Costumer Magazine
-
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
-
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
-
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: 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
Product Parade: Zagone Studios Classic Sock Skull Kit
Intensify your scare with the Zagone Studios UV Reactive White Glow Classic Sock Skull Kit! Moving Mouth Skeleton Mask that is created on a Head Sock for comfort and added safety, Rib Cage Bones on a Rotting Shirt with adjustable Velcro, Skeleton Fin Read more
Jun 2, 2021
2:04 PM
Features
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
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
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
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
Don't Overlook These Financial Benefits
It might seem that the financial panic created by COVID is easing, but don't forget that there are still some important financial benefits available to small businesses affected by the pandemic. Here are three: Read more
Apr 15, 2021
12:51 PM
Videos of NCA Success Summit Posted
The 2021 NCA Success Summit is over, but you can still watch the videos and get in on the fun! The event attracted 33 attendees on Tuesday, March 23 and 28 people on Wednesday, March 24. They enjoyed four information-packed panel discussions and four Read more
Mar 25, 2021
9:09 PM
Wolfe FX: New NCA Vendor Member Offers Make-Up and Dental Distortions Teeth
Make-up is an essential product for many costume shops. It’s sold to theater programs and actors, of course, but also Cosplay fans, make-up artists, and countless other customers who want to change their appearance. In sort, it can be an excellent so Read more
Mar 24, 2021
4:40 PM
Meet NCA Vendor Member KBW Global Corp.: Masters of the Masks
When Danny Wu left China in 1996 to come to the United States, he first traveled to other parts of the world. One stop was Venice, where he was impressed by the fantastic masks that island city is known for. Read more
Mar 8, 2021
7:20 PM
Theatre Garage: New NCA Member is Essential to Edmonton’s Theater Scene
Christy Hutchinson clearly remembers the day she decided that costuming would be her life’s work. “I grew up in an extremely small, rural town in Alberta,” says Hutchinson, owner of new NCA member Theatre Garage in Edmonton, Alberta. “We didn’t have Read more
Feb 24, 2021
9:12 PM
Super Impulse: New NCA Member Aims to Supersize Your Sales with Tiny Items
Wondering how to bring in some extra sales during slow months in your store? New NCA Vendor Member Super Impulse might have the answer. The company, which joined the NCA in January, makes a line of the “World’s Smallest” toys and games that are affor Read more
Feb 23, 2021
10:37 AM
Meet New NCA Member Jacob W. Patorti: Building a Historic Costume Collection
Do you think you have a lot of costumes? Maybe so, but you probably can’t compare with Jacob Patorti, who joined the NCA as a Costume Professional in early February. Patorti has nearly 10,000 hung articles and 400 totes full of accessories. And he’s Read more
Feb 11, 2021
10:03 AM
Chris Zephro: The Man Behind the Trick or Treat Studios Masks
Ever since I was a kid, I loved monster and horror movies. Every day I would go to a video store and just get all the Beta and VHS horror movies, slasher movies. I loved them, always. I grew up in Los Angeles, and my father’s best friend was Irwin Ya Read more
Feb 10, 2021
11:27 AM
Rasta Imposta: Laughter Comes First
NCA Executive Director Ed Avis recently interviewed Robert and Tina Berman, who own Rasta Imposta, a costume manufacturer and NCA Vendor Member. This “first-person” article is based on that interview. Read more
Jan 27, 2021
9:09 PM
First Person: Nigel FeBland, Veteran Costume Industry Sales Rep
Veteran costume industry sales rep Nigel FeBland was recently interviewed by APDSP Executive Director Ed Avis. Here is a “first-person” article about FeBland based on that interview. Read more
Dec 24, 2020
12:42 PM
New NCA Member Go Fun Face: Animal Mask Idea Born on a Plane Ride
The story sounds like a cliché: Guy on a plane strikes up a conversation with the guy in the next seat, talk turns to business, and by the time they land they’re partners in a new company. Only happens in the movies, right? Well, that’s pretty much h Read more
Dec 9, 2020
11:46 AM
Vadym Drobot
Are You Using Your NCA Benefits?
Are you taking advantage of your NCA member benefits? If not, you're missing out on thousands of dollars of savings and having many valuable resources at you fingertips! Here are just some of the benefits you can access: Read more
Nov 24, 2020
4:48 PM
How Was Halloween? NCA Survey Says Not So Good
Depending on who you talk to, Halloween 2020 was either fantastic or a complete bust. The NCA’s own survey, sadly, leans towards the “bust” side of that spectrum. Read more
Nov 11, 2020
4:25 PM
Costuming News
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
Now is the Time to Order Your Free Stickers and Posters!
The NCA Help Halloween Happen campaign is in full swing and now it's time for you to take part! This campaign, generously sponsored by eight NCA Vendor Members, is designed to encourage Halloween events in your community, with a focus on local bricks Read more
Sep 8, 2021
5:44 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
Ken Eperly and Ken Fox Featured in Portrait
Ken Eperly and Ken Fox, former NCA members whose shop was Magic Makers in Huntington, West Virginia, were recently the subject of a portrait painted by artist Jamie Sloan and exhibited in the Sloane Square Gallery. Read more
Jul 6, 2021
12:47 PM
Meet the NCA Board Candidates
It’s almost time to elect new leaders for the NCA! Instead of an in-person event, the election of the Board of Directors will occur on July 13 at 10 a.m. Central during a special Zoom meeting that will also include a webinar or panel discussion (all Read more
May 20, 2021
8:49 AM
Morris Costumes Sells Key Parts of Oriental Trading
NCA Vendor Member Morris Costumes has sold a large part of its business to Oriental Trading. Here is part of the article from the Charlotte Observer about this: Read more
May 6, 2021
2:31 PM
Obituary: Patricia McGehee
We were saddened to learn of the passing of former NCA member Patricia McGehee, who owned Associated Theatrical Contractors in Kansas City, MO. She also created many costumes for productions of the Kansas City Lyric Opera. To read her complete obitua Read more
Apr 6, 2021
11:42 AM
Kryolan Drag Workshop Video Posted
Serving the drag community can be an important market for a costume shop. Tim Pearson, head make-up artist of Kryolan in New York City, stars in this video workshop for drag make-up. Read more
Mar 27, 2021
11:18 AM
NCA Spring Fling Planned for May 13-16
Spring Fling is on! This informal event, which is packed with casual fun and networking among NCA members, both active and retired, will be held May 13-16 in Sugar Creek, Ohio. Read more
Mar 25, 2021
2:59 PM
Mehron Launches New NCA Programs
To help support NCA retailers after a difficult 2020, Mehron is launching new programs designed to dramatically increase store traffic. With the expected pent-up demand for a festive Sunday Halloween, we’ve been working on special new initiatives to Read more
Mar 21, 2021
9:50 AM
