Costumer Magazine, Winter 2023

The

CONTENTS

Sassy Royals Hats

10

FEATURES

6

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An NCA Exclusive: Halloween 2024 Survey

10 Hats Off To Hats Top off sales with head-topping fashions.

By Kathleen Furore

24 2024 Buyer’s Group DEPARTMENTS

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In The Industry

14 Business Basics — Scholastic Theater 17 Meet a Board Member — A Q&A with Anne Dorsey 18 Member Profile — Evil Izzy’s 20 Product Parade 28 My Favorite Costume COSTUMERS.ORG

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WINTER 2023

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NCA ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT

DIRECTOR

Terry Sinopoli Arlene's Costumes 1156 Culver Rd. Rochester, NY 14609 terry@arlenescostumes.com 585-662-9942 Term ends: 2025

Anne Dorsey McCabe's Costumes 4054 S. Memorial Dr. Winterville, NC 28590 mccabescostumes@gmail. com Term ends: 2026

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

DIRECTOR

Pam Markel Illusive Skull Costume Castle 1314 Morgantown Ave. Fairmont, WV 26554 docmarkel@aol.com 304-476-7927 Term ends: 2025

Courtland Hickey Chicago Costume 1120 W. Fullerton Ave. Chicago, IL 60614 courtland@chicagocostume. com 773-528-1264 Term ends: 2025

VICE PRESIDENT

DIRECTOR

J anine Caufield Caufield's 1006 West Main St. Louisville, KY 40202 J anine@caufields.com 502-727-5682 Term ends: 2024

Dwayne Ibsen Ibsen Costume Gallery 4981 Hamilton St. Omaha, NE 68132 402-556-1400 Fax 402-556-5727 ibsencostumes@ gmail.com Term ends: 2024

TREASURER

Louella Torrence Drop Me a Line Costume Shop 3600 Catherine Ave. Allentown, PA 18103 dropmealine@rcn.com 610-360-5498 Term ends: 2025 DIRECTOR

Marion Bradley Discount Costumes 1736 Watson Blvd Warner Robins, GA 31093 balloonsnpartiesinfo@ gmail.com 478-396-1204 Term ends: 2026

DIRECTOR

Brandon Lilly 7he Lifo ofthe Party 4025 S. Mason St., Ste B. Fort Collins, CO 80525 brandon.lilly@goodsforgeeks. com 970-414-0857 Term ends: 2025

Buyer Member Benefits: Courtland Hickey, Chicago Costume Vendor Benefits: Terry Sinopoli, Arlene's Costumes Membership Recruitment: Brandon Lilly, 7he Lifo of the Party Revenue: Louella Torrence, retired Publications and Publicity: Janine Caufield, Caufield's Nominations and Awards: Marion Bradley, Discount Costume Bereavement, Disaster and Grievance: J anine Caufield, Caufield's History: Dwayne Ibsen, Ibsen Costume Gallery and Louella Torrence, retired

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INVOICES SENT OOT

The invoices for your 2024 membership dues have been emailed to all current members. Please pay promptly to ensure that your membership remains current!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ed Avis National Costumers Association 708-218-7755 executivedirector@costumers. org

DIRECTOR

Calvin Coffman Graftobian 510 Tasman St. Madison, WI 53714 608-222-7849 calvincoffinan@graftobian.com Term ends: 2026

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2023 STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS

If you didn't get an invoice, please contact Ed Avis at executivedirector@costumers.org or 708-218-7755.

TIIANKYOU! 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

COSTUMERS.ORG

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PRESIDENT'S LETTER

NATIONAL

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Hello my NCA friends, Christmas is my favorite time of the year (besides Halloween, of course). I come from a big family, and we know how to celebrate the holidays, especially Christmas. We cook, bake, listen to Christmas music, watch movies and TV specials, cut down our own Christmas tree, and most importantly, spend time together. When I was little, my dad played Santa for private parties, company and community events, and other special events - even for our family until I was old enough to recognize the guy in the red suit. He was even the Xerox Santa for 10 years. He was always looking for the BEST Santa Suit, bells, boots and everything Santa.

As Christmas and the holiday season nears, Santa and his helpers will be feverishly looking for friendly, well-stocked shops and online stores to help find their Santa Suits, Mrs. Claus and elves costumes, accessories and, of course, decorations. Please take advantage of all that our Vendor Members have to offer for the holidays. This is a great way to finish the year on a strong note.

We all made it through Halloween! I hope that you are all getting a little time to rest and enjoy time with friends and family. Sadly, I have to ask the not-so-fun question ... How was your Halloween?

Unfortunately, most members of the NCA who responded to our annual post-Halloween survey reported that sales of costumes and masks were lower in 2023 compared to 2022. On a positive note, according to our survey respondents, the sales of accessories and makeup climbed, and costume rentals were up. We have high hopes for a better holiday season and 2024. Halloween 2024 will fall on a Thursday night which is much better than a Tuesday.

Your Board of Directors has been working all year to give you great ideas to improve your sales for every season. We invite you to look back through our social media posts, bi-weekly newsletters, and The Costumer for fantastic ideas. Don't be afraid to reach out to directors or long-time members for suggestions. We have a general NCA Facebook Page and a Members' Only Page. We also have an Instagram Page. We have events all year long to help improve business, give amazing ideas and to get together as colleagues and friends.

This past year we had our 100th Birthday Celebration, Spring Fling 2023, Zoom Fashion Show, the Preview of the 2024 NCA Bundle Program and a variety of get togethers.

Another great way to see what is happening in our industry is to attend the Halloween & Party Expo in Las Vegas, January 23-25,2024. You can meet our members (including vendors), check out demonstrations and learn about new products.

Are you thinking about your New Year's resolution? Why not make one you can keep.

I invite you to become an active participant in the National Costumers Association in the new year. Like or follow us on our socials, join us for webinars and special events. This is YOUR NCA! Please help us make 2024 an amazing one for our organization and our industry!

All my best for a festive holiday season and wonderful new year,

Terry Sinopoli, President National Costumers Association

Arlene's Costumes, Rochester, New York WINTER2023

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COSTUMERS.ORG

NCA National Headquarters Ed Avis Executive Director P.O. Box 13347 Chicago, IL 60613 708-218-7755 executivedirector@costumers.org

1he Costumer Publications Office Ed Avis Associates P.O. Box 13347 Chicago, IL 60613 708-218-7755 executivedirector@costumers.org Ad Sales Ed Avis 708-218-7755 executivedirector@costumers.org Editorial Inquiries Kathleen Furore 708-267-0023 kfurore@yahoo.com

Art Director Michelle Crisanti michelle@mc2chicago.com ©2023, National Costumers Association.

The Costumer is published by the National Costumers Association, Inc., with headquarters located at the above address, a nonprofit and incorporated association of costumers located in the United States, Australia, Bahamas, Canada, India, Ireland, Mexico, and Great Britain.

No responsibility is assumedfor the opinions expressed or claims made by the authors ofarticles or by advertisers.

Appearance in the magazine does not constitute endorsement by the National Costumers Association, nor its ojftcers or representatives.

www.costumers.org

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W 'VE GOT YOUR HOLIDAYS COVERED.

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AN NCA EXCLUSIVE

Survey Reveals Scary Results from Halloween 2023 ByEdAvis The data has arrived, and it doesn't paint a pretty picture: According to NCA members, Halloween 2023 was one to forget. In an NCA survey in early November, 70 percent of respondents reported that sales of costumes and masks were "somewhat worse" or "much worse" in 2023 compared to 2022.

Costume rentals fared equally poorly - 71 percent said those were "somewhat worse" or "much worse" this year.

Why? An open -ended question in the survey asked store owners how they felt overall, and their responses provided some insight. On the negative side: • Shipping problems delayed stock arrivals until October.

That complaint, which came from several store owners, was likely an anecdotal problem because in a question about stocking, only 21 percent of respondents said they received less than 75 percent of what they ordered.

• Some vendors became competitors. As one respondent complained, "Vendors are increasingly and unashamedly competing direcdy with us on e-sales platforms, impacting sales and adding insult to injury."

• Halloween fell on a Tuesday. Kids still want to trick or treat regardless of the day, but a mid-week Halloween definitely lessens the enthusiasm for adult parties - and those corresponding sales.

• There was no Hollywood blockbuster movie to drive kids' costume sales. Barbie was good, of course, but that film could not compare to a Harry Potter movie, for example.

• lnfiation had an impact. ''A lot of people did not have as much to spend on Halloween due to increased costs for basic necessities," one survey respondent wrote.

• Amazon and the big box stores cut into sales. Lots of people complained about that ultimate bugaboo. One respondent said Spirit Halloween opened FIVE stores in his town!

Hard to compete against that.

There were bright spots in the survey.

Several respondents said they knew sales would dip after the pent-up demand post-Covid evaporated, so they planned accordingly and stocked a bit less. Those respondents said

IIVJ'§il!i'l'*¥11 6 COSTUMERS.ORG

COSTUME/MASK SALES in 2023 vs. 2022 • Much Worse: 24% • Somewhat Worse: 46% • Flat:22% Somewhat Better: 8%

Halloween lived up to- or rather "down to"- their diminished expectations.

Here are a few of the positive, or at least semi-positive, comments made by survey respondents: "We were relieved by the end of the season. It was slower to build than usual and we were quite worried. Friday the 13th was magical- suddenly everyone realized that Halloween was approaching. Sales finally started to build and 'browsers' finally turned into 'shoppers."' ''Almost nothing was going on until the last 10 days. It poured on afterwards but off by a litde bit. Not bad but a litde underwhelming."

"We were pleased. Even though we were down from last year by about 13 percent, we were even with 2021 and just looking at 2023 as the year EVERYONE was done with Covid.

So back to 'normal' this year. Could have been just a litde higher, but overall, ok."

There was some encouraging data about how many NCA members are using their member benefits to better stock their stores. Eighty-one percent of respondents said they use the Buyer's Group to get discounts; 31 percent ordered from the NCA Bundle Program; 25 percent ordered "last-minute" specials from NCA Vendor Members; and 28 percent ordered NCA Exclusive products.

Halloween 2024 will fall on a Thursday night. Not a great night, but certainly better than Tuesday. Let's hope the other factors- inflation, lack of a blockbuster movie, tough competition, etc. - also improve in the coming year.

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Anne Monlezun wears a Victorian Riding Hat, also called a Stage Coach Riding Hat. 'Jhe hat to the left in hadt.ground is a Voo Doo Showgirl hat; the hat to the right is a My Fair Lady hat; and on lap is the "Laney Wilson• large-hrim hat, which she calls ·a currentfashion rage. •

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By Kathleen Furore Anne Monlezun's love affair with hats began at a very early age.

"I always had a love for hats from the time that I was young and wearing hats to church," says Monlezun, the owner of Sassy Royals Hats in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

What started as childhood excitement about wearing hats grew into a passion for making them. It's something Monlezun, a one-time dance teacher, did whenever she had the chance -whether it was for her dance students to wear during reviews or for the Lake Charles Mardi Gras celebrations that she worked on as a volunteer leader of a

"My stores stock hats year-round, for all seasons,"Monlezun says, noting that the retailers she works with merchandise a wide range of hats including celebratory toppers for New Year's Eve, Mardi Gras, Easter, the Kentucky Derby, Halloween and Christmas, plus showgirl hats, fashion hats and fascinators.

The hats Monlezon offers include a broad, unique inventory not available at big box stores and pop-up shops.

But even if those big box stores and pop-ups tried to compete, it wouldn't faze Monlezon because she's confident in what she offers.

"I have never worried about competition. If you have a good, unique product at a reasonable price, and you offer a good service, , your customers always return. -Anne Monlezun Mardi Gras krewe. "A hat was always needed!" she says.

Ultimately, Monlezun turned her passion into profit: In 1987, she launched Glitz-Teaz Pasties, a division of Appliques with Glitz Inc., a company that also included a hat division called Sassy Royals Hats.

"Burlesque hats were a natural for the pastie line and sold beautifully," recalls Monlezun, who sold Glitz-Teaz Pasties in 2017 but retained Sassy Royals. And her love affair with hats has continued!

"I have never worried about competition," says Monlezun, who offers this advice to costumers worried about the competition. "If you have a good, unique product at a reasonable price, and you offer a good service, your customers always return."

Adding a hat to a costume display, she says, can provide maximum visual impact.

"There just isn't anything like a matching hat - it will always turn heads!" she exclaims.

A Year-Round Attraction

Customizalion and Classes Help BuDd Sales

Hats, Monlezun notes, offer a wealth of opportunity for costumers looking for ways to drive business and remain competitive throughout the year.

All of Sassy Royals' hats are custom creations that attach to a small headband that is easily hidden in a customer's hair. That kind of customized approach to design can help COSTUMERS.ORG

11 .ijf§h@:fld.

stores appeal to customers looking for creative toppers, according to Monlezun.

"I offer a service that people can send a photo of a costume and I'll make a matching hat. I have a great clientele of customers who trust my designs and order assortments on a regular basis by simply giving me their colors or their costume photos," she says. "Remember, a customer will purchase a fascinator or fashion hat for everyday if she falls in love with it."

Hosting special events also can help attract customers and help build hat sales.

"I offer a a tea-time hat class that includes a hat box filled with hat frames, trims, and everything needed to make a Sassy Royal Hat. [Participants] are seated at tables with glue guns, scissors, mirrors, and all that's needed for a fun-filled time trimming a fascinator," Monzelun says. "I give them a talk on how they can trim their creation, and we end the class with a tea party. It's a great way to bring people into your store, and word will spread as to the fun that was had by all."

Monlezun also reaches out in other ways to create a buzz for her business.

"I donate hats to benefits - there is nothing better than a person arriving for a dinner party in a Sassy Royals Hat and turning heads," she says of the impact that that kind of outreach

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can have on a business' success.

Monlezun has one final message she wants to share with her fellow costumers: "NCA is a wonderful group and ALL costumers need to belong!" she says.

Kathleen Furore is the editor of 1he Costumer.

HAT TRENDS According to Anne Monlezun, owner of Sassy Royals Hats in Lake Charles, Louisiana, today's best-selling hats include Victorian {also called Stage Coach) Riding Hats with a veil, Gatsby-style headbands, and pirate-themed headwear. Showgirl headpieces also are popu1ar options that are "worn all year long for one reason or another," as are large, casual-brimmed, Lainey Wilson-style hats. "My most popu1ar theatrical headpiece is my My Fair Lady, with a large brim," Monlezun says.

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BUSINESS BASICS Scholastic Theater: Tips from a Business and Tech Pro

By Ed Avis

A Facebook reminderfrom Theatre House: "Fallproductions arefost approaching.. make sure you're ready...with productsfrom Theatre House.»

Editor's Note: Marty Boyer owns 7heatre House, a retailer that supplies costumes to school theaters across the United States.

Boyer, who bought the business in 2017, is not a "theater guy.»

Rather, he is talented businessman and tech innovator. In this interview with NCA Executive Director Ed Avis, Boyer explains how he has grown 7heatre business by applying his business and tech talents.

packet. A vendor packet includes everything about your business, such as the best way for schools to place orders, how you accept payment, your payment terms, shipping costs, return policies, things like that. Additionally, schools expect a W-9 and a certificate of insurance. Mter you do that, every district is going to ask you to put that in the format that they like.

A VIS: Does the school then start ordering from you?

ED AVIS: What's your first step in getting theatrical orders from schools?

MARTY BOYER: Every school district varies, but the first thing everybody should do is create a pretty robust vendor

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BOYER: Well, typically there are a few other steps. Some schools will require you to sign into their purchasing system, which is also called a bidding system or an electronic vendor registration. Then they'll notify you, "Hey, we don't promise

you work, but you can become a vendor at this point for our school." Eventually they'll say there is an opportunity to bid on something, usually a wide swath of work like "instructional supplies" [not just a particular theatrical production]. Finally, after you put in the bid, the teachers can begin to buy from you.

AVIS: So, how would that work? Would the theater teacher say, "Hey Marty, we need the costumes for a production of Annie"?

BOYER: Yeah, typically after they see we're an approved vendor and they can do business with us, they'll look at our website and be like, "Hey, yeah, they have some of the stuff I'm looking for."Then some teachers will ask for a quote for what they need, or they will give us a purchase order, or they just order it and then submit the bill to their purchasing department.

AVIS: Theatre House is an established vendor in thousands of school districts. Did you fill out the paperwork for every one of them?

BOYER: Well, some school districts don't require it at allthey're pretty loose. Generally, the larger the school system [the more likely they are to require it]. For example, New York City has 1,819 schools in their public school system, and all of their purchase orders are funneled through one system. But if you go to a rural county in Kansas or Kentucky or something like that, they're probably going to say, "Hey, send us W-9 and we can buy from you." But it just stands to reason that the more people you have in a school trying to buy, the more discipline you need to have around the purchasing process.

Here's a pro tip: Have somebody at your company become a notary public, because a lot of schools require things to be notarized, so having somebody on your staff who's a notary will save you gobs of time.

AVIS: Once you've established yourself as a vendor to a school, do you always get orders?

BOYER: It varies. For example, if we go into Chicago, there is going to be a number of great stores that have probably been registered in the system over time. So, Chicago public schools will a little bit harder. Ifl go to a rural Kansas or rural Texas, it might be an entirely a different prospect because we're going to be one of the few vendors who took the time to pay attention to this school and insert our name in their system. And my thing is, as soon as somebody buys from me once, I'm going to keep their business, they're not going anywhere.

AVIS: How often do you make contact with these schools?

BOYER: As part of our CRM, our customer relationship management, every day from May through August or September, I schedule 500 emails and send out an updated W-9.1he

AVIS: Previously you mentioned that you're not a theater guy at heart, you're more of a tech guy. Do you think that gives you an advantage?

reason I only schedule that many each day is so that ifl have bounce backs or someone needs updated information, it gives us enough time to process and update each of the records appropriately. Those emails serve as a tickle for people to say, "Hey, we haven't bought from them," or, "Oh, we have a new purchasing process."

A lot of your registrations and your awards are only for a

BOYER: No. In fact, I believe it's a detriment. When I meet people who are running exceptional shops, they tend to have an authentic passion in this industry, and they tend to have grown up in it. And when I see those people, there's so much that they've taken for granted in terms of their knowledge base. It blows me away. It's just unbelievable.

AVIS: Any last pieces of advice?

BOYER: I just want to reiterate how important it is to create a robust vendor packet. And if another NCA member reaches out to me individually, I'll send them my vendor packet. I'm not afraid of competition!

part of our CRM, our customer relationship management, every day from May through August or September, I schedule 500 emails and send out an updated W-9 ... Those emails serve as a tickle for people to say, 'Hey, we haven't bought from them,' or, 'Oh, we have a new purchasing process." -Marty Boyer year. So, we keep a spreadsheet of them all, and we have people who are always updating those vendor registrations.

AVIS: Other than keeping the registrations up to date, what other marketing do you do to the schools?

BOYER: We send two emails per month. One of those emails is educational, like, "Here's a new technique."The other is about product. We also have several automated notes in our CRM, such as, "Oh, we haven't seen you in a while," or "You bought about this time last year. Do you need anything?" We keep an active Facebook, we keep an active lnstagram and X, and we do a little bit on YouTube.Then we have SEO style marketing, for lead generation.

AVIS: So, all that keeps Theatre House in front of customers?

BOYER: Right - but remember that my first customer is not always the end customer. My first customer might be the purchasing group at a school district. Only when they say I can sell to the teacher does the teacher become my customer.

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Marty Boyer

MEET A BOARD MEMBER • AQ&A WITHNCADIRECTOR ANNE DORSEY ByEdAvis Editor'& NotE: A btu htzppmtd nnu CMtzt.mes in Wiflkrtli/Je, Nflrlh tiN NalirJ1uli Oistwners .lbs«iiltitm 2021. Not tmly IHu Jht lntsi1ws grovm; ovmerAmre Doney tllso W1U dedeti bJ tiN NQA's ofD;r«ms Wring thtAss«Wio11i BIUilleSI Meelillg tm Augtat 5, 202J in Intlitmapolis. NCA :&eadiw &JiJDr EtlAvis tuuaDoney mshan the smry aJxnu the trq/ttmy ofher and ofher flJJ«ia&n with the NCA. ED AVIS: So, what hu happcncdlioa: youjoiDed the NCA..

How hu your batinc&t

to that school. Like Wacky Tacky Week, or Dr. Sc:uJS, whatever

the theme is, ifthey coordinate it with us, I tell thmt to give me three wecb so we can order 1tuffthat we might not normally have or that we're low In .tock on. And once cu.ttomen mention the school and they're checking out, we will donate back

15 percent.

Also, rm kind of the MacGyver ofputting things rogcthcr for people - people come into ow: store with a picture and a lot of time& I can tala: stuff that we already have In store and repurpose it, throw some spray paint on something, put some filbric paint on it. So, we do a lot more custom stuffbecaWie our big goal i1 ttl be different &om the chains, fiom the big box: stores.

bccodaing?

ANNE DORSEY: We keep growing.

We keep crushing ow: numben from the previous month compared to the pmvious year.

We keep going up, which is a positive. We've expanded out to clothing and ac:.ceseorie&, 50 like pune. and legging. and shim and dresaes in addition to the clothing. I met a handbag vendor, Comeco, at an expo. Their mdfwu kind ofquidty and I'm like, okay, rn take some. So, I mole. some m a Comic-Con and we sold out, and that wu a year ago. And we just keep &eiiing them as .fast as the orders come ln.

AVIS: 11 there aaythiog cLc thJit hu been doing...&?

DORSEY: Decades stuft I would say that's what gets us through the non-Halloween season. We like to cany a lot of '20s era stuff; like flapper dreues, '80s are really big, anything neon. especially with Dubie coming out, we've kind of started loading up bright, colorful, different clothing so people can ereau: their own Barbie& or 'BOa type look. And the '90s ue getting to be popular, with the wide-leg jeana.

AVIS: What odau imaatiDgi!UIIbu an: yuu fiadiog?

DORSEY: When the sc:hool l)'ltem does the lfrlrit week, we sei1 rdatlld men:handiae and donate 15 pcrccnt of all nlcs back

AVIS: You meotionccl one reaon you joiDed the NCA wu to lcam .boat othcr'ftlldon of cplity COitama. Hu that wodred fo:ryou?

DORSEY: I would •19' maybe h21f of the new we found were NCA. memberl. But I gues• my ittllC with it is I don't like onfering from companie5 that send me sprcadlhem, and that's where a lot of them are still I fuel. like we travcled back 1n 1986.

AVIS: What'• better?

DORSEY: I want to log in and see what'• in .rock. It'• more up to date 1han a spreadsheet, so ifI place the order, I'm actuaD.y going to get what I oldc:rc:d. But a lot of them, they send you a spreadsheet, you mark your aelccti.on on the spreadlhcct, and then you send it bade, and then they go, •oh, we're out of stock on that.• AVIS: What do you hope to do u a director of the NCA? DORSEY: I would like to bridge that gap with newer membera who arc jlllt joining who are at a loss fiom all the different places to buy stutf••.giviDg them mare of a clear cut path. And maybe working with some of the mcm.ben who are still doing the spreadsheet thing, [telling them], •Hey, you might be able to increase what people order from you by getting a little bit more technologically adwnced.•

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MEMBER PROFILE Evil lzzy's "Halloween Nerd" Starts Costume Shop in Phoenix ByEdAvis Jeremy Veal loves Halloween. "I'm a lifelong Halloween nerd. If I could live every day as Halloween, I would do that," he says.

Veal is taking a big step in that direction: He and his wife, Cynthia, are in the process of opening Evil Izzy's, a costume shop in Phoenix, Arizona. They plan to open their doors in the first quarter of 2024.

"Really when it comes down to what I love about Halloween, it's not just the holiday, but the costumes," he says. "The more I experience life, the more I see that people have a strong desire to dress up, whether it's Halloween or Christmas or Valentine's Day or whatever. So, we decided our business didn't need be a Halloween store, but rather a year-round costume store."

The owners are currendy in the insurance business, and both previously worked in retail. And they have business degrees. Veal feels their background and education will help them succeed with their new store.

"We have a keen eye for making sure customers are

then, the store is named after her: She is Evil Izzy.

To capture the spirit of the idea, Veal gave a photo of Isabella to a comic book artist and asked him to render her as a mad scientist. ''As soon as the logo happened, my inspiration blossomed," Veal says.

FILLING EASLEY'S FUN SHOP VOID The Phoenix market was served for 72 years by NCA member Easley's Fun Shop. That store closed in 2018, and nothing really replaced it, Veal says. He hopes Evil Izzy's fills that void with a solid year-round costume selection and other mainstay product lines found in successful costume businesses.

"For example, there is a huge theater community in Phoenix," he says. "With Easley's leaving, it kind ofleft a hole for nice theater makeup. So our goal is getting accounts with the companies offering high-end theater makeup and becoming an expert on it."

Other key markets Veal hopes to serve with his new store include drag, cosplay, and LGBTQ "We want to be a safe space where everyone feels accepted and where they can find the types of makeup and costumes they're looking for," he says.

But regardless of who the customers are, Veal wants them to consider a visit to Evil Izzy's an experience, not just a shopping trip. He has partnered with a creative company to design the interior in a way that intrigues shoppers, he says. That includes doorways that are slightly askew, interesting exhibits and displays throughout the store, and an overall "Tim

"The more I experience life, the more I see that people have a strong desire to dress up. So, we decided our business didn't need to be a Halloween store, but a year-round costume store." -Jeremy Veal taken care of," Veal says. "Running the store will definitely be new, but we're learning."

NAMED AFTER THEIR DAUGHTER Veal says the impetus to open the store now has been his observation that their 9-year-old daughter, Isabella, has grown into the same love of costuming as he has. Appropriately

••tjf§if!if}'fj. 18

COSTUMERS.ORG

Burton'' feel.

And even though the doors have not yet opened, Veal already envisions the long-term future of the store.

"Our grand ambition is that one day Isabella takes the keys and Evil Izzy herself will be the owner."

Ed Avis is the executive director of the NCA.

- --

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HEADQUARTERS NEW FOR2024

M4tM COME VISIT US AT THE

HPE 2024!

Booths 1925 & 1929

MARVELl

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XMEN

www. kroegerinc.com Customer Service: 1-855-769-1400 Information.usa@ kroegeri nc.com All Marvel characters and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are Trademarks & Copyright © 1939-2023 Marvel Characters, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PRODUCT PARADE Artémix. New 24-Piece Temporary Tattoo Kits feature unique stencils and smear-resistant, waterproof ink.

Each kit includes 2 brush-on formula ink bottles, 20

peel & stick stencils, 1 setting powder, and 1 sponge applicator. The ultra-realistic tattoo, which can last up to 7 days, can be removed easily with alcohol

or baby oil. 888-ARTEMIX;

info@artemix.com; artemix.com

Ivy Trading. This Adult Wild Fairy Wing attaches easily to instantly create

a whimsical touch to any

costume. Available in green, red, purple, black and blue.

626-442-9008;

ivyinc2002@gmail.com;

www.cutiecollections.com

InSpirit Designs. Officially licensed Barbie

and Ken Box Costumes give your customers the chance to don their favorite outfits, then step

inside the boxes to become real-life renditions of these iconic toys.

Our officially licensed Fortnite costumes

include Fortnite Potassius Peels with a printed tunic, pants, a cape, printed belt and a banana

mask; Fortnite Punk with a pumpkin head mask plus signature outfit; and Fortnite Grimey with

jumpsuit, hood with a mesh face cover, gloves, and back bling attachment.

516-873-9000; inspirit-designs.com

WINTER 2023

20

COSTUMERS.ORG

PRODUCT PARADE Blinky. St. Patrick’s Day is coming, and these plastic Cauldrons — available in in green, gold, and black — make great accessories for St. Pat’s Day parties; All 3 colors come in 8-inch size; black also available in

6-inch size. 12 cauldrons per case; no minimum order required. Made in America.

978-697-0690; Blinkyproducts@gmail.com

Dreamgirl. Our #1 Women’s and Men’s

styles! Lieutenant Ivana Misbehave (Style

10240) is a captivating costume that includes a navy jumpsuit, hat, badge, and a utility belt brimming with essential accessories for an authentic law enforcement look. King of

Egypt (Style 9893) commands attention

with its Egyptian Shendyt skirt featuring an

embellished waistband, wrist gauntlets, royal Nemes headpiece, Eye of Horus necklace, a

stylish sleeveless shirt, and authentic Egyptian headpiece. customerservice@dgbrands.com

•

PRODUCT PARADE

Kurt Adler. Give customers what they'll need to light up their Halloween decor in 2024! The Halloween Village (HW1812) includes a battery-operated, 12.5-inch wooden Halloween LED village house with a carved pumpkin, tombstone, purple glittered bats, and a flying green witch. When switched on, 12 warm white LED lights illuminate the village for an eerie glow. The Day OfThe Dead Skull Light Set (HW1878) features 10 skull-shaped lights, each a white skull with multicolored traditional Day Of The Dead patterns and glittered accents. It can be used inside and out, and is perfect for Halloween and Day of the Dead parties, or any other event where you want to add a touch of Mexican culture and tradition. info@kurtadler.com; kurtadler.com.

Loftus and Lola Stars.

Exciting News! Loftus International has partnered with Lola Stars to distribute costumes in the US and Canada under Loftus' STAR POWER Brand. The initial launch includes 400+ traditional high-quality costumes and innovative printed costumes. Products from Cinema Secrets, Mehron Makeup, Tinsley Transfers, Trick or Treat Studios, Visual Effects, and Zagone Studios, plus our own line of Halloween and Everyday items also available.

Contact us for a visual introduction or to set up a meeting with Loftus at HPE (Jan. 2024). 800-453-4879; media@loftus.com; loftus.com

PRODUCT PARADE

Manic Panic. Love ColorTM Color

Depositing Conditioners let your

customers refresh their hair color or

transition between colors! Available in 8 shades — Rock Me Red, Fuschia

Fever, Green Venus, Pink Passion, Teal

Temptress, Blue Valentine, Red Desire, and Yellow Heart — all with a built-in heat protectant!

888-376-2642; manicpanic.com

The Pirate Dressing.

Introducing…our

Women’s Vintage 1950s

Rockabilly Swing Dress. This timeless A-line halterneck floral dress combines the

charm of the ‘50s Pinup era burn style. High-quality ma-

NCA MARKETPLACE

long-lasting comfort. Soft

discount for NCA members). You will be billed upon publi-

for ease of movement.

advertising contract available at www.costumers.org. Contact

with a touch of retro Hep-

terials ensure durability and

Advertising in the NCA Marketplace is $35 per issue (10%

and breathable fabric allows

cation; payment is due upon receipt. For full details, see the

Concealed side zipper clo-

Ed Avis at 708-218-7755 or pub@costumers.org.

sure and tie belt at the back for a seamless fit. Perfect

choice for summer parties,

weddings, or retro-themed events. 323-284-7201;

info@thepiratedressing.com; thepiratedressing.com

COSTUMERS.ORG

23

WINTER 2023

•

BUYER'S GROUP 2024 NCA Buyer's Group A major NCA member benefit is the long list of discounts available exclusively to NCA members. Below is the list of companies that have pledged you these discounts, as of press time for the Winter 2023 issue (a more complete list will be available at www.costumers.org). Please be sure you write your NCA member number on all your orders to receive your discounts. Please also thank our Vendor Members for their unique support of the National Costumers Association.

AEROMAX, INC. (SILVER) www.aeromaxtoys.com

877-776-2291 Fax 847-756-4091 jared@aeromaxtoys.com

28079 W. Industrial Ave Lake Barrington, IL 60010 Contact: Jared Heidenreich Specialties: Career Oriented Dress for Kids and Adults alike Discount: 5% off orders of $300; 10% off orders of $700; 15% off orders of$1,500+. Pre-paid orders $300 and over receive additional2% discount.

Terms: Orders $2,000 to $3,000 get net 45; orders $3,001 and over get net 60 if shipped by May 1; net 45 if shipped after May 1. Orders under $120 require credit card payment. FOB Lake Barrington, IL 60010. No minimum order. Orders must be placed by 2/16/24 and shipped by 8/1/24.

BUNK¥ PRODUCTS (SILVER) www.blinkyproducts.com

(212) 675-3790 thefeblandgroup@gmail.com

Blinky Products do The FeBland Group.

230 5th Avenue, Suite 602, New York, NY 10001 Contact: Nigel Febland Specialties: We are specialists in the following items: cauldron nests of 6 sizes ( 6", 8", 10" 12" 15" ,18"), plastic pumpkins (orange, teal, pink, purple), candy coffins, and juice sippers. Plus summer beach toys.

All items made in USA. Discount: Visit www.costumers.org to see the current NCA price list.

Terms: No order deadline. However we encourage early orders to be able to ship you on time. Net 30 Days subject to credit approval or credit card prior to shipping: Visa or MC only. FOB Fitchburg, MA.

distributor for Moon Creations - manufacturer of Professional Makeup & Bold Cosmetics. Collections include Neon UV, Glow in the Dark, Glitter, Face Paints and Special FX. Made in the UK, ISO 22716 certified.

Discount: 5% Off Invoice.

Terms: Net 30 OAC. Low minimums. Fast, free shipping. Dedicated customer service rep. High-res image library. Full line sheets including UPC, packs, weight.

DISGUISE, INC./DIVISION OF JAKKS PACIFIC (PLATINUM) www.disguise.com

(858) 391-3600 Fax (858) 391-3601 info@disguise.com

12120 Kear Place, Poway, CA 92064 Contact: David Coggin Specialties: Licensed costumes and accessories.

Discount: Generic Costumes & Accessories: 14% off list price; Licensed Costumes &Accessories: 10% off list price. Discounts do not apply to closeouts or special buys. Minimum order to qualify for the Premium NCA Discount: $2500.

Opening orders must be received by Disguise by 2/6/2024 to receive full benefits. No extensions will be granted. For Members placing their opening order by 2/6/2024, a 1% Defective Allowance (DA) will apply to all orders placed for 2024. Members placing opening orders by 2/6/2024 will continue to receive full program discounts on all reorder activity for the 2024 season. Members who do not place orders by 2/6/2024 will realize only the benefits of the Disguise Standard Discount schedule and return policy.

DREAM GIRL INTERNATIONAL (SILVER) www.dreamgirldirect.com

CAMDEN PASSAGE (GOLD)

(323) 268-0220 x208

www.camdenpassage.com

ggabor@dgbrands.com

(888) 755-5578 Fax(888)955-5578

5548 Lindbergh Lane, Bell, CA 90201 Contact: Gihan Gabor Specialties: From loveable characters to exquisitely luxe historical favorites, Dreamgirl COSTUMES, WIGS, and ACCESSORIES offer exciting and cheeky dress up experiences for singles, couples or group-themed fun.

Discount: 3% - $1 - $5,000; 4% - $5,001 - $10,000; 5%- $10,001- Over. In addition, NCA will receive a 1% volume rebate based on net shipments to members.

info@camdenpassage.com

115 First St., Collingwood, ON L9Y 4W3 Contact: Victor Del Zoppo Specialties: Camden is the manufacturer of Loox Theatrical Contacts - arguably the most comfortable colored contacts! Over 180 designs in stock year-round. ISO 13485 & MD SAP certified, FDA and Health Canada cleared for safe and legal retailing. Camden is also the North American

.\jf§iij;fjttj. 24

COSTUMERS.ORG

Terms: Halloween dating available to credit approved customers.

DRESS UP AMERICA TOY INC. (SILVER) www.dressupamerica.com

(718) 436-0031 Fax(718)775-3200 sales@dressupamerica.com

4709 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 Contact: Barry Grossman Specialties: We have excellent quality costumes and accessories for all ages as well as Pretend Play Dress Up. Discount: NNCA members are entided to a 10% discount. Free shipping for orders above $1,500.

Halloween dating (subject to credit approval).

Terms: Halloween dating terms applicable only to Halloween orders shipping after June 1, 2024.

ELUE SHOES INC. (SILVER) www.ellieshoes.com

(714) 773-2995 Fax(714)771-0057 info@ellieshoes.com

1050 N. Batavia Street #B, Orange, CA 92867 Contact: Leslie Wandell Specialties: Ellie Shoes has footwear for all your costuming needs!

Discount: 5% year round- Show specials to be announced Terms: Please have NCA membership number included on the purchase order, e-mail, or fax. Halloween dating subject to CIT approval.

ELOPE, INC. (SILVER) www.elope.com

(719)328-1312 CustomerService@elope.com

2080 Lookout Dr., North Mankato, MN 56003 Specialties: Wide variety of innovative licensed and unlicensed costume headwear, eyewear, and accessories.

Discount: On all member orders, 5% discount (excluding Disney and sale items) and discounted freight.

Terms: Credit card on first 3 orders. After 3rd order, Net 30 terms may be requested with approved credit.

BUYER'S GROUP THE FUNCTIONAL CHOCOLATE COMPANY (SILVER) funcho.co

(303) 809-8288 Fax(303)228-6882 sales@funcho.co

5935 S. Zang St., Suite 230, Littleton, CO 80127 Contact: Garret Guthrie Specialties: Chocolate can now do more than just taste great! Functional Chocolate helps make every day a little better by addressing the most common health realities - sleep issues to energy, focus for those video calls, PMS to menopause, everyday stress and so much more. All Functional Chocolate products are packed with powerful vitamins, botanicals and clinically researched ingredients, blended in a base of ethically sourced, non-GMO, naturally vegan and gluten free dark chocolate.

Discount: 5% off and free shipping for all orders over $150. All orders placed before March 31,2024 also include a free case of buyer's choice.

Terms: Free shipping available for orders over $150.

Discounts must be requested with rep at time of order. Free case offer expires March 31,2024.

FUNNY FASHION USA (SILVER) www.funnyfashion.com

(719) 260-7744 Fax(719)260-7743 order@funnyfashion.com

1015 Garden of the Gods Rd., Suite 150 Colorado Springs, CO 80907 Contact: Diane Lutz Specialties: Balloons, balloon accessories, large selection of value-priced Halloween, Masquerade and Theatrical costumes and accessories.

Discount: 5% on orders from $500 to $4,999; 7% on orders from $5,000 to $9,999; 10% on orders from $10,000 to $19,999; and 15% on orders above $20,000.

Terms: Halloween Dating November 10,2024 WAC, FOB Funny Fashion Distribution Point.

FUN WORLD/IN CHARACTER (SILVER) www.fun-world.net

(516) 873-9000 Ext. 256 Fax(516)873-9005 AlexL@fun-world.net

80 Voice Road, Carle Place, NY 11514 Contact: Alex Losito Specialties: Halloween: Licensed and Generic Costumes, Wigs, Masks, Decor, Pumpkin Carving, Weapons, Accessories, Make up, Home decor.

Harvest Home Decor. Christmas: Santa suits, Beards, Elf on the Shelf, Home Decor, Valentines, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, and Easter Home Decor.

Discount: NCA Members automatically receive 10% off our "List Price" on "ALL" items in our line.

Group "SELECTED" or "RECOMMENDED" items receive an 'WDITIONAL" discount of 10-30%. Additional discount varies, see official FunWorld/NCA and InCharacter/NCA order forms for exact price/discount.

Terms: Seasonal dating (net Nov. lOth) available upon credit review for USA-based customers. We offer free freight on orders over $2,500 (or 300 lbs) per warehouse. FunWorld and InCharacter Costume orders can be combined to make free freight. This is only available to a USA-based shipto address. International members must supply us with their freight forwarder details at time of order.

Please call or email for details.

GRAFTOBIAN MAKE-UP (SILVER) www.graftobian.com

(608)222-7849 Fax(608)222-7893 calvincoffman@graftobian.com

510 Tasman St., Madison, WI 53714 Contact: Calvin Coffman Specialties: Professional grade Theatrical and HD makeup suitable for TV/Film and stage. Featuring Pro Paint body paint, FX Aire and GlamAire Airbrush makeup, plus a full range oflusters, shimmers, glitter body sprays and more. With four types of blood, four shades of modeling wax, spirit gum, pro adhesive, plus a full range of Halloween kits.

Proudly made in the USA. Discount: 5% offWholesale immediately (some exclusions apply). At $5,000 YTD, discount increases to 10% off. At $10,000 YTD, discount increases to 15% off.

HM SMALLWARES LTD (SILVER) www.hmsltd.ca

(514) 244-8492

day dress ups for fairy parties and birthday parties.

Discount: 20-25% off regular wholesale prices.

Terms: Net 30 -60 days by end of Feb, 2024.

KBW (SILVER) www.kbwcorp.com

(626) 258-2938 jonas@kbwcorp.com

9832 Max Shapiro Way, S. El Monte, CA 91733 Contact: Jonas Wu Specialties: KBW Global Corp. is a manufacturer and wholesale distributor of party masks, hats, and accessories for special occasions & holidays throughout the year.

Discount: 2% off orders of $300 to $499; 3% on orders of$500 to $999; and 5% off orders of $1,000 or more.

Terms: Minimum is $400 per order. For hats, minimum order is 3 items and for masks & others, minimum order is 4 items. Require credit card on first order and depending on size of subsequent order, may go to terms. References and credit check required.

KROEGER INC. (SILVER) www.kroegerinc.com

(416) 752-4382 TracyM@Kroegerinc.com

727 Tapscott Rd., Scarborough, ON MlX 1A2 Contact: Tracy Machin Specialties: Licensed/Generic Costumes; Costume Accessories; Decor; Games/HLWN addons.

Discount: 5% J azwares - 10% MOM - 5% Games/ HLWN addons. Minimum Order: $750.00 (3% freight charge); Free freight with order of $1,500 or more.

Terms: Nov.lO dating. Order Deadline: Jan 15, 2024.

edith@hmsltd.ca

PO Box 3172, Champlain, NY 12919 Contact: Edith Dempsey Specialties: Better quality hats, accessories, horns and accoutrements. World renowned leatherlike and supersoft products.

Discount: 10% discount on first time order and 5% discount on all reorders, Minimum order $500.00.

Terms: Visa/Mastercard. Halloween orders should be placed ASAP. We stock and ship all year round.

IVY TRADING INC (SILVER) www.cutiecollections.com

626-442-9008 ivyinc2002@yahoo.com

9853 Max Shapiro Way, Unit A South El Monte, CA 91733 Contact: Wen Zhao Specialties: Costumes Accessories: wings, wands, tutus, head wears for babies, kids and adults. Every-

KRYOLAN PROFESSIONAL MAKE-UP (SILVER) www.kryolan.com

(415) 863-9684 a.newman@kryolan.com

364 Blodgett St., Cotati, CA 93931 Contact: Anne Newman Specialties: Aquacolor Face and Body Paint, Hair Color Sprays, Specialty FX grade Eye blood, Bloods, Beards & Mustaches, Bio Glitters and of course over 20,000 sku's for your makeup needs!

Discount: Members enjoy a 50% margin, lower opening order and yearly minimums. Free access to Professional staff development and tester program.

Terms: Net 30 with approved credit.

LOLA STARS (See LOFTUS)

COSTUMERS.ORG

25

BUYER'S GROUP purchases. Proof of membership must be presented with P.O. in order to receive Membership Discount.

LOFTUS (SILVER) www.loftus.com

(800)453-4879 Fax(888)871-7375 casey@loftus.com jacob@loftus.com Contacts: Casey Fitts and Jacob White Specialties: We have what you need! Loftus carries a vast array of products under one roof, giving you the convenience of a one-stop-shopping experience.

We offer a large selection of Halloween & seasonal items along with everyday products to help generate sales year-round. Our product lines range from costume accessories, make-up, wigs, hats, masks, decor, magidnovelties, balloons, decorator supplies, party favors and impulse items. In addition, our partnerships with some of the best manufacturers in the industry make Loftus a genuine value to the members of the National Costumers Association.

We are pleased to partner with LOLA Costumes in 2024 to bring you a whole new line of costume options.

Discount: ALL year long, NCA members receive our top-tier premium pricing and our highest available discounts across ALL product categories. Also free freight on all orders over $500 to a USA-based ship-to address.

Terms: NCA members receive free freight on all orders over $500 to a USA-based ship-to address.

Minimum order $100.00. Loftus accepts VISA, Mastercard, Discover or American Express.

Halloween dating and terms available to credit approved customers. Some restrictions may apply, contact your sales rep for further information.

MOM- MY OTHER ME FUN COMPANY (See KROEGER) MUSTACHES (SILVER) mustachesb2b.com

+37-06-992-1066 sales@mustaches.eu Pramones str. 16F, Altus 62175, Lithuania Contad:Tomas Siuipys Specialties: We are manufacturers of high-quality fake mustaches and beards. More than 1500 SKUs to choose from. We make mustaches in Europe (Lithuania) and ship worldwide. Shipment to the U.S. takes only 4-5 days.

Discount: We offer a 30 percent discount from our list price. MOQper item is 6 pieces. Minimum order is S500. There is a $150 shipping fee, but orders above $1,500 get free shipping. Shipping takes 4-5 days.

Terms: Payment terms 30 days after order is received. Please ask for special Planogram orders for Halloween payment terms.

ORCHID BLOOM (SILVER) www.orchid-bloom.com

RG COSTUMES &ACCESSORIES, INC. (SILVER) www.rgcostume.com

(626) 858-9559 halloweenbyrg@aol.com 726 Arrow Grand Circle, Covina, CA 91722 Contad: Roger Lee Specialties: Costumes for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Period, Cosplay, School play and religion. Animal Onesies, Hoodie. Sexy Costumes. Wigs, Hats, Wings, accessories.

Discount: 15% discount off listed prices for orders over $500. No discount for orders less than $500.

Terms: Member privileges cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Halloween dating: Nov.12024- Order over $1,500 for credit approved accounts. Net 30 days for order amount less than $1,500 and for credit approved accounts.

Discount will be forfeited for all past due accounts.

All new accounts opened on credit card terms. A 2.5% surcharge will be added for all credit card payments.

RUBIES II, LLC (PLATINUM) www.rubies.com

(516) 333-3473 Fax(516)333-3496

MANIC PANIC (See TISH AND SNOOKY'S MANIC PANIC)

reza@orchid-bloom.com 305 Knickerbocker Ave., Suite 1 Bohemia, NY 11716 Contad: Reza Hessari Specialties: Gothic, Pirates, Dresses, Poodle Skirt, Poodle Top, Petticoats, Kids Dresses, Onesies, Corsets.

Discount: 5%, please ask when you place the order.

MEHRON MAKEUP (SILVER) www.mehron.com

THE PIRATE DRESSING (SILVER) www.thepiratedressing.com

(845)426-1700 Fax(845)426-1515

(321) 445-1837

cinfo@rubies.com 601 Cantiague Rock Road, Westbury, NY 11590 Contad:Joe Wozniak Specialties: RUBIES II is the world's largest designer, manufacturer and distributor of Halloween costumes and accessories. We offer a vast selection of License and non-license products that extend well beyond Halloween. We have products for all holidays and special occasions for everyone in the family to enjoy... even your pets!

Discount: Please contact your local representative or Rubie's customer service department at 516-3333473 and ask about details on the New Rubie's 2024 Discount Schedule.

info@thepiratedressing.com 10685-B Hazelhurst Drive #12134 Houston, TX 77043

SEEING RED (SILVER) www.onlyseeingred.com

info@mehron.com 100 Red Schoolhouse Rd. Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977 Contad: Katie Perez Specialties: Professional makeup for Performance, Special FX, Cosplay, Face & Body Paint, and Creative Beauty since 1927.

Discount: 55% off all qualifying orders; increases to 10% off once YTD purchases reach S2,500; 15% off once YTD purchases reach $7,500. Once achieved, the discounts apply for the rest of the year. Discount applies to 2024 Mehron Dealer Wholesale Pricing. S500 minimum first order, $250 minimum on additional orders. Discounts cannot be combined with other offers and apply to qualifying products. Discounts cannot be applied to previous

26

(631) 388-4903

Contad: Aditya Aggarwal Specialties: Rental quality pirate, medieval, Renaissance and steampunk outfits.

Discount: Qyantity discounts up to 15% offered to all registered customers. Also, NCA members are eligible for an additional5% discount on orders above S500.

Terms: Discounts are only applicable for orders above S500.

COSTUMERS.ORG

951-371-2600 charlie@onlyseeingred.com 1151 Pomona Rd Ste 0, Corona, CA 92882 Contad: Charlie Santilena Specialties: Edgy, Fun and Trendy - Costumes Accessories and Decor. Good Qyality at Fair Prices.

Discount: 10% off all orders.

Terms: Halloween Dating 11/1 offered on approved credit through CIT. $300 order minimum, 3 pieces per style. Order Deadline for 2024 Halloween is 2/15/2024.

BUYER'S GROUP SOJOURNER (SILVER) www.sojournerbags.com

are welcomed to apply for net terms based on credit application.

(501) 940-4554 wholesale@sojournerbags.com

TRICK OR TREAT STUDIOS (SILVER)

3015 Rockyridge Dr., Houston, TX 77063 Contad: Adam Specialties: We specialize in music festival and costume accessories, including holographic cowboy hats, fanny packs, hydration packs, glitter, masks, goggles and glasses.

Discount: We offer an additionallO% discount to NCA members on top of our wholesale prices.

www.trickortreatstudios.com

STARLINE LA/PARTY KING (SILVER) www.starline.la

(949) 209-8804 sales@starline.la

6300 Columbia Rd., Mineral Wells, TX 76067 Contad: Sales Department Specialties: Starline LA & Party King Costumes are two sister brands that offer a great mix of innovative new costumes, as well as bestselling classics. Competitive pricing, exceptional quality and beautiful costumes are what we are all about! We also design & produce custom & private label.

Discount: We offer an 8% discount to NCA members throughout the year.

SUNNYWOOD, INC. (GOLD) www.sunnywood.net

(815) 675-9777 Fax(815)675-9788 order@sunnywood.net

2750 Barney Ct., McHenry, IL 60051 Contad:Tammy Semiletow Specialties: Exquisite Tiaras, Headpieces, Men's Crowns, Period Pieces, Flappers, Costumes, Santa Suits, Bunnies, Accessories and so much more.

Discount: All year long, you receive dozen pricing on single piece items and special promotions exclusively for NCA members. Member Privileges cannot be used in combination with any other special discounts or promotions.

(831) 713-9665 Fax(831)621-4763 michael@trickortreatstudios.com

1005 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Contad: Anthony Austin Specialties: Trick or Treat Studios specialize in the highest quality licensed and original designed masks, costumes, props, replicas, collectables, action figures, decor, wrapping paper, accessories and tabletop games. With over 150 Licenses, Trick or Treat Studios will fulfill all your customers' needs.

Top Licenses include the Halloween Franchise (Michael Myers), A Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Terrifier, Goosebumps and much more!

Discount: Our discount for NCA members is 10% off orders over $1,000 and 5% off orders $500-$999.

UNDERWRAPS COSTUMES (SILVER)

WESTERN FASHION, INC. (SILVER) www.westernfashioninc.com

(909) 627-9551 sales@westernfashioninc.com

5236 Bell Ct., Chino, CA 91710 Contad: PJ Gupta Specialties: Rental High-Qyality Costumes ranging from Pirate, Flapper, and Victorian. Also, we specialize in Festival, Rave, and Party Items.

Discount: Free Shipping, please mention NCA Member when placing the order.

Terms: Halloween Dating to credit approved customers.

WOLFE FX I DENTAL DISTORTIONS (SILVER) www.wolfefx.com www.dentaldistortions.com

www.underwrapscostumes.com

(818) 349-5300 Fax(818)349-7200

(407) 730-9820

info@underwraps.net

sales@wolfefx.com

9600 Irondale Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311 Contad: Payman Shaffa Specialties: Children and adult costumes, accessories including weapons, boas, wings, hats & helmets.

Discount: 3% above regular discounts; additional discounts apply for early buy program.

Terms: Initial order must meet $500 minimum.

6210 All American Blvd., Orlando, FL 32810 Contad: Nigel Febland, 917-864-1685, TheFeBlandGroup@gmail.com Specialties: We focus on professional quality makeup, Dental Distortions movie teeth, and other products. The majority of our products include step-by-step, clear descriptions and images. They are available for the makeup artist as well as the everyday user.

Discount: NCA Members receive 5% off wholesale price all year.

Terms: $300 minimum order, FOB Orlando, Florida. Credit card payment required.

VISUAL EFFECTS (DlNAL LLC) (SILVER) www.visualeffectsind.com

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COSTUMERS.ORG

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MY FAVORITE COSTUME Diana Maldonado Teatrocentro Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

In 1970, couple Rafael Maldonado and Lydia Cruz debuted Teatrocentro in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, with the goal to sup-

nationality costumes."

"Our store is open to everyone. We do not only focus on

ply costumes to students and professionals in the performing

providing products to the performing arts but also to the

arts. The company met a need in the community then, and

group of friends that have a costume party on the weekend or

continues to meet a need -

the parent that may have just found out that their kid has to

albeit a broader one - today,

according to Diana

dress up for their school

Maldonado, who joined

project the next day,"

her parents' company

Maldonado continues.

in 1995 and has led

"Our focus is to have

Teatrocentro along with

something for everyone

her husband, Jose, since

but also make them feel

2011.

one of a kind."

"Our company has

With such a rich

evolved a lot throughout

history, there are myriad

the years in order to

costumes that Maldona-

meet the demands of our

do might count among

public," says Maldonado,

her favorites. But it isn't

who explains that Tea-

attire that has been part

trocentro's original focus

of the Teatrocentro in-

-

in addition to work-

ventory for decades that

ing with the performing

made the My Favorite

arts community- was

Costume cut.

providing costumes

"One of our favorite

during key holiday

creations is our costume

seasons including Hal-

collection based on our

loween, Christmas, and

Puerto Rican heritage,"

Easter. "However, we

she explains. "Every year

were able to expand into

we focus on creating a

different branches of

brighter collection than

the performing arts. We

before. This year we

now provide theatrical

created a new outfit

makeup and dancewear

based on the Bomba

items for both students and professionals in the theater, movie,

dance, but with our flag incorporated in it through its colors."

and TV industries."

She doesn't consider that expansion the business' greatest

What is yourfavorite costume? To be consideredfor an upcoming

achievement. That, she says, "was to expand our costume

My Favorite Costume profile, email Editor Kathleen Furore at

offering with our own product line that focuses mainly on

kfUrore@yahoo. com.

IIW'§'IHi'1'fJII 28 COSTUMERS.ORG