Costumer Magazine
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Meet New Board Member Courtland Hickey: Leading Chicago Costume Into the Future
Courtland Hickey grew up surrounded by costumes. Hickey’s mom, Mary, was a costume designer for New York Costume Company while attending the Goodman Theatre school in Chicago until she opened her own store, Chicago Costume, in 1976. Today Hickey, who Read more
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How Bricks-and-Mortar Costume Shops Can Beat Amazon This Halloween
Somebody should make a mask of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, because he is the scariest character of all for bricks-and-mortar retailers. But during an NCA members-only panel discussion on July 13, four experts offered ideas on beating Amazon this Hallo Read more
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5 Tips for Selling Non-Costume Items
Costume sales and rentals are the bread and butter of most NCA members, but some savvy members add revenue by selling non-costume items. One of the panel discussions during the recent NCA Success Summit focused on that topic, and we’ve collected five Read more
Product Parade
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
Product Parade: Go Fun Face T-Rex Masks
Our T-Rex masks are great to make a hit at any party or event. Each design contains multiple contrasting colors and is light and comfortable to wear. Our T-Rex Masks are perfect for Halloween, Museums, Zoos, Tailgating, Sports Fans, Cosplay, Mascots, Read more
Aug 26, 2021
4:01 PM
Product Parade: PirateDressing Steampunk Show Girl Skirt
Steampunk Show Girl Skirt is made using soft & durable Rayon Fabric. The skirt has Four Tiers of Ruffles with adjustable length in front. The skirt can be worn down for Victorian styling, up on one side for Gypsy styling or front tied up for vintage Read more
Aug 12, 2021
3:46 PM
Product Parade: Inspirit Fortnite Costumes
Inspirit Designs presents officially licensed Fortnite costumes. Pictured is the Fortnite 8-Ball youth costume which is new for 2021! Quality, value and attention to detail are what set our costumes apart from the rest - check out the 8-Ball costum Read more
Jul 29, 2021
1:40 PM
Product Parade: Disney Princess Adaptive Wheelchair Cover
Arrive to the ball in style in our Disney Princess Carriage Adaptive Wheel Chair Cover! The cover features fully sublimated magical Cinderella carriage art throughout and comes with 2 felt carriage pieces, 2 large wheel covers, 2 small wheel covers, Read more
Jul 15, 2021
2:37 PM
Product Parade: Joe Exotic Tiger Honey
Get ready to take a walk on the wild side, babes! The Official Joe Exotic Tiger Honey costume from Starline will have onlookers fawning for your attention. Rawr! Read more
Jun 30, 2021
4:15 PM
Product Parade: Disguise Inflatable T-Rex
The new Officially Licensed Jurassic World Inflatable T-Rex Adult Costume. This is a fully-covered, fan-operated inflating jumpsuit that includes a sewn-in transparent vinyl window that keeps the occupant completely covered. Features some fearsome s Read more
Jun 17, 2021
12:52 PM
Features
Linda Adams Foat: Happiness in Costuming Leads to Honorary Lifetime Membership
In 1982 Linda Adams Foat needed something happy in her life to help her cope with a stressful family incident. She found joy in music classes at her local community college. Read more
Oct 20, 2021
7:14 PM
Inventory Problems Crimping Halloween Profits
Halloween is just around the corner, and supply chain issues are putting a pinch in profits at costume shops. That’s one conclusion from an NCA survey conducted earlier this week. Read more
Oct 20, 2021
6:49 PM
Do You Like Fancy Hats? You’ll Love This Story
Regular readers of Costumer magazine know that Judith M Millinery Supply has been a regular advertiser for years. So when Judith Mishler, the owner, told me last year that she had sold her business, I wanted to learn who the new owner was. It took a Read more
Oct 7, 2021
12:55 PM
Looking for New Start? Maybe Renaissance Rose Will be Your Rebirth
If you happen to be in Ashland, Oregon when their Halloween parade rumbles through downtown, you’ll notice a distinct lack of sameness. People in this town pride themselves in creating their own looks. Read more
Sep 20, 2021
10:39 AM
Meet Terry Sinopoli: It’s All About Family for New Board Member
When you talk to Terry Sinopoli about her work in the retail costume business, you quickly realize one key thing: Everything she does is connected to family. Read more
Sep 8, 2021
11:45 AM
Q&A: Zagone Studios – Halloween Will be Nuts!
Editor’s Note: Again this year the NCA is hosting the Help Halloween Happen campaign, which will help members bring more customers in the door. The campaign is sponsored by vendor members, including Zagone Studios. In this interview, Marketing Direct Read more
Sep 8, 2021
4:59 PM
The Costumer: Five Years After Taking Over, New Owners are Hitting Their Stride
In 2016, when Bonnie and Erik Johnsen acquired The Costumer, a costume business in Schenectady, NY, they knew they were not just buying a store. They were buying nearly a century of history. Read more
Jun 17, 2021
11:02 AM
A Halloween Q&A With Leslie Wandell, Ellie Shoes
Again this year the NCA is hosting the Help Halloween Happen campaign, which will help members bring more customers in the door. The campaign is sponsored by vendor members, including Ellie Shoes. In this interview, Leslie Wandell, director of sales Read more
Aug 26, 2021
11:39 AM
Bricks-and-Mortar Costume Shops Have the Charm Advantage
As this crazy year bumps along towards Halloween, I’ve been thinking about how bricks-and-mortar stores – and NCA members specifically – will be able to maximize their sales. I’ve also been talking to Vendor and Buyer members about that topic, so th Read more
Aug 12, 2021
3:16 PM
Q&A: Meet NCA Vice President Janine Caufield
Janine Caufield, who just re-joined the NCA Board of Directors as vice president, recently shared some stories about her time in costuming with NCA Executive Director Ed Avis. Here is an edited transcript of that conversation. Read more
Aug 12, 2021
10:26 AM
Are You Taking the Employee Retention Tax Credit?
Many costume businesses were greatly helped by the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), which offered significant forgivable loans to small businesses hurt by the COVID pandemic. But another big benefit exists, at least if you kept your employees on pay Read more
Jul 29, 2021
11:44 AM
Q&A: Meet Brandon Lilly, New NCA Board Member, Owner of The Life of the Party
Brandon Lilly was nominated for the Board from the floor of the 2021 NCA Business Meeting, and was subsequently elected. In this interview he explains how he got into the costuming business and his hopes for the future. Read more
Jul 29, 2021
10:31 AM
Many Changes to NCA Board
The NCA Board looked much different after the 2021 Business Meeting on July 13. One long-time member concluded her term, leadership at the top shifted, and three new people joined. Read more
Jul 15, 2021
2:22 PM
Family Veldman
Expert: Vaccination Rates, Lack of Blockbuster Movies to Affect Halloween 2021
Halloween 2021 has a lot of potential for bricks-and-mortar retailers, says Tom Arnold, a professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia who is regarded as an expert on Halloween retail issues. But Arnold cautions that retailers’ success at Hall Read more
Jun 30, 2021
3:03 PM
elope: Growth Accelerates as Part of Fun.com
It’s not often that a major manufacturer gets acquired by a customer, but that’s exactly what happened a year ago when Fun.com acquired elope. Read more
Jun 30, 2021
8:59 AM
Monkey Business Images
Panel to Discuss Halloween 2021 on July 13
How will costume retailers do this coming Halloween? That will be the topic of an NCA virtual panel discussion on July 13 at 10 a.m. Central time. The event will feature Tom Arnold, a professor at Richmond University who is an expert on Halloween ret Read more
Jun 17, 2021
12:41 PM
Morris Costumes: New Owners Don’t Plan Big Changes
NCA Vendor Member Morris Costumes is entering a new stage in its existence. The main components of the company, including its wholesale business and the HalloweenExpress.com website, were sold to Oriental Trading Company in March. Morris’ retail Hall Read more
May 19, 2021
3:21 PM
NCA Survey: Costumers Reopening, Slightly Optimistic
Larry Dockter, co-owner of Broadway Costumes & Theatrical Supply in Sacramento, California, has a pretty good feeling about his business in the coming year. “I’m optimistic because of how October was for us last year,” he says, explaining that he sa Read more
May 6, 2021
1:39 PM
Selling Costumes Online: Five Key Take-Aways From the NCA Success Summit
The first panel discussion during the 2021 NCA Success Summit featured Courtland Hickey of Chicago Costume and Terry Sinopoli of Arlene’s Costumes in Rochester, NY discussing their experiences selling products online. Here are five key take-aways fro Read more
Apr 22, 2021
1:51 PM
Costuming News
Underwraps Has Plenty of Halloween Inventory
The NCA received an email today from Irene Shaffa at Underwraps (an NCA Vendor Member) in which she said they have a lot of Halloween-related inventory that can be shipped same-day. So if you need something and you're not finding it at other supplier Read more
Oct 20, 2021
8:00 PM
NCA and NCA Members Featured in Costume-Shortage News Articles, Programs
The Halloween season means articles about costumes, and that puts the NCA and NCA members in the minds of journalists. Read more
Oct 20, 2021
7:39 PM
2021 NCA Digital Catalog Published
NCA members can check out top products from 23 NCA Vendor Members in the newly published 2021 NCA Digital Catalog. The catalog contains 75 pages of products, ranging from costumes to wigs to toys, all available from NCA Vendor Members. To access the Read more
Oct 11, 2021
3:31 PM
NCA Members: Get Your Free Halloween Stickers!
The NCA 2021 Help Halloween Happen campaign has started and now it's time for you to take part! This campaign, generously sponsored by Zagone Studios and Ellie Shoes, is designed to encourage Halloween events in your community, with a focus on local Read more
Sep 8, 2021
10:00 PM
Members-Only Facebook Group Created
The NCA Publications and Publicity Committee has created a special members-only Facebook Group, and we invite you to join! This group page will be a great resource for industry-specific tips, information, news, questions/answers, and NCA opportunitie Read more
Oct 7, 2021
1:51 PM
Three Costume Businesses For Sale
We recently received word about three costume businesses for sale, either as entire businesses or in parts or inventory. Click on the name of the business below to get more details: Read more
Sep 20, 2021
11:09 AM
NCA Vendor Member Increases Distribution of Cosplayflex
Previously only available at a handful of small retailers, Cosplayflex™, a one-of-a-kind and extremely popular thermoplastic used by cosplayers and creators, is now available at Hobby Lobby stores nationwide. Cosplayflex is manufactured in Germany an Read more
Sep 22, 2021
9:45 PM
NCA Committees Restructured
NCA’s committees have been restructured to better handle the needs and opportunities facing the association. Read more
Sep 22, 2021
4:17 PM
Order Your Free Halloween Stickers and Posters!
The NCA 2021 Help Halloween Happen campaign has started and now it's time for you to take part! This campaign, generously sponsored by Zagone Studios and Ellie Shoes, is designed to encourage Halloween events in your community, with a focus on local Read more
Oct 6, 2021
8:20 PM
Wanna Talk About Halloween? NCA Schedules "Virtual Roundtables"
With Halloween coming up quickly, and lots of uncertainty surrounding it, it might help to chat with some fellow NCA members, right? We are scheduling two "virtual roundtables," which will allow you to openly discuss the holiday, costumes, shipments, Read more
Sep 8, 2021
5:36 PM
Obituary: Douglas Pinckney
The NCA was saddened to learn of the passing in November of Douglas Pinckney, a salesperson well known in the costuming community. Pinckney, who was 82, represented Fun World. Read more
Jul 29, 2021
1:27 PM
Help Halloween Happen Campaign Planned for 2021
Last year's Help Halloween Happen campaign helped NCA members weather the COVID-damaged Halloween season last fall. This year should definitely be better -- assuming enough people get vaccinated -- but it still won't be quite a normal Halloween. With Read more
Jul 29, 2021
1:16 PM
Family Veldman
Recording of Halloween Panel Posted
Did you miss Tuesday's NCA members-only panel discussion about what to expect at Halloween this year? Don't worry, you can view the recording and/or read a transcript by logging into the NCA Member Portal and selecting the box that says Recorded Web Read more
Jul 15, 2021
2:34 PM
Obituary: Gary Ingoldsby
The NCA was extends condolences to the family of Gary Ingoldsby, a long-time sales representative known to many NCA members on both the Buyer and Vendor side. Ingoldsby, who passed away at age 80 on June 5, represented Halco, Kalan, RG Cosutmes, Tric Read more
Jul 14, 2021
8:43 AM
Monkey Business Images
Panel to Discuss Halloween 2021 on July 13
How will costume retailers do this coming Halloween? That will be the topic of an NCA virtual panel discussion on July 13 at 10 a.m. Central time. The event will feature Tom Arnold, a professor at Richmond University who is an expert on Halloween ret Read more
Jun 17, 2021
12:41 PM
