Costumer Magazine
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NCA Member Profile: The Costumer: Celebrating a Centennial in Schenectady, New York
It’s not every day you hear of a business celebrating its centennial—especially in the costume industry, which has seen more than its share of shops close due to increased competition from Big Box stores, pop-up shops and e-commerce sites. But in Sch Read more
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Kids in Character
On April 22, 2018, Howard Avenue in Old Town Kensington, Maine, will be transformed into a literary wonderland. That Sunday, more than 100 authors, poets, and other participants will celebrate the International Day of the Book with live music, child Read more
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Designing for People with Disabilities:
Brian Allen sees the two customers every year. They come to his shop, Costume Gallery in Lady Lake, Florida, in wheelchairs, and they want costumes just like any other customer. After all, nearly everyone enjoys dressing up occasionally, and using a Read more
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Hats off to Headwear
When you think of buying hats and headwear for your costume shop’s inventory, what first comes to mind? The customers you’re stocking those hats for are likely thinking of Santa hats and witch hats, cowboy hats and pirate hats, top hats and a bowler Read more
Product Parade
Michael Neveux 2017
Glamour Muerta Costume from Starline
Get into the Halloween spirit and celebrate Day of the Dead style when you wear this gorgeous Glamour Muerta Costume! Read more
Feb 20, 2020
1:05 PM
Bunny Mascots from Sunnywood
Our Long Hair Bunny Mascot (#4074) has the Best Bunny Face On The Market! This polyester jumpsuit is covered with Luxurious Plush Fur. The Fully Lined Parade Head, specially designed to fit all head sizes. Attached mittens and attached feet with hard Read more
Feb 20, 2020
1:03 PM
Abigail Self-Tie Frill-Waist Striped Pants
The pants are made using 100% Cotton fabric. Cotton is soft to touch, does not harm your skin in any way & can be worn outdoors without worrying about the heat. The waist is held together with a wide self-tie belt. The belt can be tied in the front t Read more
Jan 23, 2020
2:54 PM
Resident Evil™ 2 Zombie All-Pro Makeup Kit
Resident Evil™ 2 Zombie All-Pro Makeup Kit from Mehron! This deluxe kit lets the every-day gamer bring to life the terrifying Raccoon City zombies from the popular Resident Evil™ 2 video game franchise! The kit contains all of the necessary profes Read more
Jan 23, 2020
2:51 PM
Shazam from Rubies
Rubie’s officially Licensed “Shazam” Deluxe Adult Costume. Our Adult Deluxe Shazam Costume includes a Muscle Chest Jumpsuit with attached 3-D Gauntlets, 3-D Boot Tops, Belt and a Deluxe hooded Cape. Read more
Jan 23, 2020
2:49 PM
Fun World’s Home Run Horror, Voodoo King and Northern Realm Warrior
The latest selection from Fun World includes the CM17132 Home Run Horror with shirt and pants printed with team baseball colors and logo, hat with sculpted ball, and printed socks. The CM11133 Voodoo King includes a shirt with attached vest and skull Read more
Jan 9, 2020
9:42 AM
elope, Inc.’s Hogwarts Robes.
Capture the magic of an older Hogwarts™ with this upscale line of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald™ 1920's Hogwarts Robes by elope. Inspired by the film, this robe embraces vintage styling to transport fans into the past of the famous Wiza Read more
Jan 9, 2020
9:33 AM
General Label Custom Woven Labels
Our custom woven labels are available in sew-in, stick-on or iron-on applications. Damask weaving produces a high-quality label that enhances any garment. Hi-definition weaving is used when designs having very small details need to be woven. Read more
Dec 18, 2019
10:52 AM
Features
Costumers Unite to Help the Healthcare Workers!
The NCA is sponsoring an effort to make 1,000 masks for medical personnel. The NCA 1,000 Mask Challenge acknowledges that many costume professionals are excellent sewers, and their skills can be put to use making these much-needed masks. Read more
Mar 27, 2020
2:59 PM
Coronavirus Webinar Video Posted, Other Resources
The recording of today's webinar titled "Coronavirus and Costume Shops" can now be viewed online. The webinar covered issues such as how long the virus lives on clothing, how to keep customers engaged, and what the various new federal acts entail. Read more
Mar 27, 2020
3:01 PM
8 Coronavirus Survival Tips for NCA Members
It’s bad out there, folks, and we all know it. “I have had to date nine cancellations, half who had already made a down payment (they get a one year credit towards anything that I offer) and the other half had not paid; I may not get their business a Read more
Mar 19, 2020
1:53 PM
Escape from Europe: The Adventure of NCA Executive Director Ed Avis
If it wasn’t for the coronavirus, right about now I’d be writing you a first-hand report about a few costume shops in Germany. Instead I’m sitting in my boring little office in Chicago pondering my adventure of the last few days. Read more
Mar 19, 2020
2:28 PM
Check out these “Cons!” for Costume Ideas & Trends
If you’re wondering what kinds of costumes and accessories your customers might be looking for, checking out events in your area is one way to find out. The following list of March and April fan conventions, courtesy of UpcomingCons (upcomingcons.com Read more
Mar 5, 2020
10:00 AM
Association Report: Costumers Take On New Orleans
New Orleans is known for Mardi Gras and its overall festive atmosphere—so it makes sense that the Crescent City is beloved by costumers. That fact was evident when costumers from all over the country hit town for the 2020 Halloween & Party Expo, held Read more
Mar 5, 2020
9:54 AM
Couple’s Costumes: From Silly to Sexy, Pairs Want to Look Good Together
Halloween parties are a great time for couples to show off, and you can profit by making your costume shop a couple’s costume destination this fall. Read more
Feb 20, 2020
1:36 PM
Performance Studios: New owners honor the tradition, plan for the future
In January 2019, Ryan and TK Kelly became the proud owners of Performance Studios—the business that Glenn Alexander and former NCA president Gary Broadrick opened as a professional-grade makeup store on Church Street in downtown Nashville in 1989. T Read more
Feb 20, 2020
11:19 AM
“Creative Crew” Brings New Life to a San Francisco Costume Shop
he 2020 Halloween & Party Expo in New Orleans offered the opportunity to meet many NCA members—Austin Efurd, owner of Looks Costuming on Haight, was one of them. The story he shared about taking ownership of Costuming on Haight, a shop that had been Read more
Feb 6, 2020
11:11 AM
Plus-Size Costumes Can Equal Plus-Size Profits
The medical community has been lamenting the growing waistlines of Americans for years now, but some members of the costume community have another view of that situation. After all, if your costume business successfully sells plus-size costumes, larg Read more
Jan 23, 2020
1:42 PM
NCA Executive Director: HPE Was a Learning Experience
I've been tangentially involved in the costume industry for about the past five years, as publisher of Costumer, NCA's member publication. And Kathy Furore, my wife, has been equally involved as editor of Costumer. But now that we are also managing t Read more
Jan 23, 2020
1:25 PM
Gallery: 2020 Halloween & Party Show
We visited some NCA Vendor Members who exhibited at the Halloween & Party Expo in New Orleans on January 17, 2020. Enjoy the gallery! Read more
Jan 18, 2020
11:19 AM
Big Changes at NCA
With the new decade comes a batch of changes at NCA! First, the management team has changed. Ed Avis and Kathy Furore, the couple who have managed The Costumer magazine for the past five years, are now the new association managers. They have been man Read more
Dec 17, 2019
4:01 PM
My Favorite Costume: Gene Flaharty, Mehron, Inc.
Gene Flaharty might not be a costume shop owner or employee—but he certainly knows a lot about costuming! As the makeup artist/product expert/sales manager for Mehron Inc., Flaharty has been part of the costume/theater scene for decades. And in his m Read more
Jan 9, 2020
9:27 AM
Masks—Unmasked!
Another Halloween is in the books and the Christmas season is coming to an end. What are some ways to march into the new year armed with ideas to perk up sales? Don’t overlook masks! Read more
Dec 18, 2019
10:47 AM
Costuming News
Coronavirus Stimulus Package Update
As more and more states implement shutter-in-place/stay-at-home orders to “flatten the curve,” retailers and other small businesses are becoming more and more concerned: What does this mean for our business now and in the immediate future? Read more
Mar 26, 2020
1:57 PM
Mehron Live-Streaming on Instragram During Coronavirus Crisis
Looking for something to fill your social-distancing time? NCA Vendor Member Mehron is responding to the coronavirus crisis by turning to Instagram. The company is live-streaming programs on various topics related to their make-up products. Here is t Read more
Mar 25, 2020
4:22 PM
NCA Schedules Coronavirus Webinar
We need to talk! Join us on Friday, March 27 at 10 a.m. Central (11 EDT, 9 MDT, 8 PDT) for a webinar titled "Coronavirus and Costume Shops: A Conversation Among NCA Members." This event is open to all costume industry professionals, including shop ow Read more
Mar 25, 2020
1:18 PM
San Antonio Kids Shop in Dinosaur Costumes
With coronavirus on everyone's mind, one San Antonio family made it their mission to bring a bit of joy to fellow H-E-B shoppers. Pilar Pinilla's kids provided comic relief to customers at a Leon Springs H-E-B last week by shopping in dinosaur costu Read more
Mar 19, 2020
2:45 PM
Costumes from Easley's Fun Shop Going to Charities
The new owner of the building that housed Easley's Fun Shop in Phoenix is donating all the costumes and party supplies inside to charities and children's hospitals. "We ended up getting a lot of inventory that we thought we could do a lot of good wi Read more
Mar 19, 2020
2:41 PM
Party City Closing All Stores Due to Pandemic
Party City announced on Tuesday that it will temporarily close its corporate owned and operated retail locations in the United States effective immediately, in an effort to help contain the spread of COVID-19 and align with the evolving guidance fro Read more
Mar 19, 2020
2:36 PM
R. H. Smith & Sons Ltd. Acquires Chasing Fireflies
Market leaders in design, manufacture and distribution of all things dress-up and party, RH Smith & Sons (T/A Smiffys), have acquired the Chasing Fireflies brand after its holding company went into administration. Read more
Mar 10, 2020
10:41 AM
Mehron Expands In-Store Dealer Support Program
Mehron has announced that it has expanded its In-Store Dealer Support Program, including product training, events, sales materials, merchandising tips, and application instruction. Dramatically increase your sales, learn more to Read more
Mar 4, 2020
3:10 PM
Meet Your Peers...Online!
One of the benefits of attending a convention is that you can casually chat with friends and new acquaintances. Those face-to-face interactions are often educational and sometimes lead to new business opportunities. Now you c Read more
Feb 21, 2020
8:22 AM
Inside the Costume Shop
If you’ve ever been to a UW School of Drama performance, then in all likelihood you have seen actors in costumes built by the costume shop or from the extensive collection of stock in the drama building. Read more
Mar 5, 2020
10:42 AM
Oregon Boy in Wheelchair Gets Monstor Truck Costume
Outside the Moda Center, with 66-inch high wheels sat fan-favorite Grave Digger. The monster truck has traveled the world for 38 years racing around a dirt track, doing high-flying jumps and smashing cars. Read more
Mar 5, 2020
10:37 AM
Why Did Suffragists Wear Medieval Costumes?
In the past four years, American women have dressed as Atwoodian handmaids to protest abortion restrictions and the nomination of Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh; the “pussy hat” was the accessory of choice at the 2017 Women’s March (and subseq Read more
Mar 5, 2020
10:34 AM
Famous London Costume Shop Forced to Move
A family-run costume shop that dressed A-listers for seven generations was forced to move out of its West End location after 180 years amid “high rents and rates.” Read more
Mar 5, 2020
10:17 AM
NCA Exec Visits Denver Member Wizard's Chest
Who are these handsome bearded dudes? NCA Executive Director Ed Avis visited Wizard's Chest, an NCA member in Denver, on Monday, February 17. Avis interviewed co-owner Kevin Pohle for a new series of videos that will debut soon on www.costumers.com. Read more
Feb 20, 2020
1:46 PM
NCA Forming Costumer Advisory Panel
We want your input! The NCA is forming the Costumer Advisory Panel, a group of members who will help NCA staff learn about members' needs and preferences. The panel will be asked to share their opinions about programs and editorial content in Costume Read more
Feb 20, 2020
1:25 PM
