Costumer Magazine
Product Parade
Underwraps: U.S. NAVY™ TOPGUN™ Pilot Jumpsuits
Take Flight with the Original United States NAVY™ TOPGUN™ Fighter Pilot Jumpsuits and Jackets! All-New for 2022 from Underwraps Costumes, Officially Licensed U.S. Navy™ TOPGUN™ Pilot Jumpsuits and Jackets are available for the whole family in Men’s, Read more
May 14, 2022
10:51 AM
Product Parade: Starline Plus Size Costumes
Starline offers a full line of “sexy” plus size costumes. Best sellers include Alluring Sea Siren (S8022X), Rosas Day of The Dead (PK2053XL), and Empress Divine (S9025X). All Starline plus size costumes are designed to flatter the wearer and come in Read more
May 4, 2022
8:27 AM
Product Parade: Barbie in a Box
This Halloween, you can be a real life Barbie Doll in this iconic Barbie Box Adult Costume! Dress up in your favorite stylish outfit, step inside the box, and you’ll look just the iconic toy in no time. The officially licensed Barbie Box costume come Read more
Apr 20, 2022
4:59 PM
Product Parade: Moon Terror Professional Makeup
Camden's Moon Terror Pro FX line provides products for dramatic special effects. The Pro Fake Blood offers a realistic, super thick consistency. It’s quick drying on the skin and smudge proof. Pro FX Liquid Latex is used to create special effects Read more
Apr 7, 2022
7:49 AM
Product Parade: Sunnywood Glitter Flapper
Sunnywood is here for all of your Flapper needs. Create this look with our #4448BK Sequin Flapper, #4439 Lace Gloves (available in white or black), and #4419 Impressive Flapper Headpiece. All at a fabulous value, in stock and ready to ship. Read more
Mar 9, 2022
5:38 PM
Product Parade: Gemar's Periwinkle Latex Balloon
Gemar's Periwinkle latex balloon is the perfect color to celebrate any event in 2022! 💜Very Peri, the color of the year of Pantone is more than just a popular shade though, it also captures a mood. Very Peri represents a moment of transition. Blue Read more
Mar 9, 2022
8:48 AM
Product Parade: Kalan Fake Bloody Soap
Just trying to get clean? This gag item looks like soap but suds like blood. Replace in the shower and wait for the screams to start. Read more
Oct 7, 2021
1:56 PM
Product Parade: Go Fun Face Elephant Mask
Our Elephant masks are great for Halloween, Role Play, show team spirit, or make a hit at any party or event. Each design contains multiple contrasting colors and is light and comfortable to wear. All of our animal mask designs are a one-of-a-kind pi Read more
Aug 26, 2021
4:04 PM
Features
New Vendor Member Western Fashion: Year-Round Sales Opportunities
Costume businesses need products to sell all year, not just at Halloween. Fortunately, new NCA Vendor Member Western Fashion offers a wide variety of costumes that sell in every season. Read more
Jun 16, 2022
8:16 AM
HM Smallwares: Face-to-Face Pays Off; 3D Printing is Part of the Future
Wayne Copoloff began his career at HM Smallwares in 1984 sweeping the floors. His father-in-law, Harry Feigelman, owned the company and needed help. Within months Copoloff was traveling widely to visit suppliers and customers. He took over the compan Read more
May 19, 2022
9:05 AM
New Era for Graftobian: Consolidated Ownership, New Warehouse
NCA Vendor Member Graftobian has had a big year. Eric Coffman, the company’s president, bought out his partner, John Mazur, last June, and the company has moved the make-up manufacturing operations from New York to a new facility in Madison, Wisconsi Read more
May 18, 2022
1:01 PM
Report from Spring Fling 2022
Spring Fling 2022 was amazing!!! Reconnecting with old and new friends is what this weekend was about. Although we spend most of our time shopping, talking, and eating, we always seem to find interesting things to do. Watching the Kentucky Derby toge Read more
May 18, 2022
12:50 PM
Mindscope Products: Get Ready for the Talking Pumpkin
What do people think about when Halloween comes to mind? Costumes, trick-or-treating and jack-o-lanterns, right? You already sell costumes to the Halloween celebrants…and now, thanks to new NCA Vendor Member Mindscope Products, you can sell jack-o-la Read more
May 4, 2022
8:13 AM
Snapshot: Taylor Maid Beauty and Theatrical Supply
“If we can’t make you beautiful, we will sell you a mask.” That tagline sums up the approach Mike Taylor has taken for 47 years at Taylor Maid Beauty and Theatrical Supply, the business he launched in 1975 in University Mall in Orem, Utah to fill the Read more
Apr 20, 2022
3:29 PM
Camden Passage: Safely Changing Customers’ Looks
If you’ve ever had a customer complain about poor quality cosmetic contact lenses or a reaction to make-up, the owners of Camden Passage have a message for you: Their products will not generate those complaints! Read more
Apr 20, 2022
12:44 PM
Six Tips for Sellling “Adult” Costumes/Clothing
Kids getting ready for trick-or-treating or Halloween parades are of course a giant market for your costume shop, but let’s be honest -- adults buy a lot of costumes, too, and in many cases they want their costume to be flattering or downright sexy. Read more
Apr 7, 2022
7:44 AM
What the Heck is Spring Fling?
If you’re a regular reader of NCA Today, you’ve probably seen the little news articles about the upcoming Spring Fling. But what exactly is it? Technically, it’s an informal annual gathering of costumers, not officially operated by the NCA. In realit Read more
Apr 6, 2022
5:34 PM
Be Welcoming: Tips on Serving the Drag Community
When most people think about your costume store, they probably envision happy kids choosing Halloween costumes and cheerful couples picking out party outfits. And those might be the majority of your customers. But you know – probably – that your cust Read more
Mar 23, 2022
9:57 PM
Light Up Your Sales: Visual Effects Party Lights, Fog Machines Can Enliven Your Bottom Line
When you think about a DJ set-up, you probably envision the 1980s version, when everything was big and expensive. Giant speakers, industrial-size fog machines, chunky strobe lights. This stuff was all sold by professional lighting and sound companies Read more
Mar 23, 2022
7:46 AM
Plus Sizes Power Sales at Starline & Party King
Everyone wants to look good in their Halloween costume, even if they don’t have a wispy figure. That fact is why NCA Vendor Member Starline is so successful in plus-size costumes. Read more
Feb 23, 2022
11:07 AM
The Hairy Truth: Mustaches and Beards Can Add to Your Bottom Line
What do kings, Santas, hippies and cowboys all have in common? They’re all known for facial hair. Beards and mustaches are essential components of countless costumes, which means they could potentially add to your bottom line. Read more
Feb 18, 2022
11:06 AM
Blinky Products: New NCA Member Offers Add-On Sales
When you imagine customers in your store shopping for Halloween, you probably envision them buying costumes. But the trick-or-treating experience these days goes beyond dress-up – you should also think about selling pumpkin-shaped candy holders, caul Read more
Feb 9, 2022
8:39 PM
Survey Reveals NCA Member Buying Habits
NCA members play a huge role in the costume industry, based on a survey of their buying habits conducted last week. Read more
Feb 9, 2022
5:38 PM
Five Curated Youtube Videos for Costumers
Looking for some diversion in these weeks before Christmas? Here is a curated list of five inspiring, fun videos on different costuming topics. Enjoy! Read more
Dec 16, 2021
11:24 AM
Funny Fashion: Two-Person Office Serves Up Hippie Wear, Country-Specific Costumes
Do you carry hippie costumes in your store? Or costumes specific to certain countries such as Scotland or Spain? Then you probably are familiar with Funny Fashion, an NCA Vendor Member located in Colorado Springs, Colorado that offers an extensive li Read more
Dec 1, 2021
8:55 PM
Q&A with Jim Lawrence, Horror Artist
There are lots of super-talented people in the costume industry, and one of them is Jim Lawrence, graphics manager for Morris Costumes. In addition to his work for Morris, he is a visual artist. He answers a few questions in this interview. Read more
Nov 17, 2021
12:52 PM
Meet Our New Vendor Member Manic Panic: From Baloney to Blondie to Bath Bombs
The NCA has a lot of fantastic vendor members with interesting back stories, but few can match the origin tale of our newest member, Manic Panic. This New York-based company, which sells a line of hair color in three styles and 60 colors, is led by s Read more
Nov 16, 2021
12:27 PM
Costuming News
NCA Member Selling Rental Costumes Inventory
Jacob & Kimberly Cowger, owners of NCA Member Balloons, Etc & The Costume Emporium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are retiring from the Rental Costume portion of their business. Starting Monday, June 13, 2022, thousands of rental costumes will be for sale. Read more
Jun 13, 2022
8:56 AM
NCA Launching Campaign on Serving Customers with Disabilities
People with disabilities deserve the same enjoyable experience when they're choosing a Halloween costume as anyone else. The NCA is launching "Halloween for All," a campaign to encourage costume retailers to be sensitive to the needs of customers wit Read more
Jun 16, 2022
9:09 AM
Cosplay Webinar Scheduled for Aug. 18
Cosplay is massively popular these days, and if your costume shop is not taking advantage of the trend, you’re missing out! Cosplay aficionados buy make-up, costume pieces, accessories and much more, and they are often year-around customers. The NCA Read more
Jun 16, 2022
9:01 AM
Eight New Buyer Members Join in Last Three Months
We are delighted to report that eight costume businesses have joined the NCA as Buyer Members in the last three months. They are: Read more
May 19, 2022
9:37 AM
Western Fashion Offers Free Shipping
Western Fashion, Inc., which offers a wide variety of costumes, including rental-quality pirate, flapper and Victorian costumes, is offering free shipping to NCA members. Read more
Jun 10, 2022
1:09 PM
Are You Using Your Benefits?
Every once in a while it's a good idea to make sure you're taking full advantage of your NCA member benefits! Your gateway to info about member benefits is the Member Center. Click here to log in, then click on the Resources tab on the left. In case Read more
May 29, 2022
9:20 AM
Four New NCA Vendor Members
The NCA has welcomed four new Vendor Members since March! These companies are committed to serving the costuming industry and NCA member shops in particular, so please consider their products when you're making your purchasing decisions. The new memb Read more
May 29, 2022
9:44 AM
In the News: Late NCA Member John Schenz and His White House Eastern Bunnies
Former NCA member Jim Miller recently shared with us this wonderful article about the Easter Bunnies at the White House and the vital role played by John Schenz, owner of Schenz Theatrical Costumes in Cincinnati, Ohio. Read more
Apr 22, 2022
11:20 AM
From the Vaults: The Dirty Thirties
A hearty welcome by the Mayor of the city was extended to the NCA when they held their convention in Cleveland, Ohio in 1937. Visits were made to the World Exposition and the administration of the event declared a special Costumers Day. C. Arthur Lan Read more
Apr 20, 2022
3:39 PM
From the Vaults: NCA in the Depression
With the depression of the Thirties came bad times for the Association. Many firms were forced to close, and those who were able to weather the storm had to curtail their expenses. The Association, being new, suffered as a result. Interest dropped of Read more
Apr 7, 2022
8:23 AM
2022 "Spring Fling" Scheduled
Would you like to spend time sharing experiences and camaraderie with fellow costumers? Then plan on attending the NCA's Spring Fling on May 5 to 8 in Sugarcreek, Ohio. This is an informal event organized each year by members. More details will follo Read more
Jan 31, 2022
11:11 AM
NCA Member Featured on Podcast
The Life of the Party, an NCA member shop in Fort Collins, Colorado, was recently featured in an episode of the Make a Difference (MAD) Podcast. The conversation covers the process Brandon and Marcia Lilly took to purchase the shop and how Read more
Apr 4, 2022
1:12 PM
Loftus Creates Easy-to-Use Brand Interface
NCA Vendor Member Loftus, which distributes a wide variety of costumes and related merchandise, has created a convenient interface for NCA members to see their complete product line. It is a PDF that shows the brands and contains links to the product Read more
Mar 17, 2022
1:31 PM
Planning Underway for NCA’s 100th Birthday
The NCA is going to be 100 years old in 2023. And when something reaches the ripe old age of 100, you should throw a party! Read more
Mar 9, 2022
6:11 PM
Letter From Lithuania - NCA Member Facing Ukraine War
On Wednesday, NCA Executive Director Ed Avis emailed Tomas Siuipys, CEO of NCA Vendor Member Mustaches, which is located in Lithuania. Lithuania is on the Baltic Sea and borders Belarus to the east and Poland and a small part of Russia on the south. Read more
Mar 9, 2022
4:54 PM
