made strategic decisions to distribute from within

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOUR ROLE?

“I love being able to challenge the status quo. Also I feel very lucky to be involved in a business that lets you come up with innovative and interesting solutions.”

WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT / TRICKY PART OF YOUR JOB?

“Working in a fast-paced environment is interesting but there is a factor of having to stand back in order to go forward and grow, therefore a difficult aspect is change management. Preparing and supporting both customers and employees can be tricky. ”

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE PERSONALLY, WORKING ACROSS SO MANY DIFFERENT TERRITORIES?

“The travel and the amount of different countries I see in a month can be difficult, I’m in and out of

Team Talk “Aside from Ross’ intimate knowledge of dog racing, betting and his beloved Scunthorpe United, his knowledge of logistics, customs processes and order fulfilment is second to none. Further, his positive can-do attitude, combined with his longevity in the business, means that he is able to contribute to the strategic direction of the business and is a valued member of the senior management team.” Elliott Peckett, director, Smiffys

Europe and this will help us deal with any outcome. Having both income and expenditure in a range of currency provide a natural hedge against currency fluctuation.”

HOW CAN THE PARTY INDUSTRY MEET THE NEEDS OF CUSTOMERS AND RETAILERS FROM DIFFERENT TERRITORIES?

“The demand of each customer is different in each territory, with different expectations. One of the main challenges we meet is geographic trends and the limitation of expectations, for example people that live in remote areas of Australia expect to wait weeks for services, Top left: Smiffys distribute while people in over 5,000 products to over Sydney expect 5,000 stockists around the world, with over 26million items same-day delivery. shipped every year. Top right: Our customers A standard one-size-fits-all in the UK and order fulfilment and logistics system would make Ross’ life Europe re-stock easier. Left: Where the magic happens – Smiffys HQ is based in frequently, using us Gainsborough, in Lincolnshire. as their warehouse, while USA customers often just place one big order at the start of the year. We are trying to change this in order to re-stock throughout the year to maximise sales. But every customer is different and we try to support each one to meet their needs.”

WHAT ONE CHANGE WOULD MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER?

“If all customers would accept a standard uniform service that would definitely make my life easier. But is that ever going to happen? No!” JULY/AUGUST 2017 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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02/08/2017 17:38

Your One Stop

Christmas Shop

Get rea dy the fest for ive sea son!

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Focus On: Christmas

The Most Wonderful

Time Of The Year Traditionally a time when everyone comes together to celebrate, the festive Christmas season is an essential part of the party calendar. PPE takes a look at the yuletide trends we’ll be seeing more of in the coming months.

ccording to the 2016 PPE retail barometer, Christmas business decreased by 55% for the independent party retailer – a significant if not entirely surprising dip in the figures. Supermarkets and trend-led high street stores embrace the season to such an extent that party shops need to pull out all the stops in order to compete. Partnering with venues which hold corporate Christmas and NYE events is a great way to keep trade moving, and with most hosting celebrations throughout the entire month of December many will be ordering their décor and partyware during the summer. So what will they be looking for? According to Amscan’s marketing executive Charlotte Cox; “Consumers are looking for fun, ontrend party products to make their festive celebrations even more memorable.” Trends identified by the party supplier include honeycomb decorations and Christmas-themed wearables such as hats, headbands and fun glasses which add an instant festive touch to any outfit. “Retailers should display a good selection of wearable accessories next to the costumes,” says Charlotte, “and create an eyecatching window display combining a mix of partyware, costumes and balloons to show customers how they can L to R (clockwise): A classic Nutcracker from Fun Shack offers something a bit different: Fun designs from Qualatex answer consumer demands for something ‘a bit different’: Santa’s Little Helper from InCharacter – baby costumes are always popular.

The Christmas Spirit “The hoodies Widmann introduced at the end of last year were brilliantly received and are a great way of getting people into the Christmas spirit. The novelty hats, ties and accessories have also seen sales increase year-on-year, helped by school nativity plays and the customary office Christmas parties.”

The Christmas Spirit “Party consumers are always looking for new trends at Christmas, and we have a fab new monochrome collection and a lot of lasercuts this year, which make great Christmas decorations for the table or the tree. It’s important to keep all the bestselling basics like lanterns, rosettes, honeycombs and pompoms but it’s equally important to expand your offer and introduce collections.” Zuzanna Rutkowska, marketing manager, Party Deco

create a complete theme.” Christmas is a particularly busy time of the year for Creative Party and its cake decoration sister company Anniversary House. “The majority of our customers are independent and you won’t find our products in major supermarkets or national discount chains,” says managing director Mike Forder. “Our advice to the independent trade is avoid competing head on with the major supermarkets. Find products and suppliers who can offer you something different!” It’s true that consumers are on the hunt for something out of the ordinary, as Pioneer Europe’s marketing manager Anna Hickman explains. “Traditional products have always sold well, but we are inreasingly seeing consumers looking for something different around the festive season, for stylish and trendy products like Deco Bubbles and for fun characters, like our Christmas Elf.” Christmas is one of the biggest seasons for

Above: Christmas photo booth props from Creative Party are great for improving all those festive snaps. Left: The new black and white Christmas collection from Party Deco.

balloons, especially for balloon décor, and Pioneer has seen a steady growth in the market over the last five years. “We are hoping for a good 2017,” said Anna, “and have added 12 new Christmas-themed products to our already extensive line.” Also focusing on offering consumers a novelty Christmas is Fun Shack, which has identified customers looking for easy, comedic costumes for the festive season. “This year we have added a new spin on our traditional adult Christmas costumes with our Mr Claus Suit, Nutcracker and Miss Elf costumes,” says Alice Knight, sales and marketing. “However, our best-selling collection from recent years has been the children’s nativity costumes, with our shepherds, Mary and Joseph and three wise men the top sellers. These remain popular as parents have less time to make something for their children at home. There’s often a last minute panic for nativity costumes!” Emma Angel, director of Angels Fancy Dress agrees that children’s costumes are becoming increasingly popular, with baby fancy dress doing particularly well. “The trend for dressing up babies becomes more popular with each year and we feel this is only likely to become an even bigger trend. They make for some fantastic holiday photos!” The final word goes to Emma, who shares one of her top tips for creating a festive atmosphere. “Everything helps, from cheesy Christmas music, to winter wonderland-themed window displays,” she says. “Getting staff members in costume helps to set the stage and gives customers an idea of what to expect before they even set foot inside!” Left: Amscan’s new Merry Holly Day tableware combines a classic red and green colour scheme with a stylish on-trend font.

Anna Solly, sales director, Sancto JULY/AUGUST 2017 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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01/08/2017 15:59

Focus On: Christmas

CHRISTMAS FOCUS

Photorealistic t-shirts from Boland Party are the perfect choice for the Christmas office party.

This year, Godan has focused on adding interesting garlands and hanging decorations as well as accessories to decorate the Christmas table.

This cute gingerbread head bopper is part of a range of fun new Christmas costume accessories from Amscan.

New Christmas-themed masks from Henbrandt are great stocking fillers or for adding some fun to the Christmas table. Amscan’s funny new Father Christmas balloon featuring the famous illustration by Raymond Briggs will a fun gift for anyone who may need help to feel more festive!

These glitter pick decorations from Creative Party are available in reindeer, Christmas tree and star designs – and are great for mince pies!

What’s Christmas without a turkey? This fun costume is from Henbrandt.

This sugar-sweet five-piece set from New Temptations is perfect for the holiday season and includes a snug velvet shrug for those chilly winter evenings!

Officially licensed Snowman and Snowdog activity placemats from Creative Party will keep the kids amused for ages.

Funny Christmas sweaters and accessories are still a strong trend and so Folat has added more than 30 products to its Christmas range, including festive tiaras, braces and costumes. This hilarious new costume from Amscan is sure to get people into the party spirit this Christmas! Featuring reindeer with attached padded Santa legs. Intorduced last year, Widmann’s Christmas hoodies are a great accessory to help everyone get into the Christmas spirit. Neviti’s familyfriendly Dear Santa collection featuring Santa’s iconic outfit includes all the party essentials and fun accessories.

The latest in its extensive range of themed balloon kits, I.T.I. UK has introduced a Merry Christmas kit, with red, green and pearl white balloons for DIY arches.

Pioneer Europe has seen a co-ordinated collection of stylish and trendy Christmas products as well as fun characters, like this Christmas Elf.

Longer, more fashion-led dresses have been added to Fun Shack’s offering and the new figure-flattering Reindeer Lady and Lady Santa are available up to a size 26.

Ilooms’ Make Your Own and Punch balloons are unique stocking fillers, while the ‘Santa stop here’ balloons help the big man himself deliver all his presents in the dark.

A photorealistic Get Real Christmas tree from Rasta Imposta is an attention-grabbing option for Christmas parties!

This cheer-inducing Baby Santa jumpsuit from InCharacter is perfect for pint-size tots and includes slip-on booties with skid resistant bottoms.

Fun Shack has expanded its children’s range with Christmas Tree girl and Little Miss Gingerbread costumes after the success of last year’s adults’ versions.

This new Gold Sparkle Christmas tableware from Unique Party is sure to add Christmas spirit to the festivities.

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Best sellers Terri Burt

As retailers gear up for the summer season, PPE finds out what has kept the tills ringing over the last few weeks.

The Mad Hatter Joke and Fancy Dress Shop Yeovil

CAT E G O R Y

Adult Fancy Dress

M A N UFACTURE RS/RANGES

Bristol Novelty, Smiffys, Rubie’s

Set on a busy street with plenty of passing trade and good parking. Shop has been in business for 31 years.

COMMENT

We sell a lot of costumes. Recently we have found Bollywood to be a very popular theme, both for male and female. We’ve sold a lot of funny costumes too - big beer glasses, that sort of thing. It’s the festival crowd!

Children’s Fancy Dress

Wicked, Bristol Novelty

At the end of the school year we had a surge on Romans, Saxons and Vikings. It will be quiet now until September, although we have already had people looking for Roald Dahl day!

Make-Up

Moon Glow, Grimas

It’s all about glitter make-up at the moment. That and the bright neon colours - students love those for their nights out.

Balloons

Creative Party, Amscan

Big numbers and milestone birthday foils always sell well for us.

Partyware and Decor

Creative Party, Bristol Novelty

We are selling a lot of Hawaiian, pirate and 80s partyware and decor at the moment. All the traditional summer themes are very strong. Bristol has recently introduced some decor kits which are selling steadily.

Anything Else?

Out of the Blue, Bristol Novelty

Magic tricks and jokes are really important to our business. We are well-known for them locally, so they always sell well with the kids.

Gale Brocklebank CAT E G O R Y

Party Planet Lincoln

M A N UFACTURE RS / RANGES

Bristol Novelties

COMMENT

Smiffys, Wicked

Decades are still the best sellers for us anything from the 60s onwards sells well, especially if it is music-themed. The 80s is particularly popular.

Children’s Fancy Dress

Smiffys, Wicked

Pirates are always a popular theme for children’s parties.

Accessories

Smiffys, Wicked

We have a huge range of masks and wigs which sell as well as costumes. Masquerade masks are popular for summer balls.

Balloons

Pioneer, Amscan, Unique

Bubbles and Orbz are great sellers for us, they’re the best invention ever! We do quite a bit of personalisation and gender reveals have become a key trend recently as well.

Partyware

Creative Party, Unique Party, Talking Tables

Milestone ages always do well, while licensed lines are important for children. Talking Tables has a lovely hen night range - it’s a nice, classy range which always sells well.

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Creative Party

Rural surroundings, the shop has been a destination store on a main road for the last 20 years, and carries over 11,000 lines.

Adult Fancy Dress

46 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

Rubies

Wicked

Talking Tables

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02/08/2017 17:41

Best sellers

continued

Pete Elms

High street shop in good location, perfect for general trade. Business has been operational for six years and moved into larger premises one year ago.

Party On Up Stroud

CAT E G O R Y

M A N UFACTURE RS / RANGES

COMMENT

Accessories

Smiffys

We don’t sell a huge amount of adult fancy dress, people are really focusing on accessories at the moment. We’re selling lots of wigs, beads and sweatbands though, as people create their own 80s look!

Children’s Fancy Dress

Rubie’s

Book Week is still our main driver for kids, but recently we’ve also seen a lot of superheroes and other licensed lines doing well. End of term plays saw a small spike in business as well, but there was no real theme.

Unique Party

Balloon Décor

Pioneer

We’re doing a lot of arches at the moment, for weddings and birthdays as well as corporate events. Gender reveal parties are also starting to become a real trend.

Balloon Retail

Pioneer

Big numbers and Bubbles are our best sellers by a long way. The Bubbles are very popular - the generic designs more so than the licensed lines. They are very easy to upsell into a bouquet as well!

Partyware and Decor

Unique Party, Amscan

Plain coloured tableware from Unique always does so well for us. They are great quality and great value and they allow people to mix and match as much as they like. They do so well for us. Amscan’s scenesetters are always good to have in as well. Pioneer’s licensed tableware is doing well too, particularly Moana and Trolls.

Pioneer

Face Paint

Paint Glow

The bright colours are brilliant and students love them.

Paint Glow

Ryan Young CAT E G O R Y

Fancy Dress and Party Weston Super-Mare M A N UFACTURE RS / RANGES

Situated just off the main high street, the unit opened two years ago following four years of being an online business.

COMMENT

Adult Fancy Dress

Rubie’s, Smiffys

Hawaiian costume accessories have been selling very well - anything with a summery theme is popular when the weather is good. Super heroes are popular too, they work well as couples costumes as they are instantly recognisable.

Children’s Fancy Dress

Rubie’s, Smiffys, Amscan

Licensed costumes are a big hit with children, in addition to the classic school themes like Victorian. Amscan has a great Mad Hatter costume for teens which comes with all the accessories which is a really nice touch. People like to be able to walk out with a complete costume.

Balloons

Qualatex, Amscan

We started selling balloons about 18 months ago as we got a Qualatex Balloon Bar and it’s been really successful for us. People really like being able to see what we can do, so we make sure there are always a few bouquets on display around the shop and in the window.

Anything Else

Rubie’s

Toy weapons! For some reason these have been selling very well - it’s all related to whatever films are being released I think. Suicide Squad’s Harley Quinn is still a very popular line as well.

Amscan

Rubie’s

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02/08/2017 17:42

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