Progressive Party May June 2019 by Max Publishing: Print, Digital Media + Events (London)

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WELCOME The home of market leading trade magazines

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Welcome to the Party For a time of year when the party industry is supposed to be minding its own business and ticking along quite nicely, there has been an awful lot going on over the past few months. Perhaps most notable is the fact that none of it is directly related to Brexit, as since the last issue of PPE that particular sticking point has been kicked a little further down the road (and despite endless commentators and opinion polls, none of us are any really clearer about what might Above: Progressive Party Europe’s Rob Willis and Jacqui Parr. actually happen between now and October 31). So until something concrete is announced it’s business as normal, albeit with an added element of caution. The big news – perhaps the biggest we’ve seen in the UK and Europe party market for a number of years – is the recent announcement that US party retail chain Party City has opened its first store on this side of the Atlantic. The shop opened in Dublin’s Liffey Valley retail park on Saturday 8 June and will be run on a day-to-day basis by Creative Retail - the team behind the seasonal Halloween HQ pop-up shops (which will continue to exist in their own right). See our news story on page 9 for more information. PPE will be paying a trip to the first Party City store outside of North America shortly so stay tuned for more on that. Elsewhere in the news, the government has announced that plastic straws (and, less importantly to us, cotton buds and drink stirrers) will be banned from the UK from next April; much sooner than the industry was expecting. While straws and straw accessories are only a peripheral product for most party suppliers and retailers, the underlying message behind the story is perhaps more significant. As consumers are increasingly making the choice to move away from what they consider to be unnecessary single-use plastic, it is likely that partyware will be scrutinised more closely and plastic-free options will then become more appealing. Pioneer Party has recently launched an entirely compostable collection, which even includes a number of licensed lines – will this be the future of the partyware industry? There other solutions out there of course– such as the Welsh primary school which is offering parents the option of hiring an ‘eco party pack’ of reusable plastic tableware – but it is interesting to see which way the market is going. In the meantime, of course, this is the time of year when party consumers are either going on hen and stag parties or planning for their summer festivals. Either way, it’s great for business and both markets should keep retailers busy enough until the end of the summer, when things will start winding down in time for Halloween (now just four months away and counting...). According to this issue’s extensive Halloween feature (see page 25), there’s a huge amount of new product on the market for 2019 – much of it bolstered by a few key cinema releases which will be making their big screen debut in the run-up to Halloween. Remakes of classic horror films Child’s Play and Pet Semetary are both launching this month, while IT: Chapter II will be released in September. Of course for the party industry this means just one thing – bring on the clowns! (and zombie pets and killer dolls and undead mutants...)

@Prog_Party_Eu

MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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CONTENTS

What’s inside: MAY/JUNE 2019 UGlu® The Strength of Adhesive, The Convenience of Tape! Instant Grip, Powerful Bond, No Mess Ever! A unique and innovative form of adhesive that is both waterproof and weatherproof. This adhesive is in a convenient tape-like format and bonds to most any surface, including rough or uneven surfaces. Non-toxic and acid free.

21 “Finally we have a UK distributor for UGlu® Dashes. These are by far the best way to stick foil to foil, foil to latex, latex to latex, balloons to foam board. In fact they stick almost anything to anything” Mike H. (For Every Occasion Balloons) Rhyl Balloon World Unit 105 Golborne Enterprise Park Golborne, Warrington, WA3 3GR Phone 01942-719888 Website: https//www.balloonworld.co.uk/ “The Wholesaler That Works For You”

25 NEWS

What’s going on in the world of party

BAPIA

How to use Instagram Stories for your business

JUST MARRIED

The changing role of party in weddings

STRIKE A POSE

Photo props; the ultimate selfie essential

GET YOUR CREEP ON

Clowns, zombies and vampires – it’s nearly Halloween!

LICENSED TO PARTY

All your new licensed favourites in one place

WHAT’S NEW IN EUROPE

The latest releases from around Europe

WHAT’S NEW

The best things since sliced bread

LAST NIGHT OF FREEDOM

Celebrating the hen and stag market

RETAIL IN NUMBERS

Reading’s Fun ‘n’ Frolic shares its vital stats

09 19 21 23 25 37 41 43 45 51

PartyWorldwide.net

is the online news website for the global party and costume industry. Launched by the leading publisher to the worldwide party sector, Progressive Party Europe, the website serves as an essential online resource for the global costume, party and balloon market. « Twice-weekly newsletter landing in over 8,000 inboxes « Industry jobs / agents board « Resource section with industry analysis « Digital editions of Progressive Party Europe « Fully supported by industry associations and key trade shows

“We know our retail buyers trust and rely on Progressive Party Europe for their news, product information and seasonal focuses the launch of an online service reaching their inboxes will help retailers even more, which is something all suppliers can support.” Tracey Devine, head of marketing and licensing EMEA, Rubie’s Masquerade.

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For sponsorship and commercial enquiries please contact Rob Willis on robw@max-publishing.co.uk For news submissions and content enquiries, please contact Jacqui Parr on jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk

MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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NEW FOR MIDYEAR 2019 PAPER STRAWS GLITZ ADDITIONS JUMBO FOIL BALLOONS LLAMA HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIDE-TO-BE

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NEWS PAGE

NEWS UPDATE US retailer Party City to open branch in Ireland US-based party product chain Party City is currently making plans to open its first European retail outlet in Ireland. The New York Stock Exchange-listed company – which is the largest retailer of party goods in the US and runs nearly 900 stores – held a grand opening of the flagship store on Saturday 8 June in the Liffey Valley retail park in Dublin. The store, which was the first Party City branch to open outside of North America, is being run on a day-to-day basis by Creative Retail Solutions (owners of seasonal pop-up shop business Halloween HQ). The store will operate online from an Irish-specific ecommerce website, partycity. ie and will employ 30 people in-store. James Harrison, the chief executive of Party City,

confirmed the opening of the store last week. “I’m excited to announce that we are opening our first European party specialty store in Ireland,” he said. “Previously, our only retail presence in Europe has been through the UK headquartered e-commerce business Party Delights and the chain of temporary Halloween pop-up stores Halloween HQ. This fullline store in Ireland will serve as a pilot for us to determine the consumer interest in the broader offering that only a party specialty retailer can offer at store level.” “We are extremely interested to see what this pilot tells us and how we can shape the learnings gained toward making the party conscious that are so popular here in North America a part of

Halloween HQ continues to grow

While Halloween HQ parent company Creative Retail Solutions will have its work cut out with the new Party City plans, owner Vincent Lynch is keen to confirm that Halloween HQ will be continuing with its own growth plans and will be making moves into the European market for the first time. “There will probably be around 30 stores between Ireland and the UK this year and we will probably have six stores in Northern Europe,” he revealed.

the European landscape as well.” Creative Retail Solutions is owned by Vincent Lynch and Stuart and Declan Fagan. Speaking to the Irish Independent newspaper, Vincent said he was confident Party City would appeal to Irish consumers, describing the offering as being ‘a store of the future’ for parties, pointing out that it would introduce new concepts to Ireland and offer in-store experiences. Above: Party City: coming soon, to a town near you.

Scottish success at debut Bristol Novelty roadshow The first leg of Bristol Novelty’s 2019/20 roadshow, which was held in Dunblane, Scotland, saw a ‘fantastic turn-out’ for the debut event, which has kicked off the ever-expanding plans at the costume and accessory company. The event was well-received by retailers and is part of the company’s expansion plan to provide a better customer experience, offering competitive prices on all its new and popular products. “The turn-out was fantastic and we were delighted to see so many customers turning up to support us,” commented marketing manager Fran Hales. “I would like to thank all who attended for their time as it was a pleasure to meet you all.” He continued: “We love catching up with retailers as they provide us with incredible insight but more importantly, it gives us the opportunity to establish what they want and need from us as a business.” Dunblane was just the first stop of Bristol Novelty’s nationwide roadshow, which will be travelling around the UK over the coming weeks and months, providing guests with the full roadshow experience, including new costume lines, accessories ranges and more.

RH Smith & Sons has taken on new office space in Leeds to act as a creative hub for the Smiffys business. Currently headquartered in Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, Smiffys has taken on a 15-year lease for an additional 13,000 sq ft of space at the Central Park development in Leeds. “Despite the uncertainty caused by Brexit, we decided to invest in this new larger facility in Leeds as part of our long-term growth strategy for the UK and European markets,” stated director Dominique Peckett. Smiffys offices and showroom in Gainsborough will remain fully operational as will the international facilities in Amsterdam, two offices in China and premises in Australia and US.

Autumn Fair will be moving to the Atrium at the NEC this September as part of a re-edited offering designed specifically to facilitate connections between suppliers and retailers. Partyware exhibitors such as Neviti and Ginger Ray will be showing within the greetings sector in Hall 6, while Travis Designs will be in the toy sector in Hall 5. Visit www.autumnfair.com for more information.

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Rhyl-based balloon and party shop Personalise A Memory has been named Gift Shop of the Year at the Welsh Independent Retail Awards 2019. “Being crowned the winner in our category meant the world to us,” said Ashley Jones, 21, who runs Personalise A Memory with his mother Lindsay. “We’d like to say a big thank you to every person who voted for us and to every single person who comes into our shop because you’ve helped a small business grow.”

Smiffys takes on new creative office space in Leeds

Autumn Fair moves to new home at the NEC

For the latest news visit PartyWorldwide.net

Rhyl party shop named Welsh gift shop of the year

Angels Open Days end on a high Feedback was hugely positive for Angels Open Days, which took place from 31 March – 2 April, 2019 at the Angels headquarters in Hendon, London. “We had a great show,” said Emma Angel, director of Angels Distribution and organiser of the show, “with buyers turning up and really making the most of the opportunity to see the latest 2019 ranges from our exhibitors. Surprisingly, Tuesday was the busiest day, and it was especially nice to end on a high!” Above: The three-day show was a great success.

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PARTY NEWS

Plastic straws to be banned in England from next April The British government has confirmed that plastic straws will be banned from sale and use in England from April 2020. The new legislation has been created with the aim of reducing the littering and environmental impact of the nearly five billion plastic straws currently used each year in the UK. Plastic drinks stirrers (300 million used in the UK) and plastic-stemmed cotton buds (two billion used in the UK) will also be banned under the new rules. The party trade has been moving towards paper alternatives for some time now, with suppliers such as

Neviti and GoDan offering a wide range of fully biodegradeable paper straws to meet a rapidly increasing demand from the public. According to a government consultation, more than 80% of respondents support the ban on plastic straws, with around 90% backing a ban on drink stirrers and plastichandled cotton buds. Registered pharmacies will be the only premises permitted to sell plastic straws, either over the counter or online. “Urgent and decisive action is needed to tackle plastic pollution,” stated Michael

Gove, the environment secretary. “These items are often used for just a few minutes, but take hundreds of years to break down.”

PaintGlow launches plasticfree glitter

Harry Rai, founder of Abbey Cards, Spot On Gifts and Party Wholesalers, has sold the successful family business after some 35 years of trading. The company, which Harry initially launched as Abbey Cards in 1984, has been able to expand over the years and will now be overseen by Sunil Rakholiya, who took over the business on 10 April 2019. The Party Wholesalers website was launched in 2016 in order to strengthen the company’s market share and embrace the changing dynamics of distribution with major investment in B2B online distribution. “This has been an incredible family journey,” said Harry. “Needless to say, I have enjoyed every moment of my 35 years in this industry, with tremendous support from suppliers and customers who have been a part of my journey and become good friends, whom I will truly miss.”

Face and body painting expert PaintGlow has launched a plantbased glitter which is the first 100% plastic-free glitter to reach the UK market. Made from eucalyptus, the new guilt-free glitter boasts full ecocredentials and is fully certified as 100% biodegradable, with sustainably sourced raw materials and is non-toxic to aquatic life. Verified as microplastic free, it simply decomposes in the natural environment and is guaranteed to biodegrade in a natural fresh water environment. “There’s a huge movement towards eco-friendly products and we’ve always been committed to going the extra mile for consumers,” said business development manager Kieran Prince.“We’re proud to have these new eco-friendly products that appeal to more and more people everyday.”

Above: The successful business changed hands earlier this year.

Helium balloons ’cause hundreds of train delays’ Helium-filled balloons hit the UK newspaper headlines following the announcement from Network Rail that they cause hundreds of train delays for passengers each year. The transport infrastructure company was looking to highlight what it describes as a ‘growing problem’, with 619 balloon-related incidents being recorded across England, Scotland and Wales in the past year.

Many of these incidents involve balloons getting caught in the overhead wires, causing delays and safety risks while the electricity is switched off and the lines made safe. A recent two-hour delay in the West Midlands cost £5,000 to rectify. Network Rail claims the annual cost of this problem to the British taxpayer is around £1m a year.

For the latest news visit PartyWorldwide.net

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Party product and dress-up company Amscan has launched a new everyday costume collection for 2019, offering everything from licensed character styles to decades, historical outfits and careers. “We’ve added a whole range exciting new costume additions to our dress-up collection for 2019,” commented marketing executive Charlotte Cox. “All of the product which we have included in our latest dress-up supplement is brand new for this year and we have some really exciting additions to our existing offering.” All new styles are available for pre-order now.

Aldi launches balloon and partyware specials

Above: The EU is also moving to phase out single-use plastics in various forms.

Home of Party Wholesalers changes hands after 35 years

Amscan launches new everyday costume collection

Discount supermarket Aldi has launched a new range of balloon and partyware covering key occasions including birthday, baby shower and hen party. The new collections are part of Aldi’s ‘special deals’, which operate on a limited-availability basis and can be purchased both online and instore. Options include co-ordinated air-filled balloon displays, confetti balloons, bunting, tableware, cutlery, sashes, banners, bags and photo booth accessories as well as gift bags and boxes, fairy lights and novelty wooden guest books. Prices ranged from as low as 99p (for themed partyware) to £9.99 for the most expensive item – an organic DIY balloon cloud, available in three different colour options. Below: Prices ranged from 99p to just under £10.

BAPIA’s Chris Adamo tour is a huge success The recent Chris Adamo UK and Ireland tour, which covered five cities across the UK, has been hailed as a huge success. BAPIA organised the tour, which saw Australian balloon artist Chris travelling from Dublin to Southampton, London and Birmingham, before finishing in Glasgow. “It was a fantastic tour, the feedback from delegates was incredible and the buzz on social media was unbelievable,” said John Bowler (chief executive of BAPIA). “We tried to make sure that the delegates would enjoy the whole experience from arrival to departure and it looks like we succeeded in that!” To see some of the photos from the classes check out #bapiaparty on Instagram or the BAPIA Facebook page.

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PARTY NEWS

Zuru brings controversial Bunch O Balloons to the UK market

Left: Toy company Zuru has responded with ‘dismay’ to concerns that its product will make it easier for members of the public to hold balloon releases.

Toy manufacturer Zuru has announced the official UK launch of Bunch O Balloons Party, which made their debut at New York Toy Fair earlier this year and have sparked some controversy within the UK party and balloon market. The latest addition to the award-winning Bunch O Balloons brand, the self-sealing party balloons require no blowing-up, tying, ribbon or string. Users simply need to attach the balloon stems to the electric party pump and a bunch of balloons will inflate and self-tie in seconds, complete with pre-attached plastic valve and string. However, a petition is calling for the UK government to stop

the sale of Zuru Bunch o Balloons Party. It has been created by Graham Laycock (Absolute Balloony) who believes that the product has potential to be misused and the balloons could easily be released as a bunch. The product – which is already available in the US and is due to

launch in the UK this summer – allows the consumer to inflate up to 40 helium balloons at once. “This new product is a threat to the environment and goes against all our efforts to educate the public with regards to balloon releases,” said Graham. “It’s single-use plastic, uncontrolled

Rasta Imposta banana copyright case continues The Rasta Imposta banana copyright case shows no sign of going away, as Kangaroo Manufacturing’s lawyer urged the Third Circuit to overturn a copyright injunction on Wednesday 3 April 3. Kangaroo Manufacturing initially took to the appeals court after a federal judge stopped it from selling products that infringed on the banana costume copyrighted by Rasta Imposta in 2010. The case began when Kmart – who had carried Rasta Imposta’s banana costume every Halloween season since 2008 – sourced the costume from another supplier in 2017; a move which Rasta Imposta believes infringed its 2010 Banana Design copyright. In the original ruling the judge concluded that there was not enough of a difference

NABAS AGM 2019 is declared an ‘inspiration’ The annual NABAS AGM and training day, held this year on Monday 8 April, was a great success, according to George Oustayiannis, chairman of NABAS and managing director of GO International. The event included a full day of workshop training which focused on air-filled decor training to help members facing rising helium costs. “This year’s AGM was the bestattended NABAS event to date,” said George. “With such a mixed bunch of talent ranging from relative beginner to seasoned professional, I was moved to see so many delegates willing to pass on their wealth of knowledge to those still climbing the ladder.”

between the two costumes, but Kangaroo is arguing that there is nothing original about Rasta’s banana costume that would make it protectable; it is simply a yellow banana with ‘no artistic twist’. In defence, Rasta Imposta’s legal team pointed out that: “There are so many ways to conceive a design of a banana. And they conceived it exactly as ours.” Right: Rasta Imposta believes that the black tips, two vertical lines and curvature on both banana costumes justify an infringement.

Party City to close 45 stores across US Sales for the first quarter of the year have fallen short for US party retail chain Party City, which announced its Q1 results on Thursday 9 May, revealing that it plans to close 45 of its branches throughout 2019. Party City reported a net loss of $26.6 million for the quarter ended 31 March 2019, compared to earnings of $4.1 million in the previous year. Party City ceo James Harrison stated that the Q1 results were impacted by the ongoing helium shortage, which has had a negative affect on balloon sales. However, he also reported that Party City has secured a new helium source which will boost

For the latest news visit PartyWorldwide.net

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availability from this summer and for the next two-and-ahalf years. Talking in more detail about the store closures, James said: “It’s important to note that Party City’s decision to close an increased number of stores in 2019 is completely unrelated to the global helium issue. These are two separate topics, the latter of which we’ve made significant inroads in addressing.” There are currently 870 Party City branches across the US and Canada, with the closures representing roughly 5% of the portfolio. It has not yet been announced which stores will be closing.

littering, and potentially poses a great danger to wildlife. It is everything we as artists have spent time trying to prevent.” Zuru has responded with ‘dismay’ to these concerns, issuing an official statement which outlines the fact that the balloons are not single-use plastic as they are specifically designed to be reused. It also considers the possibility of adding clear communication to the packaging to educate consumers about the issues with balloon releases, in line with the balloon industry’s wider ‘Don’t Let Go’ messaging, although stops just short of saying that will happen.

Amscan responds to labeling and CE mark concerns Party supplies and balloon company Amscan has responded to recent concerns throughout the balloon industry, regarding changes to its packaging, labeling and CE markings. The company’s product compliance department explained that CE marking is a self-declaration by the manufacturer itself that a product complies with the EU product safety standards and show that it has been assessed to meet certain safety, health, and environmental standards. “Anagram reviewed its product lines internally and with various international organisations... and we recognised the need to more specifically categorise foil balloons according to foreseeable and intended use,” said the statement. “The vast majority of our foil balloons, for example, basic shapes, numerals and letters, are intended for decorative purposes. In these cases... we have classified them as decorations and provided corresponding packaging statements. For example: ‘This product is a decoration, not a toy. Keep away from children, flames and direct heat sources.'” In other cases, where the balloons may have play value, they will continue to be tested and labeled as toys in accordance with applicable regulations and standards. MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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PARTY NEWS

BOC rations balloon gas for six-month period

Latex balloons are latest Kardashian must-have

Helium supplier BOC has rationed sales of all versions of its balloon gas cylinders for the next six months, in response to the global helium shortage which is affecting supply at the moment. A statement on the company’s website reads: “Due to a global helium shortage that we believe is affecting all suppliers all pure helium and balloon gas orders are currently on a full for empty basis only. Please note if there is a discrepancy in your order or the number of cylinders being delivered

Following the news that Khloe Kardashian spent an incredible $8,500 on the balloon display for her daughter’s first birthday, latex balloons have become the latest focus of the Kardashian’s millions of followers. Pictures of the pastel balloon display at the party, which was held last week, were posted on Khloe’s official Instagram page, which is followed by 98.1 million people. Created by Wild Child balloon decor company, based in Long Beach, California, millions of followers have ‘liked’ the pictures on both Khloe’s social media and the company’s official pages. All About Balloons ceo Caity Byrne, who has previously created balloon displays for the White House, estimated that between 1,200 and 2,000 individual balloons would have been used for the backdrop, with a further 300 for the arch that framed the dessert table.

and collected, this will be adjusted so your order is an exchange of full cylinders for empty cylinders.” The UK-wide decision will also affect wholesalers of BOC

Budget Greeting Cards prepares to open additional branches The UK’s largest greeting card and party wholesaler, Budget Greeting Cards (BGC), is planning to open an additional five branches across the UK later this year. The news comes shortly after Canadian private equity company Ardenton Capital acquired 51% of the company. BGC’s eight existing branches are in Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Dublin, Dunstable, Gateshead and Manchester. Nottingham has been confirmed as one of the new locations, with an opening planned for this summer, while the other potential spots are being kept under wraps. The Dunstable branch of greeting card and partyware wholesaler Budget Greeting Cards will also be moving premises in the next few months. It is expected to be complete by the end of the summer, with retailers and balloon decorators reassured that there will be no disruption to their service. The company is also making moves to refresh its website, with a full trading version expected to go live in autumn 2020.

London Comic-Con celebrates costume Thousands of cosplay fans gathered in London last week at the eagerly anticipated Comic Con, where they came together to celebrate costumes and dress-up on an extreme scale. The London Comic Con event, which is held twice a year at London’s Excel centre, is a fan-focused conventions which offers cosplayers, movie buffs, comic fans, families, gamers, collectors and anime enthusiasts the chance to meet with movie cast members, authors and directors as well as enjoying ree panels and exclusive screenings. Fans typically take the opportunity to dress up as their favourite superheroes and villans, with officially licensed lines from suppliers including Rubie’s, Smiffys and Amscan on show alongside some incredibly creative homemade examples. Above: The family-friendly event attracts thousands The entire Marvel universe was out in full of visitors each year. force, as were a number of Star Wars and Disney favourites, from Chewbacca to Buzz Lightyear. There was also more than one Spider-Man and some full-scale versions of iconic film villains such as Predator and Alien.

For the latest news visit PartyWorldwide.net

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balloon gas, who will also only be able to supply gas to existing customers, following the one-in, one-out policy. Above: The global helium shortage is beginning to have an effect on the balloon trade.

BAPIA raffle raises £1,749 for GOSH During BAPIA’s recent Chris Adamo Tour, the balloon and party industry alliance held a raffle in aid of the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. With prizes generously donated by a range of sponsors, everyone involved hoped to raise a good amount of money and were delighted when BAPIA’s chief executive John Bowler revealed the final total of £1,749. “I cannot believe that we have raised such a fantastic amount of money and this is all thanks to the generous prize donors and everybody who bought tickets,” he said. “I cannot thank you all enough!”

Below: The extravagant unicorn-themed first birthday featured customised pastel balloons in a number of organically shaped displays, following a rainbow colour scheme.

Amscan launches new licensed dress-up and partyware ranges Party and dress-up company Amscan has launched a selection of new licensed dress-up and partyware collections as part of its new everyday costume collection for 2019. New lines are being introduced from popular Nickelodeon preschool shows Nella the Princess Knight, Top Wing, Sunny Day and Rusty Rivets alongside CBeebies' newest signing, Moon and Me. Brand new for 2019 are a number of new dress-up options and co-ordinating ranges of partyware and balloons, all designed to bring favourite preschool characters to life. New Top Wing and Sunny Day costumes will be coming soon, while co-ordinated partyware and balloons for Rusty Rivets and Nella the Princess Knight are already in stock. Mon and Me costumes feature Moon Baby and Pepi Nana and are available for pre-order now. MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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PARTY NEWS

Morrisons refurb includes major focus on party The Hartcliffe branch of UK supermarket Morrisons has opened following a recent major refurbishment, revealing a major focus on its party section, with a Party Shop containing a dedicated balloon bar, partyware section and celebration cake zone. The refurbishment – the first since the store opened 12 years ago – features the very latest additions and

BACI dates announced for 2020 The dates for the 2020 Balloon Arts Convention Italy have been announced, with next year’s event being held in Milan from Friday 20 – Tuesday 24 March, 2020. Founded over 20 years ago, BACI is one of the most popular international Balloon Arts conventions in Europe and is suitable for all levels of balloon expertise. With a number of competitions, classes and the fun gala evening, BACI is a great networking and professional opportunity. Classes will be led by international masters of balloon art (yet to be announced) and will offer delegates the opportunity to specialise in large decor, centrepiece design, wedding decor or twisting, among many others. More information will be released as it becomes available.

the most striking addition within the store – which will ‘instantly catch the eye of regular customers’ – is the new Party Shop. “This is a big area in the store, and will be a one-stop shop for everything you need for a party – cakes, balloons, decorations, everything,” said Paul. “It’s quite new for Morrisons generally and we are the first store in the region to have one, so people probably won’t have seen one before.”

developments from the Morrisons brand and took ten weeks to complete. “We’ve given the store a whole new fresh look,” said store manager Paul Smith. “There’ll be lots of things people haven’t seen before.” Paul explained that the main changes have been in the nonfood areas, and that

Left: The new Morrisons Party Section makes a colourful impact.

Adams Gas steps up in face of helium shortage “Our supplies remain unaffected by the BOC and American issues, which enables us to continue supplies as normal,” said managing director Steve Adams. “Our refillable and disposable markets remain busy in the UK and abroad, but we are still allowing ourselves plenty of scope to take on more new business.” “We have also seen significant increases in the price of bulk helium, but have done our best to reduce the impact of this on to our customers,” he continued. Refillable helium cylinders are available from Adams Gas’ large

Balloon gas supplier Adams Gas has stepped up to offer its services to any balloon artists or party retailers currently struggling to source helium for their business needs. With an ongoing helium shortage across the US affecting global supply and leading to supply issues and price increases in the UK market as well as internationally, balloon artists have been left unsure of their situation. Adams Gas has offered its services to anyone who is either struggling to order helium or has been subject to an unexpected rise in prices.

Indy 500 continues balloon release tradition Organisers of the world-famous Indy 500 have come under fire for releasing thousands of balloons on 26 May 2019 as part of their ongoing race day traditions. The release – which took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – went ahead despite a high-profile publicity campaign from Balloons Blow and much discussion both on- and off-line, with campaign groups and individuals asking the race organisers to put an end to the tradition once and for all. IMS president Doug Boles announced prior to the race that the balloon release would remain, but spokesperson Alex Damron later qualified that the organisers were evaluating feedback: “We’re reaching out to several stakeholders and talking with experts to fully understand the impact of this practice and determine its status in the years ahead.” IMS has been the subject of a barrage of complaints and criticism since it posted a video of the 2019 release on Twitter.

Smiffys announces new licences for 2019 R H Smith & Sons, the proud owners of the Smiffys and Fever brands, is pleased to announce a number of additions to its licensed costume ranges for 2019. Some of the most recent signings for adult costumes include Orange Is The New Black, The Handmaid’s Tale, Parental Advisory and The Original Smiley Brand. Family

For the latest news visit PartyWorldwide.net

News_PPE_May June 2019.indd 17

of Smiffys. “Seeing how incredibly popular the brand has become, there is no doubt that these characters will be in high demand for the Christmas party season.” Smiffys has also been mindful not to forget the smallest dress-up fans, with recent signings for children’s licensed products including The Elf on the Shelf and Miffy.

costumes are also catered for with a complete range of The Addams Family costumes, which are expected to do particularly well for Halloween. “We are also excited to be collaborating with Elves Behavin’ Badly on adding these naughty elves to our adult costume range,” said Dominique Peckett, director

stockist network throughout the UK, while disposables are available direct from the company itself. New customers should either phone on +44 (0) 1843 220596 or email sales@adamsgas.co.uk for more information. Below: Adams Gas is able to take on customers looking for a new helium supplier.

Party is ‘growth category’ for IG Design Group Party product has been revealed to be a ‘growth category’ for IG Design Group, following the company’s fourth quarter figures and trading announcement, which were released earlier this month. The company issued a Q4 trading statement in advance of its full year results (to March 31 2019), signalling an upturn in sales and growth in both revenue and profit across all sectors. When specifically asked about the party trade, group ceo Paul Fineman stated: “It is a growth category for us. While our presence in the party sector is less prominent in the UK than elsewhere in the world, we still see it as having growth potential.” IG Design Group currently designs and manufactures fully coordinated partyware collections in line with current trends, including licensed lines.

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BAPIA

THE

BAPIA

ST BOO

John Bowler has been part of the party industry for more years than he cares to remember! John currently runs the Balloon And Party Industry Alliance (or BAPIA) and can be contacted on info@bapiaonline.com

WHAT’S THE STORY

Jade Fraser shares the benefits of a good Insta Story.

“A

t BAPIA we like to give our members as much help as possible in all aspects of their business, from training to business and marketing to social media support. I know for sure that I really am not social media savvy, and I would never profess to be able to give advice on the subject, but we work with a social media expert (Jade Fraser, of Massimo Media) who is very well qualified to give advice on the topic. So I thought I would share one of Jade's recent BAPIA News posts. These are available at www.bapiaonline. com and are designed to help small business entrepreneurs. One of the topics that Jade wrote about recently was Instagram stories and what a great tool they can be for your business. I didn’t have a clue what an Instagram story was until I read the article, but I can really see how these would be a great benefit to any business.”

DON’T MISS OUT! Instagram stories disappear after 24 hours (unless you choose to save them as a ‘highlight’ on your page) which means you can create a sense of urgency to drive sales. Periodically running a ‘24-hour Flash Promotion’ where customers can quote the code that is shown on your story for money off or a freebie but they must act fast works really well as once the code disappears the promotion is over! This blink-and-you’llmiss-it aspect of Instagram stories keeps your followers engaged in your page and checking back regularly, which means more opportunities for you to promote your great products and services. BEHIND THE SCENES Instagram stories offer a great opportunity to give potential customers a behind-thescenes sneak peek at what you do, without giving too much away. People love to see what’s ‘behind the curtain’ when it comes to industries they are not familiar with. Perhaps show the process of what goes into decorating a party with clips of you packing the van, creating designs and even breakdown. FAR LEFT: Jade Fraser of Massimo Media. LEFT: Instagram stories drive interest.

What Is BAPIA? The Balloon And Party Industry Alliance, or BAPIA as it’s more commonly known, is designed to work for the party industry to promote the benefits of using industry professionals and to bring significant benefits to our members. BAPIA is a member of the European Balloon and Party Council (EBPC) and keeps members updated on the latest news, including the most recent initiative – the Code Of Best Practice for balloon retailers and professionals. You can read more about this in BAPIA’s latest quarterly newsletter. Mailed directly to members, John is happy to send a copy of the latest edition to interested parties – simply email him at info@bapiaonline.com.

Fun effects like Boomerang and apps like Hyperlapse (which allows you to super speed your phone videos) help make this even more fun for your viewers. KEEP IT CASUAL A lot of people feel overwhelmed by the idea of maintaining Instagram stories content as well as everything else. It’s true that the more often you post on Instagram stories, the more followers will keep coming back to see what else you’ve shared. But it can be much less polished than other platforms. You don’t need to edit photos or set the perfect scene – as they disappear after 24 hours, it’s generally accepted that the aesthetic here is much more relaxed. Plus there are fun filters, stickers and text that you can add to make your content more exciting. Don’t stress yourself out trying to create perfect imagery. If you can post six little clips from your working day a few times a week, that’s enough to keep your audience engaged and coming back. PROMOTE YOUR OTHER PAGES Use Instagram stories to drive your customers to your other platforms too. If you have an online store, don’t forget to link it on your main profile page and refer to it often so that potential customers remember that they can buy directly from you. Even if you don’t have a website, Facebook is also a great place to have potential customers following you because people can easily ‘share’ your posts with their friends and family, meaning more exposure for your business. Periodically remind your Instagram following that you’re on Facebook and perhaps even give them an incentive to go and follow you on there. This could be anything from a freebie to simply the promise of even more interesting content. Remind people of what you’re offering over on Facebook so that you can upsell to them on there too. BAPIA members, remember to tag us in your posts using #bapiaparty so that we can see and share your great work!

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Quick Look: Weddings

The number of couples getting married in the UK might be at an alltime low (less than 250,000 marriages took place in 2016) but according to the UK’s most popular wedding website hitched.co.uk, the industry is still worth a whopping £10 billion. PPE takes a party-focused look at the wedding market.

Inset: Glittery cake toppers from Creative Party are popular for DIY weddings.

She continues: “The inclusion of floristry in balloon displays, the ability to colour match balloon décor to the chosen colour themes and countless amazing images on social media platforms are helping drive this trend.” As well as the grand scale balloon décor, Pioneer Europe has also seen an increased demand for the more simple designs which are being used to theme the whole day and not just the wedding venue itself. “Northstar’s air inflated kits are perfect for home use and have been very popular for a bride-to-be’s home or hotel room for the morning of the big day.” Over in Poland, weddings are mostly split between the classic, elegant style or the close-to-nature, eco trend; according to GoDan’s sales manager Magdalena Wojteczek. “Balloon decorations are absolutely booming in demand,” she said. “Everything is about big and elegant or organic-style decorations. Wedding balloons with Polish inscriptions are popular and so we Below: Delights Direct has an extensive range of premium wedding décor items such as decorative blossom trees.

hile it is no longer an essential step on the fictional path to adulthood (job, marriage, house, kids..) around a quarter of a million weddings will still take place in the UK each year. And with the average wedding in the UK now costing more than £30,000 (according to Bridebook. co.uk’s National Wedding Survey 2018), it’s no surprise that many cost-savvy brides and grooms are looking to DIY as many elements of their wedding as they can, while also getting plenty of bang for their buck wherever possible. “Over recent years there has been a noticeable change in the wedding market, as consumers strive to create a more personalised big day,” offers Creative Party’s product and marketing manager Shayna Boyles. “This has resulted in a rise in the popularity of DIY weddings and a more rustic aesthetic.” For consumers looking to create that look, Creative Party has seen an increase

Clear Options “We are excited to see displays featuring our new Clearz balloons this wedding season. From minimalistic single balloons as table centrepieces, to extravagant bouquets featuring a mix of the different pastel colours; there are endless options for incorporating these balloons into wedding décor to create a stunning setting.” Charlotte Terry, marketing executive, Amscan

Classy Touc Above: Pioneer Europe’s 3ft latex ‘Mr.’ & ‘Mrs.’ script balloons are a simple and graceful way to make a big statement at a wedding and are in constant demand.

in demand for products such as ‘Mr and Mrs’ glitter wedding cake toppers, bunting, chalkboard stickers and photobooth props. Organic balloon décor is the current ‘big thing’ in wedding styling. “Weddings have really embraced the organic balloon trend,” explains Julie Dommett, Pioneer Europe’s head of marketing, “as brides are looking to create the perfect backdrop to their wedding reception and photographs.”

“The trend for selecting DIY décor is definitely growing. Manufacturers are bringing in more and more really classy looking products which helps to meet that demand.” Stuart Wheeler, account manager, Delights Direct are extending our offer in this direction, while rose-gold colours and chrome balloons are still doing very well too.” Of course, large-scale displays are not cheap and so are off the table for most lowcost weddings. ITI (UK) has tried to fill this gap by creating product for DIY weddings with limited budgets. The ballon arch kits and giant balloons are proving to be very popular with retailers as an inexpensive alternative to the more complicated services. One thing that will always be true of the wedding market is that couples are constantly looking to have something a bit different. “Change is constant within the wedding market,” agreed Mark Brett, UK agent for ITI (UK). “It’s the nature of the beast. Fortunately for us balloons almost always play a big part in the plans!” Left: Amscan Clearz balloon. MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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Order now at Folat:

Creepy Pastel Halloween Â© FOLAT BV Diakenhuisweg 15 - 2033AP - Haarlem - Netherlands - www.folat.eu

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30/05/2019 22/05/2019 14:51 14:18

Product Focus: Photo Booth Props

Pose

Left: This range of Luau photo booth props from Creative Party can be used to create quirky, tropical-themed pictures. Above: The photobooth trend can be taken one step further with Creative Party’s Social Snaps inflating photo frames. Below: GoDan’s photo props come in almost every theme imaginable and are an ideal add-on for parties.

Strike A

In the age of the selfie, it’s no surprise that photo booths and props have become as ubiquitous at parties as balloons and birthday cake. But when they can be bought for a couple of pence per prop on eBay, party retailers need to offer something a little bit special if they’re going to capture their customer’s attention. Say cheese!

he props used in professional party photo booths come in all manner of shapes and sizes, from inflatable saxaphones to rainbow wigs and oversized glasses, but we’re keeping our focus on the products which have been specifically designed to be used when taking a photograph. These are typically printed cardboard shapes on a wooden stick, covering all manner of occasions – from weddings and hen parties to kids birthdays, themed parties and seasonal events. “When everything is being posted on social media, the need to create a perfect party atmosphere is becoming increasingly apparent and important,” offers Creative

Above left: Amscan’s Western-themed range features a wall decoration kit that comes with fun photo props. Above right: This Hawaiian photo frame from Amscan can be personalised, making it the perfect party addition.

Party’s product and marketing manager Shayna Boyles. “That’s when adding those finishing touches and paying keen attention to the finer details really pays off.” For the party industry, Sheena points out that it is important that retailers are able to deliver these fine details by offering product which meets the growing demand. “Adding in a DIY photobooth is a Far left: Pirate photo booth props from Henbrandt are as popular with adults as they are with children. Left: Seasonal lines, also from Henbrandt, are always popular, whether they are destined for the office party or the Christmas table.

relatively simple way for hosts and hostesses to be able to include those extra details and add an extra dimension to their party,” she says. “This trend is hugely popular with the millennial demographic as a photobooth provides the perfect opportunity for snapping those Instagram-worthy photos. Some of our best-selling photo booth prop themes include Jungle, Luau and our Social Snaps inflating photo frame.” George Morgan, who looks after marketing for Henbrandt, agrees. “In the digital age, with everyone taking selfies at any opportunity, photo props, fun accessories and inflatables have become more and more popular. We have quite a wide range of photo prop themes and occasions in stock, including general party, wedding, Christmas, Easter, St. Patricks and more. We have also introduced some new themed props recently, with some fun Hawaiian and pirate designs, and we are currently looking at creating a range of milestone age party ones as well.” Photo props are doing solid business across Europe as well, according to GoDan’s sales manager Magdalena Wojteczek. “Props are continuously among our top-selling articles and we can say that this season we now offer props to match almost every theme imaginable. GoDan offers props which have been exclusively designed for children such as pirates, mermaids, jungle, space topics as well as more adult-focused lines for weddings, Hawaii and Mexican parties and hen and stag parties. “We also sell some licensed birthday props which are very popular too,” adds Magdalena. An easy, accessible product line which can be added to almost any basket, photo props are as much fun as they are hassle-free. So get snapping! MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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Licensed Masks from Trick or Treat Studios

 sales@palmeragencies.com  +44 (0) 28 9064 7119 facebook.com/PalmerAgencies

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@palmeragencies

 palmeragencies.com

instagram.com/palmeragencies

30/05/2019 18:39

Halloween 2019

GET YOUR

CREEP ON It’s time to start looking forward to that time of year again, when the nation takes great delight in scaring each other – and being scared – as much as possible. Halloween is the busiest and most important time of the year for most fancy dress and party retailers and with so much at stake, it’s important to make sure you have the best selection possible. PPE checks out which skeletons should be in your stockroom for Halloween 2019.

s the biggest party season of the year and one which is increasingly celebrated by the whole family, it can be difficult to predict what Halloween trends and themes will be popular each year. The realistic gore make-up which works well at a big city nightclub frightfest is unlikely to translate so well at an afternoon of apple bobbing and spider cakes for five-year-olds, so it’s important that retailers carry the right mix of product for all their target consumers. The celebration of all things spooky remains the most important season for the UK party industry by a long shot – Mintel estimated that in 2018, Brits were gearing up to spend £420m on Halloween – and the season is also getting steadily bigger in Europe every year. This year the big day falls on a Thursday – which is generally accepted as being the next best thing to the weekend in terms of both consumer engagement and party opportunities. The Above right: The 36” Qualatex Golden Skull foil from Pioneer Europe was hugely popular in 2018. Right: Creepy props are an important part of Palmer Agencies’ offering.

almost-Friday date also lends itself to a fairly focused Halloween for retailers as consumers look to celebrate on the day itself and the weekend afterwards, taking the pressure away from a Saturday rush but keeping the action firmly over one weekend. According to that 2018 Mintel report, more than half of the UK population (52%) spend money on Halloween celebrations, with older millennials the most likely to spend big – more than three-quarters (77%) of them got involved in one way or another. Almost 50% of all Halloween shoppers spent between £10 and £25, while 17% really went for it, pushing their spending up to around £50. Regardless of spend, exactly half (50%) of all Halloween shoppers put off their purchases until the last moment – perhaps because many of them (40%) are waiting to use social media as inspiration for their own outfits or décor. Traditionally a season for orange and black, today’s environmentallyfriendly shoppers are also looking to

Get Social “We can no longer predict what is going to sell at Halloween and I think most of our customers agree. The consumer is very much king and there is no Halloween crystal ball anymore! My recommendation to retailers is to keep a very close eye on social media sites to see what is happening, as that is where others will find their inspiration. Having said that, our new Day of the Dead range of decorations is proving very strong as it has a wide appeal. Our horror clown decoration and tableware is also very successful, as is the horror pumpkin range – both of which were top sellers last year.”

Mark Brett, UK agent, Boland Party

Above: Boland Party’s horror clown décor is a bestselling line.

stay as green as possible, with some 75% of those who celebrate Halloween saying they plan to reuse Halloween costumes and decorations in what is undoubtedly good news for the environment but not so good for the party trade. Although it does offer suppliers and retailers an opportunity to move away from today’s throwaway culture by selling more robust products, MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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04/06/2019 11:18

hats

wigs

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Take a breath of fresh air. Relax and enjoy the honest and efficient way of doing business with Boland. In house design studio | surprising-contemporary-creative | 10.000 m2 warehouse | rapid delivery from stock. Let them be your Party Partner too. Sole UK agent: T: 07836 512 367 | Mark Brett E: markybrett@yahoo.co.uk | Julia Brett E: juliabrett@tiscali.co.uk www.boland.eu Uk ad 6.indd 1 00_PPE_May June 2019.indd 1

21-05-19 09:42 30/05/2019 14:47

Halloween 2019

Left: Classic vampire looks from Widmann.

Costume Classics “Halloween is one of our favourite times of year here at Widmann. While we see a variety of different costumes becoming more popular each year, we will always have the classics that fly off the shelf every year such as the holographic grim reaper costume or ghouly ghosts. We know that the witches, devils and vampires are always good sellers, but we also know that the newer lines will also be very high in demand, so we have an abundance of accessories and costumes to captivate all imaginations and suit all budgets.”

Anna Solly, sales director, Sancto (Widmann) while highlighting the fact that they can be reused year after year. One man who lives (and dies!) for the Halloween season is Sergio Battaner, Palmer Agencies’ sales and marketing director, who is predicting a steady Halloween, showing similar figures to last year. He believes there are plenty of different themes to get behind this year. “There are a number of different possibilities coming to market, on top of the already tried-and-tested classics like devils, witches or vampires,” he says. “Clowns will be definitely be flavour of the season this year, thanks to the release of films such as IT Chapter 2, Joker and Child’s Play this autumn. There are plenty of cinema-driven themes that will be clear winners in this year’s Halloween.” Scary characters are key for Halloween, with Sergio also predicting that Michael Myers and Chucky will reign supreme in 2019, sitting alongside GhostFace and Pennywise as the go-to characters for the year. “Costumes seem to get less attention within the trade, yet they are still the most important section of all Halloween sales,” he states. “Our officially-licensed Michael Myers costume has a memory-

flex mask and is available for both adults and children, while our Carnevil family is proving very popular and is available in both male and female version as well as in boys and girls sizes.” Animatronics are always strong sellers for Palmer Agencies, with howling werewolves, family-friendly witches and creepy clowns helping to create the right ambience and atmosphere in any retail outlet. Any other advice for retailers? “Be bold! Be different! Don’t try to be Argos or Asda or compete with pound shops on price, as they will always win. Make sure you are offering well-priced, quality items and pay special attention to growing categories like décor, masks or premium make-up and special effects.” Bristol Novelty’s marketing manager Fran Hales also believes that falling closer to the weekend will help with Halloween trade this year. “Halloween 2019 is a tricky one to predict as certain core styles fluctuate each year,” he points out. “Last Halloween saw devil accessories going up and cat accessories going down. Essentially though, it’s all about customising a unique look – it’s not so much about one costume anymore, it’s what customers do with that costume to make it stand out!” Fran highlights the increasing importance of social media in this. “In an Instagram and Pinterest age customers want to ‘peacock’ to make an impact or statement at Halloween. They want to be creative with their look.” As a leading provider of accessories Bristol Novelty has plenty of horrific and quirky products to help consumers produce something a bit different to the usual Halloween Right: Amscan’s new matte spider SuperShape is a new line for 2019. Below: Bristol Novelty has plenty of horrific and quirky costumes.

The Film Effect “Halloween is always the most exciting and enthusiastic time of year for fancy dress. It is always a great time of year to see both Angels stores busy with customers getting excited over the perfect costume for that amazing night they have planned. With the release of the blockbuster film Avengers: Endgame, we can assume that superheroes will continue to be largely popular – it is always worth keeping an eye out for any major costume-based films as they massively influence customer requests. We have also seen a growing trend in Halloween makeup, with customers being creative with their looks. The Tinsley 3D FX Transfers are consistently popular as they are easy to apply and create incredibly realistic results.”

Emma Angel, director, Angels Fancy Dress costume and will be releasing ideas and tutorials on its website and social channels to help inspire retailers. “As for which costumes we expect to do well, Mr. Bone Jangles is always a popular costume in our current range, along with our Horror Pig and Evil Grin masks, which both sold out last year! And devil themes were by far the most in-demand accessory.” There are also has a number of new lines Fran expects to do well. “Our new masks and wig range are perfect for the customised look and can be matched with our vintage circus-inspired range of costumes as well. Our Pink Skelly and Little Blue Skelly costumes offer a fantastic mother and daughter trick or treat combination option as well, so we expect those to be popular too.” Any tips for retailers? “Stand out from the crowd by making exclusive looks. Be

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Halloween 2019

creative with stock, experiment with your shop window and look to sell bundled stock items. And don’t forget to support all activity by creating appealing assets and digital content!” Also expanding its offering for the 2019 season is Amscan, which has added over 30 new styles with a great choice of costumes for both children and adults. “For little ones there are some cute new options including Iddy Biddy bat, Little Spooky Spider and Mini Bones,” says marketing executive Charlotte Cox. “The trend for metallics makes our new Spider Girl costume for children an on-trend dress-up choice, while the creepy doll theme is also likely to remain popular, so we’ve added a number of new styles that fit perfectly with that theme.” Moving onto partyware, Amscan is predicting stylish Right: Grabo’s range of bright Halloween balloons includes this sugar skull theme. Below: This family Day of the Dead option from Smiffys offers a classic Halloween look with a fun, colourful flare.

decorations and props such as its mix of black and white pumpkins and ‘Witch Please’ tableware to be popular, as they are perfect for adding a chic touch to the spooky season. “Balloon trends are key as well,” continues Charlotte, “with new concepts such as matte satin infused print and iridescent designs creeping their way into our foil offering for Halloween 2019. New products include a satin infused spider SuperShape and an iridescent ghost which is available as a SuperShape, Standard and Mini Shape.”

Right: GoDan balances cute pumpkin themes with the move towards gore and horror.

Also championing a number of dramatic new balloon designs is Pioneer Europe, with a number of fresh Qualatex and Northstar offerings available. “Our 36” Qualatex Golden Skull foil was hugely popular in 2018, so this year we have introduced a 9” round foil in the same design,” says marketing director Julie Dommett. “The new addition is specifically designed to be air-filled and is a perfect addition to the large shape. It works brilliantly for table displays or as a candy cup topper.” Familyfriendly designs are also key for Pioneer’s offering this year, with colourful foils and Bubble designs offering a fun way to decorate venues for younger age groups. “Showing off product is essential,” adds Julie. “Whether it’s in a shop window or on a website, people won’t buy it if they can’t see it. Balloons are great for in store POS, when helium filled, they’ll float above everything else in the shop, instantly catching the customers eye – and a Bubble balloons can float for weeks!” Partyware is equally important for creating the right look, whether that is for a sopisticated murder-mystery dinner or a raucous children’s party. Creative Party is always pushing the bar in this area and for 2019 product and marketing manger Shayna Bowles predicts that there will be a continued shift away from scary to ‘pretty scary’. “Think chic, bold statement pieces and a real ‘less is more’ aesthetic,” she Below: The Delights Direct chainsaw is a popular accessory.

Strong Sales “Halloween performed really well last year, which for a Wednesday was a welcome relief. As it’s even closer to the weekend this year we’re hoping that those trends will continue. We have an extensive selection of ghoulish accessories for Halloween, including a very popular bloody chainsaw!”

Stuart Wheeler, account manager, Delights Direct

The Pumpkin Push “Halloween in Poland is all about the pumpkin. All items with this design are very important to us. The most popular children’s costumes are sweet pumpkin costumes, little ghosts and cute witches. There are some standard costumes which are still very popular but our customers are more and more interested in such items like adhesive wounds and fake blood – this is very new for us! Before now we had mainly offered room decorations such as spiders, spider webs, banners, garlands or headbands and hats. Those articles are still important but we can see that it is starting to change and so we are extending our offer in this more gory direction.”

Magdalena Wojteczek, sales manager, GoDan reveals. “We first saw this shift from ‘scary’ Halloween to a more modern look last year, and having seen this shift, marketers are now beginning to widen their target audience.” She continued: “The millennial and adult demographic are becoming increasingly important to the success of Halloween for retailers. This can be attributed to the rise of social media, with consumers opting for a more modern look.” Creative Party’s Happy Halloween partyware range offers the perfect contemporary alternative to the traditionally scary partyware, featuring quirky phrases and complimented by a traditional Halloween colour scheme. “It’s the perfect bridge between traditional Halloween and the contemporary trends we are seeing now,” says Shayna. With so much to choose from this year, retailers looking to highlight Halloween have got their work cut out for them. Take inspiration from Instagram to create modern Halloween displays and costumes that consumers can easily replicate at home and make your shop the terrifying talk of the town!

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WIDMANN S.r.l.

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

04/06/2019 17:55

Halloween 2019

GET YOUR CREEP ON

The great thing about Boland Party’s Day of the Dead range is that it is both scary and sophisticated. Tinsley’s FX Makeup Kits are great for creating a terrifying look and are the perfect Halloween add-on for any costume.

Amscan’s ‘witch please’ tableware is perfect for adding a chic touch for the spooky season.

With quirky and clever phrases, including ‘Let’s Get Wicked’, ‘Witch Way to the Party’ and ‘Eat Drink and Be Scary’, Creative Party’s range of high-quality partyware is a great choice.

In Character’s baby costumes like Baby Dragon and Baby Bat are adorable Halloween fancy dress which allow everyone to join in the fun!

CTI Balloons has a huge number of balloon designs for Halloween, with foils shapes of all sizes and a wide variety of air-fill designs which can be supplied flat or on a cup and stick.

This new Spider Girl style from Amscan brings a sparkling touch to Halloween.

Bristol Novelty’s new range of masks for Halloween 2019 features a wide range of horror characters. GoDan’s customers are increasingly interested in the more gory items such as adhesive wounds and fake blood.

Go hunting with Folat’s new Zombie Hunter suit, just zip it up, add the gas mask and gloves and you are ready to go! Light up Halloween celebrations with illooms LED light up balloons, available in a number of different designs from ghosts to Day of the Dead to ensure an absolutely frightful Halloween.

For a more classic Halloween look, InCharacter’s Midnight Vampiress and Midnight Vampire are the perfect choice.

MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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Halloween 2019

GET YOUR CREEP ON

This fun bat cape from Henbrandt is a great, easy way for children to dress up and become something spooky for the night!

Costumes are key for Halloween and this new Michael Myers licensed costume from Palmer Agencies comes with a with memory-flex mask and is available for both adults and children.

The Horror Clown decoration and tableware collection from Boland Party is anything but subtle.

Amscan’s new Creepy Doll costume for adults include dress, tights, gloves, headband and half mask. Additional matching accessories are also available.

It’s a family affair this Halloween, with Folat’s coordinated range of dark moon Witch family costumes, featuring soft material in dark purple with a silver print.

For traditional look the new Qualatex balloon from Pioneer Europe are perfect, with Jack Face foils in 18” and 9” as well as the matching Jack Faces latex assortment.

Widmann has a wide range of fun children’s costumes for Halloween which are now split into separate size codes for easier ordering.

A colourful Halloween is in store thanks to Folat’s new pastel tableware, which includes garland, plates, cups, napkins and candles in shiny pastel colours with an iridescent touch.

Two new Halloween balloon products have been introduced to the I.T.I. Range – LED Ghost Balloons that stay illuminated for 15 hours and Halloween confetti balloons which are pre-filled with orange pumpkins, black hats and spiders.

Animatronics are doing well for Palmer Agencies, with howling werewolves, familyfriendly witches, creepy clown or mastic dragons helping to create the right ambience and atmosphere.

Grabo Balloons has introduced a new range of Betallic balloons for Halloween, including monsters, pumpkins, spiders and more.

With plenty of pre-orders already in, OppoSuits expects its Joker suit to do well this Halloween season, thanks to the new upcoming movie which will be released in early autumn.

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Halloween 2019

GET YOUR CREEP ON

Adult and child infected biohazard suits are perfect for the impending zombie invasion – get these co-ordinated versions from Smiffys’ extended zombie range.

This Halloween boxset from Splashes & Spills is the ultimate survival kit which includes all the blood, latex and face paint essentials at a great price point.

Clowns are always big for Palmer Agencies and this Carnevil family is already proving very popular for both children and adults – the male costumes come with a highly detailed masks

This Northstar Boo script is one of the air-inflated script range, available from Pioneer Europe, which make perfect window and wall decorations.

Have a haunting Halloween with Unique’s new for 2019 Bat Pinata! He’s perfect for all manner of décor and party entertainment, for children of all ages.

This fun Halloween Jack Faces foil balloon from Qualatex uses a fun colour scheme and Jack O Lantern faces, making it ideal for decorating younger trick-or-treat parties.

Pioneer Europe is offering a number of new ontrend ranges for Halloween 2019 across its Qualatex range – this Halloween Fun Font Bubble is great for kids’ [arties and trick or treating.

Trick or treat with Unique Party’s black and gold spider web theme, which is sure to ensnare customers this Halloween season.

Expect quality and glamour from Thetru as the company launches its new and exciting ranges into the UK for 2019, including this fab ‘Spectre’ style coat

Smiffys has plenty of family-orientated dressup options with some options – like this vampire family – which lean towards the classic Halloween looks but offer something less terrifying!

This Golden Witch tableware and decoration set from Folat will give any Halloween party a grown-up and sophisticated look and feel. MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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■ Child’s Play Costume and party company Smiffys has introduced a new officially licensed Chucky collection for all the family to enjoy this Halloween. The cult classic costumes are now available in new adult, toddler and children’s sizes, as well as baby dress-up in specially soft fabrics. A new and improved Chucky mask and Chucky wig can also be sold separately.

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Progressive Party rounds up the latest licensed releases.

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■ Potter Party

■ Child’s Play 2

Party retailers should get ready for a magical celebration with Amscan’s new Harry Potter licensed collection of coordinating tableware, decorations and favours which can be combined with matching Anagram foil and latex balloons. The fresh and colourful illustrated design features key characters from the franchise as well as the four Hogwarts houses.

Perfect for Halloween and fans of horror in general, these Chucky cut outs from Star Cutouts are perfect for creating a sinister scene at Halloween. As the main antagonist of the Child’s Play slasher film series the mini serial killer is perfect for this range of three mini character cut outs, featuring a selection of different poses. Available to order now.

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■ The Final Stand With the buzz of the final film in the Marvel Comics franchise showing no signs of going away, Avengers: Endgame has been one of the most popular cinematic releases of all time. The Qualatex Bubble balloon features the most popular characters from the hit movie and has been a hit with fans of the franchise, both young and young at heart. Available to order now.

■ It’s Child’s Play Halloween expert Palmer Agencies has released an officially licensed life-sized Child’s Play 2 Chucky doll. Built on a 1:1 scale, the doll is the most screenaccurate Child’s Play product ever produced. Every detail is made from actual screen-used moulds, including the clothing which used swatches from the films. The doll also comes with the actual Good Guys Box made from the original art.

■ Barbie Girl Smiffys has released a special edition deluxe costume for Barbie’s 60th anniversary. The officially licensed costume consists of a stylish black and white sequinned body, a pink fluffy coat with printed lining and sunglasses, all of which come presented in an exclusive branded Barbie gift box. The limited edition costume is a fantastic collector’s item and is available to pre-order now.

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PartyWorldwide.net

is the online news website for the global party and costume industry.Launched by the leading publisher to the worldwide party sector, Progressive Party Europe, the website serves as an essential online resource for the global costume, party and balloon market. « Twice-weekly newsletter landing in over 8,000 inboxes « Industry jobs / agents board « Resource section with industry analysis « Digital editions of Progressive Party Europe « Fully supported by industry associations and key trade shows

Brought to you by the publishers of

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To sign up for the PartyWorldwide.net newsletter please visit www.PartyWorldwide.net

For news submissions and content enquiries, please immediately get in touch with Jacqui Parr on jacquip@max-publishing.co.uk

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What’s New From Europe?

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■ Hawaiian Tropic The new Hawaiian line from Boland Party is expected to sell well throughout the summer, as it’s a popular choice for festivals, house parties, fun runs and group fancy dress. A good seller for the hen and stage market as well, as the grass skirts, coconut bras and leis are often worn by both hen and stag parties!

What’s New?

Looking for something a bit different? Then it’s time for an international shopping spree!

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■ Flower Fairies

■ Staying Cool

Party-goers can sparkle at a summer party or festival with this new flower headband from Folat, designed to put wearers in a festive mood almost immediately. The headbands are made of fabric flowers and have colourful streamers at the back. They are also available in a choice of two colours and styles – a classic pink and a tropical pink/orange.

Fun new summer suits from OppoSuits’ Suitmeister range let wearers embrace the fun of wearing a colourful suit without overheating in the summer temperatures. A whole range of new patterns and designs are available for the 2019 season, with short sleeve and short versions of many of Suitmeister’s most popular designs including rainbow, 80s and USA flag.

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■ Colour Combo Globos has taken the popular marble balloon and the popular confetti balloon and has combined the two to produce a fantastic new look. Each clear balloon has a coloured marble finish and comes prefilled with single colour matching confetti. The 12” balloons come in packs of six and are ideal for summer garden parties. They are in stock now.

■ Making Friends There’s one way to make sure you keep the local children happy this year and that’s by stocking some of Grabo Balloons amazing new Balloon Friends. With eight different designs to choose from, children of all ages can take their new best friend for a walk out of the shop. On-trend options include unicorn, dinosaur, monster, llama, dragon, sloth, pug and flamingo.

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■ Going Green Taking its ecological responsibilities seriously, GoDan has been placing its focus on a range of various eco party items for some time now, with biodegradable straws and wooden cutlery sitting at the forefront of that product development. With those ranges significantly extended, GoDan is now looking for eco-solutions for a wide range of other products from across the party sector.

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These six high quality 12” latex balloons from Creative Party come in a range of fun, bright colours and are ideal for anyone looking to add a little something extra to any classic birthday celebration. Suitable for any party, these work for both adult and children’s celebrations and are in stock and available to order now.

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■ Free Spirit

■ Rainbow Unicorn

Always bringing new lines to market, Amscan has recently released its What’s New Dress Up Supplement 2019 which features a great mix of new licensed and everyday styles. This groovy Free Spirit Man costume is one of the more colourful characters from the decades collection and is in stock and available to order now.

As the trend for all things Unicorn shows no sign of slowing down, Qualatex has introduced a Rainbow Unicorn Happy Birthday Bubble balloon to its range. The colourful, fun design is perfect for all ages and will look great as part of a birthday bouquet as well as making a stunning addition to any stylish party table this summer.

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■ Sparkling Fizz The new range of Sparkling Fizz birthday and milestone banners and bunting from Oaktree UK have been making quite a splash in the industry. With two options available, customers can choose from the black and gold holographic and the rose gold and white holographic – both of which can be paired with the perfectly co-ordinating balloon ranges.

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■ A Dog’s Life

■ Colour Crazy

Customers looking for a simple but scarily effective way to dress up this summer will be delighted with Rasta Imposta’s fun animals and kit costumes, which are easy to wear and great fun. This dog head and paws is a supersimple way to dress-up and get into character with minimal effort and maximum effect. In stock and available to order now.

This great new UV Hair Gel has been developed for the 2019 market by face and body paint company Splashes & Spills after much demand. The gel offers users a quick and simple way to add colour effects to their hair and is available in a wide range of neon UV colours; blue, green, orange, pink, yellow and purple. The gel is both EU and USA approved.

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HEN & STAG

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Hen and stag parties

They take place all-year-round and normally involve a large group of people following an outrageous theme and encouraging each other to be as silly and over-the-top as possible, with fancy dress, accessories and all manner of fun extras. The party industry loves hen and stag parties – and with good reason! PPE finds out more about the big night out.

LAST NIGHT OF

Freedom

Above: Hen party fashions have changed, n modern Britain, it’s not necessarily as Smiffys latest collection proves. about the size of your hen and stag Below: Sancto’s hen party accessories party; it’s what you do with it. A include all the classics! Right: Pioneer Europe has a range of weekend away is de rigeur these hen party themed Qualatex days – and although trips to Malia balloons to choose from. seem to have fallen out of favour, ‘Team Bride’ and ‘Team Stag’ “From the are (mostly) still happy to put Pint of Beer their hands in their pockets costume to to fund a cottage or airbnb good old somewhere in the UK. Hairy Mary, The figures speak for the classics themselves; while groups will always are getting smaller sell. It’s basically and more exclusive, which costume will people are embarrass the stag prepared to spend the most! Hen parties more (according don’t necessarily to gohen.com, go for costumes, it’s stags spent 50% normally accessories more in 2017 than or personalised 2013, while hens are t-shirts for them. spending 28% more They do purchase per group in the same plenty of our ‘saucy’ “Hen and stag parties play period. Stags also spend products though!” a massive part in the party more than hens; with Fran also points out industry as they are held all a 2017 average spend that while spring and year round. We have a number of £191 vs £153). But summer is the time of items available to help – alcohol aside – what most hen parties take create the perfect night for any do they spend it on? place, they are really a bride- or groom-to-be, with a According to Fran year-round event which range of funny stag costumes Hales, marketing presents a valuable and veils or head boppers as manager at Bristol opportunity to sell well as willy straws, cutlery, Novelty, it’s all about outside of the key inflatables and novelty items.” novelty costumes. “They seasonal trade periods. Anna Solly, sales director, are always popular with “We have Sancto (Widmann) stag parties,” he says. expanded our hen

lines in the new Party & Events range,” Fran says. “We have also expanded our range of 80-inspired as we expect those to continue to do well, adding a fun touch to any pre-wedding celebration!” Fran also reveals that Bristol Novelty is looking to bring in more weird and wonderful costumes for stags (“they love the tacky element and the shock factor”) and more unusual accessories for the hens. “Blow up dolls and inflatables remain popular additions. They are easy to carry and can double up “In the past few seasons the main colour for hen parties has been hot pink and black. Now customers prefer more elegant shades such as light pink mixed with gold and even some elegant floral designs.” Magdalena Wojteczek, sales manager, GoDan as a comfy pillow if anyone fails to make it back to the hotel!” Taking a slightly more sophisticated approach to its hen party offering is Smiffys, which has created a new range of rose gold, glitter and blush pink hen party essentials which includes sashes, rosettes and headbands with veils as well as a collection of finishing touches such as marble and gold gift bags and pin badges to create the ‘Team Bride’ feel. However, it’s not just about rose gold accessories and taking a good MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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Hen and stag parties

“Our hen party sections have been really invigorated this year. While there is still a market for the gawdier cheap and cheerful products, there is a growing trend for more up-market designs. These products have worked particularly well for us so far this season.” Stuart Wheeler, account manager, Delights Direct

Left and below: If you’re looking for something inflatable then Henbrandt should be your first stop.

Mark’s top tip is to keep an eye on social media as it’s a good way to keep in touch with what’s going on and if there are any trends which can be picked up on. “Then the only real difficulty is that if you have a large group come in then you need to have enough stock of the theme they decide upon!”

Right: Bristol Novelty’s new Pint of Beer costume has already sold out.

selfie, Smiffys has also identified the rise in combined hen and stag parties seeing the hens also embracing novelty fancy dress. After all, couples often share friends, so why not have one giant party? A collection of lightweight novelty tabards featuring fruit, vegetables and a range of colourful animal costumes are ideal for any large groups. According to Mark Brett – party stalwart and UK agent for Boland Party – the hen parties are the real revenue drivers where party is concerned, primarily due to the numbers. “However,” he begins, “stags are starting to wake up to the possibilities and while they don’t mind spending the money, hens are often more circumspect.”

Right: Rasta Imposta’s ‘Vegas Aftermath’ is always a winner for a classic stag do costume.

“The bolder the better appears to be the philosophy for stag and hen party costumes! The Flip Flop from Rasta Imposta has been consistently popular, as has Tequila Worm – the quirky and fun nature of these costumes means they are a perfect fit. Costumes which are an ode to a pop culture reference tend to be crowd pleasers as well and Vegas Aftermath is always a winner for a classic stag do costume!” Emma Angel, director, Angels Fancy Dress

HEN AND STAG This beer hat from Amscan is sure to get attention, making it ideal for any stag do!

Hen parties can channel Katy Perry’s recent Met Gala outfir with this fabulous burger outfit from Bristol Novelty.

Most of Henbrandt’s party lines focus on the classic hen party market, with fun party items like this willy water pistol, whistle and photo props.

Perfect for the guys who are willing to bare a little more flesh on their night out, Rasta Imposta’s Cinderfella, Sleeping Boozy and Bro White are classic stag do staples.

This stripper set from Boland Party is ideal for any stag who really wants to get into the spirit of things.

Novelty tabards featuring fruit and vegetables and a range of colourful animal costumes from Smiffys are great for large groups of party animals of any gender.

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Hen and stag parties

HEN AND STAG

These new deluxe petticoats from Boland Party are proving to be a very strong items for hen parties.

Balloons aren’t normally seen at stag dos, but this pint of beer Mighty Bright from Grabo could put an end to that!

The Delights Direct Hen Party range has a wide variety of styles and price points, including this popular new Team Bride range.

From Splashes & Spills, this iridescent glitter is a luminous, colour-changing gel that can be applied to the face and body – a hen party must-have.

The stag do season has always been good for OppoSuits with all designs and styles of suits making the cut, right across the market.

New lines of hen party sashes and awards from GoDan include complete sets in bright colours and elegant floral designs.

Balloons are popular for adding a little something extra to hen parties and Pioneer Europe has a wide range of Qualatex balloons that fit the bill, from an 18” Hen Night L Plateto a 39” Pink Bubbly Wine Bottle and everything inbetween.

Unique Party has launch a new ‘Bride to be’ range for mid-year 2019, featuring an on-trend design in pastel pinks, whites and gold foil.

One of Folat’s bestselling items for hen and stag parties is this ‘Lucky Bouquet’ which pairs very nicely with a set of penis deelyboppers.

Hen party accessories from Bristol Novelty are ideal for groups that want the less-is-more approach. Fun extras are essential for creating the perfect hen night party and Widmann has a wide range, from veils and head boppers to willy straws and inflatables.

For the stags, Smiffys’ bright and bold Stand Out Suits feature new designs as well as a stylish shorts and jacket combo instead of the traditional full length trousers.

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Facts and Figures

THE TOP “There’s a theme here! The rose gold foil large number one foil from Amscan, vinyl written bubbles made in-house using Qualatex deco bubbles, the ringmaster costume from Smiffys, the new rose gold hen night sash from Smiffys and rose gold Orbz by Amscan.”

Fun ‘n’ Frolic: IN NUMBERS Fun ‘n’ Frolic is a party megastore with a huge range of adult and children’s fancy dress costumes as well as decorations and a hugely popular balloon décor service. Based in Reading, Fun ‘n’ Frolic is (probably!) the largest independent party superstore in England and has been trading since 1987. PPE spoke to director Dan Parsons to find out the figures behind the store’s success.

ON THE WAY

“Dressing up for hen and stag dos.”

“We have recently teamed up with Whataboutthekids. co.uk to become a partner and hire out children’s tables and chairs for birthday parties. They are a fantastic team and really have added a new dimension to the business.”

SUPPLY AND DEMAND Above: The Fun ‘n’ Frolic team get into the spirit of things.

PEOPLE POWER The Fun ‘n’ Frolic team consists of ten people, with both full and parttime team members pulling together to make sure all bases are covered. Inset: There’s no mistaking what sort of business Fun ‘n’ Frolic is in!

GETTING DIGITAL

T Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? All the above, although we have the most interaction with our customers on Facebook. T The most common search term used to reach funnfrolic.co.uk is ‘fancy dress’. T The strangest search term used to reach funnfrolic.co.uk is ‘dogs near me’.

“Organic balloon decor.”

KIDS COUNT

Inset: The ringmaster costume from Smiffys is Fun ‘n’ Frolic’s bestselling dress-up line.

“Of all our suppliers we have been working with Smiffys the longest – it was 32 years at the last count! They are also responsible for our favourite new supplier, Moon Creations, which has fab make-up and glitter products.”

ON THE WAY

MY HERO! “The absolute ‘hero’ product for the first half of 2019 has been personalised deco bubbles from Qualatex and we don’t expect that to change too much in the near future. We expect general balloon décor to be our hero item for the second half of 2019.” Above: Qualatex deco bubble balloons have been the store’s bestselling line for 2019 so far.

STORE STATS

T F un ‘n’ Frolic is about the size of 10,000 packaged costumes laid out! T A bout 131 customers visited the store last Saturday. T T he last delivery contained six boxes of product. T L ast week saw the team inflate between 8,000 – 10,000 balloons (there were lots of early starts for the corporates!).

Above: The table and chair sets from Whataboutthekids.co.uk have been a popular choice.

ALL CHANGE! Because Fun ‘n’ Frolic has no windows, it changes its porch and instore displays frequently according to the season. They are given a whole new look approximately 12 times a year.

CUSTOMER CONTACT “We have a lovely little lady who comes in for balloons ALL the time. She always makes cakes and brings chocolates for the crew. She loves Fun ‘n’ Frolic!” MAY/JUNE 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE

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