Sergio Battaner
Palmer Agencies
“Halloween has been extremely good for us. September has been the busiest month we’ve ever had in the history of the company! Everyone
seems to be really happy with their goods, and we’ve already had repeat business from retailers who have sold out of items quickly.
The most popular costumes are the zombies – we have none left – and the sexy costumes – which have been fantastically received, and we
are also close to selling out of! Décor and display props have been really good this year – again we’ve got hardly anything left. It’s strange to see
such an empty warehouse – but very encouraging!”
Peter Wright Liz Jackson
Heaton Party Festival of Fun, York
“Our witches’ hats have fl own off the shelves in the run-up to “Halloween has been very busy! Well, it’s on a Friday this year
Hallowe’en, as have our make-up and face paints. We have also – I really do think that how busy it is depends on the day of the
noticed a sudden rise in sales of fun snaps, which come in branded week. We look at what day of the week it falls on and then set
display boxes. We suspect that young trick or treaters are planning to out a predicted percentage increase for the month of October.
make All Hallows Eve go with a bang!” The week before Halloween we were down on this prediction,
but during the week of Halloween we have more than made it
up. We’ve exceeded that sales target now, so it all evens out!
Although it was Halloween last night, we’re still pottering along
Elliott Peckett
today – there are people queuing at the moment.

Cat masks have been particularly popular – I don’t know
Smiffy’s
why, just that we’ve had a lot of people asking for them! We’ve
also completely sold out of white make up, and fake blood has
been fl ying off the shelves. We expect the blood to be a big
“We have seen our best-ever Halloween for forward-orders, with
seller, but nothing like this! Even though we ordered plenty in
Hallowe’en orders placed before September up by 40 per cent. We
initially, we have had to put in new orders for it almost every day!
have also had our best ever September performance, with sales 45
Décor-wise sales have been pretty much the same as last
per cent up on last year, and October is 31 per cent up so far (as of
year – we haven’t seen a huge increase due to house parties.
23 October). With the busiest week still to come, this refl ects strong
There have been some great parties organised in the town
sales from our retailers, who are already replenishing stock that has
centre though, so that might be why. We opened a shop in
sold out and topping-up on other products. Adult costumes lead the
Sheffi eld six months ago, which has been particularly busy. The
way in best-selling items, with our Fever Miss Whiplash the top-seller,
York branch has been open for ten years and it’s beaten us!”
closely followed by our Tales of Old England range, including Jack the
Ripper, Mrs Lovett, Sweeney Todd and Sherlock Holmes.”
Jane Gibbard
Izzy’s Party Shop, Crawley and Haywards Heath
“In a word – manic! It’s quietened down today (the Saturday after Hallowe’en), but it’s been so busy over the past week, Thursday and Friday in
particular. It’s been like that across both shops as well. There’s no real pattern to what people are asking for, it’s been pretty much anything. We
have had to keep restocking fake blood and face paints – and people have been getting loads and loads of fancy dress.
It’s been so much better than last year – people are still coming in today, although it’s at a steadier rate than yesterday! It’s been interesting
actually – a lot of people have been going for more generic fancy dress rather than the more traditional Hallowe’en styles. Having said that, black
cats seem to be the big thing this year – we’ve sold a lot of masks, ears, tails and whiskers. We’ve sold a lot of décor as well – the whole season
has been great for us.”
Audrey McLellan
Dress the Part, Essex
“It’s been incredibly busy – even today (the Saturday after Hallowe’en) has been fantastic. This has been the best Hallowe’en since I’ve been
here, and this is my fi fth season. People are certainly going for it more this year – they used to be happy just slinging on a cloak, but they’re
putting in a lot more effort now and trying to do something a bit different.
We’re a hire shop, so people have been really going for it when they come in here – we’ve had a huge demand for character outfi ts, which
has meant a lot of make-up! We have actually had a professional face painter in the shop for the last three days, charging on a face-by-face
basis. It’s been really popular – she’s just fi nished doing a car crash victim actually! Because of the Batman fi lm we’ve had a lot of Jokers this
year, and zombies have been really popular as well.”
Party Patter 17
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