Party Stores

Best-Selling Party (From page 203) yard signs now, which were big during the height of the pandemic. So, I would say overall we are looking at bigger parties and more items for indoors.”

At the 13,000-square-foot Champion Party Supply in Seattle, Wash., Owner Victoria Champion also sees New Year’s as going big this year. “It is usually our second busiest holiday for balloons, second only to Halloween. Those should do well this year, too. We also sell a lot of wearable items, like glasses that say ‘2021’ on them. I am expecting an uptick in Roaring 20s themed costumes, too. We sell a lot of costumes here as well as party supplies, and I am betting on flapper styles and accessories to be big. I think people will be dressing up and going to more parties this year.”

She said that her store is somewhat unusual in that it sells both costumes and party supplies. “Most stores don’t do both.”

As to best-selling party items overall, she said pinatas are big right now. “They are selling faster than normal, and balloons, too, which have really been a bright spot throughout the pandemic. Banners are also a big thing. People like pictures of the birthday person on the banners, because they tell a story, one that looks nice in photos.”

Champion sees a lot of changes in parties since the pandemic occurred. “We’re close to downtown Seattle, and we have not seen a lot of office parties and events or bar and restaurant parties. That area is

Top Children’s Party Themes

For kids’ birthday parties, themes are ever-changing. This year, party store owners and staff look at what kids are craving come party time.

At Party Planet in Fairbanks, Alaska, owner Bill Torgerson says “A lot of the themes for kids go along with the movies and video games and pop culture, whatever is trending there. This year I would say it is Minecraft, Fortnight, princesses, mermaids, unicorns and superheroes, regardless of which character is associated with those categories.”

In Portland, Ore., at The Lippman Company, Manager Robyn Adair said that many kids crave licensed character mer- all coming back in kind of a trickle. I do weirdly see personal event tickets going up in price, however, because I think individuals and private parties are compensating for that loss, maybe overcompensating for all the restrictions. It’s as if they were or are thinking that while we can’t have too many people at a birthday party, we can spend more on decorations and get a really nice photo out of it.”

At Balloon Fantasy party supply in Santa Maria, Calif., Sales Associate Aliah, speaking for Owner Marguerita Guzman, said the store’s top-selling party supplies are pinatas and balloons. “Everyone just wants those items for their parties because they’re fun and decorative. A lot of people like doing balloon arches, so those are big for us. At New Year’s, we see a lot of streamers and balloons. I think things are opening back up enough that those will be much bigger for us this year.”

One reason that balloons have been popular for the store is that they are very attention getting at parties, she said. “People have been trying to use more decorative style, particularly for yard parties and drive-by events. Balloons, especially arches, are a big part of that kind of an event when it comes to décor. People want things that really stand out from a distance.”

All in all, party supply store staff see bigger and better parties ahead, while the trend toward balloon displays should continue in terms of a craving for largescale decorations. And for New Year’s – it looks like it could just be a jubilant occasion to welcome 2022. ❖ chandise that the store doesn’t carry. “Minecraft is a big deal, but we don’t have that theme. We do have a generic version of that theme, and that does well, as do llamas and sloth items. I think kids are just interested in those kinds of different animals right now.”

At Champion Party Supply in Seattle, Wash., Owner Victoria Champion said she’s been surprised in seeing an actual downturn in interest for licensed items. “Things like Batman and Spiderman are not as popular as more generic things like dinosaur themes or unicorns. I think it’s because parents doing the buying might find the more generic themes more Instagram friendly than say a Super Mario theme. The only licensed characters that still seem to have a lot of appeal are Baby Yoda and Pokemon. So in general, it’s the items that are not from a favorite TV show or movie that people are buying for kids’ parties.”

At Balloon Fantasy party supply in Santa Maria, Calif., Sales Associate Aliah, speaking for Owner Marguerita Guzman, described the store’s most popular kids’ party themes, at least for younger children, as “Baby Shark and Cocomelon. Both are cartoons, and kids like the music in them, too, so you can theme an entire party around characters like that, which is a lot of fun.” ❖