message from the editor...
appy June everyone! I hope we’re all well in partyland and that everyone is having a lovely time getting ready for the World Cup and BBQ season. Pile that bunting high this year, because the Party Party prediction is that it’s going to be a good summer for partying! OK, that’s the pleasantries out of the way. There’s no time for any of my usual ramblings (I know, I know, they’ll be sorely missed) because we have got a lot of things to cover in this leader. So much has happened recently – honestly, it feels like I haven’t spoken to you for ages! Of course, that might be because this issue of Party Party has been ever so slightly delayed – the reasons for which I will explain later. Suffi ce to say we wouldn’t hold back your bi-monthly party fi x for no good reason! But fi rst things fi rst – the British Costume Association’s Party and Costume Show took place back in April, in a place many of you will be familiar with; Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry. Party Party unfortunately wasn’t able to attend, but waited with baited breath for reports back from the show. We weren’t disappointed! Perhaps the politest way to describe the feedback we received was a mixed bag, as while some people loved the show, others have vowed never to return. So while the BCA have achieved what they set out to achieve – that is, a niche show which provides the smaller exhibitors with an opportunity to meet with retailers in a trade atmosphere – I don’t think anyone could argue that ‘approximately 150 retailers’ is the fabulous return to the heydays of the Party Show that ‘we’ all keep harping on about (there are 4000 retailers on Party Party’s circulation list!).
H
Of course, I say we in the loosest possible sense. As a trade publication, Party Party has a responsibility to report what we hear back to you, the retailer. And we know that, on the whole, exhibitors want the old party show back. We know that they miss the energy, the camaraderie, the footfall… but do you? Now that we have the convenience that is internet ordering and drop-shipping, has the need for an industry-specifi c trade show gone away? Is the party-centric Hall 5 at the Spring Fair now enough for you to source new product, fi nd out what’s going on in the industry and network with your peers? It seems Party Party is not alone in asking this question. Bristol Novelty’s Chris Bater sent through a plaintive open letter, addressing retailers up and down the country. You can read it on page 6. He asks for you to respond via the Bristol Novelty website – and without resorting to terrible clichés about squeaky wheels getting the most oil, I would urge you to do so. Giving feedback is important even if you
couldn’t care less, and have no intention of attending a trade show for the rest of your life (which would be crazy, by the way, but that’s a whole other issue) – but especially if you do. And I suspect most of you do. After all – if the suppliers and manufacturers you work with every single day don’t know what you actually want, they won’t know how best to work with you. It’s hardly aerospace engineering. This back to basics attitude appears to be popular in the industry at the moment. In a controversial move, John Bowler (ex-chairman of NABAS) has set up his own organisation – the Balloon and Party Industry Alliance (BAPIA), after becoming disillusioned with the direction NABAS was taking, particularly once the larger manufacturers had withdrawn their support and membership. John claims BAPIA will be able to implement decisions: “quickly, effi ciently and without the need to bring committees together to make decisions or work out the fi ner details”. John approached Party Party as the leading information source for the party trade and asked if we would come on board as media partner for the group. Naturally, Party Party then proceeded to quiz him all about it. You can read the results of our chat and fi nd out the fi ner details on page 12. Lastly we turn to the reason that this issue is hitting your counters a week or two later than you might have been expecting it. Let it never be said that Party Party is one to shy away from experimenting – well, you can’t have a party magazine that is afraid to look at the developing world of partying, can you! We all know that the crossover between sexy fancy dress and certain hen and stag novelties and product found in adult shops is increasing. As such we have taken the proverbial bull by the proverbial horn and previewed the Erotic Trade Only trade show in this issue. Taking place in July, it’s a great show to increase your options for standard product (sexy policewomen anyone?) and fi nd new product that will work within your store. I’m not going to go into it in too much detail here (turn to page 41 for that!), but we have kept the preview at the back of the magazine, after our usual risqué feature. Consider yourselves warned!
Enjoy the issue!
Jacqui Editor
Party Party
As a trade publication, Party Party has a responsibility to report what we hear back to you, the retailer. And we know that, on the whole, exhibitors want the old party show back. We know that they miss the energy, the camaraderie, the footfall… but do you?
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52