April 2011

Party Line: Closure
Shop Talk: Discount Halloween World
Birthday Sales Take Flight
Think Outside the Box
Bridget By Roma
Behind the Costume
Been There, Done That
The Store Room
Balloon Recipe
All Articles

Party Line: Closure
I'm not a big dessert person at all, but I do enjoy a little piece of chocolate every night. It's something I consider my chocolate closure on the day. Although I am partial to the small Hershey's Bliss chocolates, Dove Promises come in a close second. The prices are practically the same, yet when it comes down to it, I usually throw the Dove Promises in my cart. Why? Because I get more than just a small piece of (delicious) chocolate with the Dove-I get a small little note inside each wrapper. This doesn't sound like much, but I have to admit that I look forward to reading the message each night that I eat my piece (or two) of chocolate. It's like a fortune cookie that actually tastes good. When I open the wrapper of each Hershey's Bliss, I am faced with an empty » Read more
Shop Talk: Discount Halloween World
A pair of industry pros throw their Halloween hats into the retail arena again Spotlight On: Janesville, Wis. Discount Halloween World wasn't in the initial business plan, but some of the best ideas are created from compromise. Tina Thompson and Paula Carlson opened Paulina's Party Store in 2006, but the bad economy forced them to shut their doors in 2010. The last Halloween that they were open, a gentleman come into the store who had leftovers from his five Halloween stores in storage and asked if they'd like to sell his goods for 25 cents on the dollar. "Well, it took us about one millisecond to say yes to this deal, and boy did he have the goods!" Thompson said. "He had a 30-foot by 10-foot storage unit packed to the ceiling with boxes and it took us two solid weeks open to close to » Read more
Birthday Sales Take Flight
Retailers and customers can't afford not to include this party staple What comes to mind when you hear the word, "birthday?"Maybe decorations, presents, cake and...of course, balloons! Balloons brought to any birthday celebration instantly make it a party. While many retailers carry a basic balloon selection, they might not be making the most of this retail opportunity. Since customers are already in the store for decorations, why not give them everything they need to take that party from simple to spectacular? By providing customers with ideas and opportunities to turn basic balloons into innovative birthday party staples, retailers can serve up great ideas and even greater profits. In other words, bring birthday balloons! Affordable AirTrends like milestone birthdays, animal patterns, cupcakes and licensed images are predicted to remain strong, but customers today's are on the go and want things to fit in their schedule and » Read more
Think Outside the Box
Innovative gift bags and wrap can help seal sales When it comes to wrapping up gifts, a simple roll of paper doesn't always cut it anymore. Consumers are on the lookout for decorative and interesting specialty gift wrapping solutions that save space, save time, save the planet and save hassle - all while looking great, of course. While most party store retailers carry a basic selection of paper and bows, some are missing the boat on additional sales. Why? The answer might just be in the bag - the gift bag, that is. As Nancy Dickson of The Gift Wrap Co. points out, party store retailers already have a captive audience when it comes to wrapping sales. The consumer is there for the purpose of a special celebration and will most likely be gifting something that requires wrapping. "A gift is an extension of yourself » Read more