The
The Official Publication of the National Costumers Association, Inc.
NCA’s “Help Halloween Happen” Campaign Brightens Sales Spotlight on Halloween Decor Christmas Preview: Santa Suits Sept/Oct 2020
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Illustration by Daniela Rojas Arias
CONTENTS
8
features
8 NCA ‘s New Campaign Brightens Halloween Sales “Help Halloween Happen” offers tips for
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community engagement this October.
By Ed Avis
12 Spotlight on Halloween Décor Decorations can help scare up sales and
boost spirits.
holiday season
18 Christmas Preview: Santa Suits A look at what’s in store for the jolly ol’ elf this departments
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22
In The Industry
16 Business Basics 22 Product Parade
24 My Favorite Costume c os t u m e r s . o r g
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N C A A D M I N I S T R AT I O N BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Marion Bradley 2021* Discount Costumes 1736 Watson Blvd. Warner Robins, GA 31093 478-929-3500 ncapresident21@gmail.com
Treasurer
Vice President
Pam Markel 2021* Illusive Skull Costume Castle 1314 Morgantown Ave. Fairmont, WV 26554 304-363-4785 Fax 304-366-9850 info@illusiveskull.com
Louella Torrence 2021* Drop Me A Line Costume Shop 1050 Lehigh Street Allentown, PA 610-435-7481 Fax 610-435-7428 dropmealine@rcn.com
Director
Director
Gene Flaharty 2021* Mehron 100 Red Schoolhouse Road Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977 845-426-1700 Fax 845-426-1515 gflaharty@mehron.com
Dwayne Ibsen 2021* Ibsen Costume Gallery 4981 Hamilton St. Omaha, NE 68132 402-556-1400 Fax 402-556-5727 ibsencostumes@ gmail.com
Director
Director
Tyler Volz 2021* Spotlight Characters 1140 N. Walton Blvd. #3 Bentonville, AR 72712 479-696-4500
Director
Louella Torrence 2020* Drop Me A Line Costume Shop 1050 Lehigh Street Allentown, PA 610-435-7481 Fax 610-435-7428 dropmealine@rcn.com
Linda Adams-Foat 2021* Camelot Costumes, LLC 1321 S. Demeter Dr. Freeport, IL 61032 815-233-1861 camelot7@comcast.net
Director
Lori Hammes 2021* Curtains Up Costumes 100 Kramer Street Sigourney, IA 52591 641-622-5991 Contact@ CurtainsUpCostumes.com
2020 STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS Buyer’s Group: NCA Home Office Staff The Costumer/Roster/Publications: Ed Avis Associates Disaster & Grievance: Pam Markel, Illusive Skull Costume Castle Executive Director Liaison: Marion Bradley, Discount Costume Historian: NCA Home Office Staff Membership: Gene Flaherty, Mehron Memorial Fund/National Awards: Linda Adams-Foat, Camelot Costumes, LLC Nominations: Linda Adams-Foat, Camelot Costumes, LLC Plot Service: Lori Hammes, Curtains Up Costumes Policy & Procedures: Linda Adams-Foat, Camelot Costumes, LLC Publications Liaison: Pam Markel, Illusive Skull Costume Castle Time & Place: Dwayne Ibsen, Ibsen Costume Gallery and Pam Markel, Illusive Skull Costume Castle Web Site: Louella Torrence, Drop Me A Line Costume Shop Bereavement: Terri Greenberg, HALCO Social Media: Janine Caufield, Caufield’s and Tyler Volz, Spotlight Characters
Have You Paid Your 2020 Dues? Don’t risk missing out on all of the new benefits we are developing,
*indicates end of current term
ranging from educational webinars to business-building
Like the NCA on Facebook!
programs. Pay your dues today!
Go to www.costumers.org and look for the Facebook link at the bottom of the page!
Questions? Email Ed Avis at executivedirector@costumers.org
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PRESIDENT ’S LETTER Presidential greetings from Georgia, As months go by, and COVID-19 keeps hanging around to disrupt our lives and livelihood, I’ve noticed that my thought proccess has started to change. I’ve actually started feeling that there are some positive things that have come out of this dreadful time. Overall, things are moving along at a much slower pace than they were during this season last year—but I find myself being okay with that. It made me start thinking about when I first began in this business more than 25 years ago. Honestly, things were much simpler then. I only had to worry about myself and what I was doing—running the business out of my home, no employees, with just a friend willing to work when I needed her. Even though I wasn’t making much money then, I was still very pleased with myself. With my will to succeed, the demand to offer more for my customers grew. Couple this with a marriage to a man who had dreams of having a business himself, and before you know it, we had two stores. As anyone who has been through that transition knows, this is the point at which it can become hectic, because you have to give some control to others. Right now, it is just my husband and me running one of our stores. We do have personnel who are setting up the inflatables, but because of COVID-19 we are not really offering our other entertainment. Yes, our incoming sales are down—but so is our electic bill....our payroll.... our taxes...our insurance...and the number of hours we are open. We are actually enjoying the additional day off per week and are not worried that someone may not show up. We are no longer trying to make “every party happen.” Back in March when things started crashing down, I was so full of anxiety. I did not know how we were going to make it through. I worried about my staff and my two stores. Between getting some financial help from the CARES ACT, and NCA Executive Director Ed Avis sharing ideas and resources with NCA members, things have been much calmer for me. We are in a good place now. I have spoken with a couple of other NCA members who have shared that they, too, are in a good place—not the place they would have imagined themselves in in 2020, but in a place where they’re finding the positive in this negative time. I challenge you to do the same. Sometimes bigger is not always better, sometimes change—even if unexpected—can be a blessing in disguise. Until next time, Marion Bradley, President National Costumers Association Discount Costumes, Warner Robins, Georgia For those companies who still have tons of costumes for Halloween (like myself ), I am happy to announce that the NCA along with some vendor members are going to do our best to “help halloween happen”. You will find information about this on page 8. Please make sure you take advantage of what is being offered. SEP T/OCT 2020
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NCA National Headquarters Ed Avis Executive Director P.O. Box 13347 Chicago, IL 60613 708-646-2799 pub@costumers.org
The Costumer Publications Office Ed Avis Associates P.O. Box 13347 Chicago, IL 60613 708-646-2799 pub@costumers.org Ad Sales Ed Avis 708-646-2799 pub@costumers.org Editorial Inquiries Kathleen Furore 708-267-0023 kfurore@yahoo.com Art Director Michelle Crisanti michelle@mc2chicago.com ©2020, 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 assumed for the opinions expressed or claims made by the authors of articles or by advertisers. Appearance in the magazine does not constitute endorsement by the National Costumers Association, nor its officers or representatives.
www.costumers.org
in the industry
Editor’s Note: With the business world all topsy, turvy these days, nobody can be quite sure where costuming is headed. Hearing from NCA members is one way we try to keep our finger on the pulse of the industry. Here, Gene Flaharty of Mehron reports on what he sees happening in educational theatre in this time of COVID-19.
“How to Audition during a Quarantine.” They recorded it all on their phones and each actor played several characters, changing clothes, hair and personalities. It was a very funny show! Teachers are looking back to old original radio scripts or writing scripts in that format. Here is a short list of the different scripts being recommended:
• Waiting for Godot
• Silent Sky
• Dracula (the original play)
Theatre or No Theatre . . . That is the question. As Mehron’s education, theatrical and retail support specialist, and a member of and educator for the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), I wanted to share some thoughts. I participate in EdTA’s daily online open forum, during which high school teachers express their ideas and concerns and ask for help from each other. This summer the site has been loaded with doubt, concerns about coming back to school, and how to have theatre without an audience. Well, have no fear! The creative theatre teachers have been working hard sharing ideas and scripts, working with publishers, and learning how to live stream so they can offer some kind of theatre experience for their students. What it comes down to is this: There will be theatre productions, but they will look different. There will be smaller casts (no big musicals, wait ‘til spring). There will be scripts with story-telling monologues to keep the actors apart. But most of all, there will be mostly streamed productions. The teachers are having students record their parts at home, then editing them together and streaming the finished piece. Some teachers are actually recording the actors on stage at different times after school. One teacher is taking her production on the road and recording actors on real locations throughout her town. And some schools are taking their productions outside to have an audience (weather permitting). I have seen one show that was written by students called SEP T/OCT 2020
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• 13 Ways to Screw up Your College Interview
• The Orphan Train
• Heartland
• How to Survive Being in a Shakespeare Play
• The Laramie Project
• The 1940’s Radio Hour.
“What it comes down to
is this: There will be theatre
productions, but they will look different.” —Gene Flaharty
How does this affect the costume business? Well, it will be smaller because of the small casts—but most of the scripts that are being talked about are period pieces. If the students are doing their recording from home, they may need hats, wigs, costume pieces and makeup to look the part. So, stay in touch with all your schools and teachers to see what they are planning and how they are planning the production. Think accessories, not full costumes. Pam Hickman from Costume Holiday House (with two locations in Ohio) has had two schools do productions this summer. I’ve had other stores tell me that they have heard from their schools and that they have this same strategy. They also are planning ahead, as several schools have started reserving scripts for next spring. So, don’t despair…and get ready for the shows this fall. The show must go on!
By Ed Avis
Help Halloween Happen Campaign Brightens Holiday Sales
Are you worried about Halloween because of COVID? You have lots of company! It was supposed to a great year, since the holiday falls on a Saturday, but the virus threw everything into disarray. But your association has a plan to help! The NCA has launched the Help Halloween Happen (HHH) campaign. This campaign has three components: A written guide full of ideas that NCA members can take to their community leaders to encourage a safe, fun local Halloween; free poster creation and printing to support local events our members develop; and stickers that members can hand out to kids buying costumes. The aim of the Help Halloween Happen campaign is to create local excitement about Halloween. We want the resiSEP T/OCT 2020
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dents of your community to shop in your store. That’s why the three parts of the campaign all bring the focus to your store. When your neighbors are thinking about Halloween this year, we want them thinking about you, too! Naturally, the campaign will succeed only with your involvement. You will receive more details about the campaign in the coming weeks, but as a taste, but below are summaries of some of the ideas you’ll find in the guide.
5 Ideas for a Fun, Safe, Community Halloween. Some of the ideas below require involvement with your local authorities. Naturally, where you start depends on your
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community, but as a general rule of thumb, try starting with the elected official most responsible for your neighborhood. For example, if you live in a city, your alderman or councilman is probably the person who can most likely get a community Halloween idea off the ground. If you live in a small town, you may be able to go directly to the mayor or other local leader. In some cases, the Chamber of Commerce may be your best starting point, since they also want to see your local businesses thrive. When you decide on an idea, make sure you take ownership by helping organize and lead the event. That will help ensure that your shop is front-and-center of the event. And when you have the details, contact me (Ed Avis, executive director of the NCA, 708-218-7755) and we’ll create posters to help promote the event. The HHH Guide contains 10 ideas for a safe, fun Halloween. Here are five of them:
1. Create No–Touch Trick–or–Treating Options Trick-or-treating is the heart of Halloween, and it can still be done safely this year! The key is to limit contact between costumed kids and the people handing out candy. Here are some ideas: ! Have families that want to participate put a table at the end of their driveway or sidewalk and space the pieces of candy out on the table. The candy-giver can stand six feet behind the table (or on the porch or doorway) to greet trick-or-treaters, and the trick-or-treaters can take one piece of candy from the table without touching the others. People who are really into the idea can decorate their table in a Halloween theme! ! Create a “trunk-or-treat” by parking cars in a parking lot, such as of a shopping mall or school, with trunks open and candy inside, safely spread out. Have trick-or-treaters line up at a safe distance at the entrance to the parking lot and let them in small groups. Kids can grab a piece as they pass by each trunk, and families can watch from the cars or at a distance. ! Create a confined trick-or-treating space, such as a park or playground. Mark out a path through the space and put candy on tables throughout. Have the trick-or-treaters line up six feet apart (or in family groups separated by six feet) at the entrance to the path and let them in when the trick-or-treater or group ahead is a few tables down the way. Families or businesses can donate the candy and decorate each table. SEP T/OCT 2020
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! Encourage “reverse trick-or treating,” or ghosting. This means that costumed kids go to their friends’ houses and drop off treats on their porches with little notes attached that say, “You’ve been ghosted!” This can be done any time in the week leading up to Halloween, so there’s less chance of contact.
2. Sponsor a Community Costume Contest Everyone from babies to seniors likes getting dressed up at Halloween! Help them show off their costumes by sponsoring a virtual community costume contest with prizes from local businesses to stimulate interest. This can be coordinated through the Chamber of Commerce or just by contacting other local businesses. Ask the businesses to donate small prizes – such as gift certificates, low-cost giveaways, or free introductory services – and gather them in prize baskets. Create contestant categories for children, teens, adults, and seniors and offer multiple prizes in each category, such as Most Original, Funniest or Best Use of Makeup. Create as many categories as you can with the prizes you collect from businesses. Set a deadline for people to post photos of themselves in costume and tell all the businesses that offered prizes to promote the contest on their social media. Find some local celebrities to judge the entries and make a big deal out of announcing the winners. Hopefully your local media will pick up the story!
3. Plan a Reverse Halloween Parade Halloween parades are a fun part of many community celebrations. This year they can still happen – just in reverse! Here’s how it works: Every business or organization that would have normally participated in the Halloween parade is encouraged to create the float or exhibit they would have created during a normal year. Then on the day of the parade, they drive the float to a large parking lot or wide street and park it. People who want to view the parade drive slowly past each float – people on the float can even toss candy to them – and take it all in, just like they would if the floats were driving past them. Of course, everyone involved should be encouraged to wear a costume and get fully into the experience!
4. Spearhead a Halloween Décor Contest Everyone loves decorating their homes for Halloween, and that’s one part of the holiday that is unaffected by COVID. Create a community Halloween décor contest to encourage and reward the best decorators. Offer discounts on Halloween décor in your shop and offer free no-touch delivery for people
who don’t want to come into your store. Maybe even offer a Zoom workshop on creating Halloween décor and decorating for the season. Then create an 8.5 x 11 poster (with your store logo, of course) that says, “Vote for Our House in the Halloween Décor Contest by texting xxx!” or something like that and send a PDF of the poster to every household that wants to participate in the contest. They can print out the poster and put it in a window or on a sign in their yard. Promote the event in your community and tell residents to drive by the homes to view the décor and vote on their favorite!
Sponsors Who Made HHH Possible! The following NCA Vendor Members made donations to fund the Help Halloween Happen campaign.
We greatly appreciate their support!
NNN
5. Hold a Halloween Photo Scavenger Hunt Get your community involved with your local attractions by holding a Halloween Photo Scavenger Hunt. Here’s how this works: Walk or drive through your community and take pictures of interesting things that are Halloween related (even slightly!) such as gargoyles on buildings, scary alleys, old houses, etc. Find a dozen or so of those, then post them on your Facebook page or web site. Tell people the general geography of the locations—such as downtown—and ask them to try to find each one and take a picture of it, preferably with them standing in front in costume. Everyone who submits a photo of every item on the list gets a small gift certificate for Halloween décor, costumes or make-up in your shop. In the coming weeks you’ll receive the complete guide and more details about the posters and stickers. Remember, your involvement is essential. The more you do to encourage Halloween in your community, the more costume buyers you’ll see this fall!
MORRIS COSTUMES
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spotlight: Halloween Decor Decorations can help scare up sales and boost spirits
Photo courtesy of Morris Costumes
By Kathleen Furore
And the survey says… 70 percent of moms report they expect to celebrate Halloween 2020 with their children…and décor will play a big part in their celebrations! That news from the recent Halloween Trends report from Insight to Action is a welcome bright spot for costumers, who have been operating in the dark, cloudy weather the pandemic blew in.
A more detailed breakdown of the data shows that 37 percent of moms interviewed expect to decorate outside and 35 percent inside their homes. “To support their decorating, 28 percent of moms expect to purchase decorations for inside the home, and 24 percent expect to purchase for the outside…and trunk or treating creates a need to decorate the car or truck,” Insight to Action notes. “Sixty percent of the people surveyed by Insight to Action expect Halloween spending for 2020 to
“One idea is to create a “Trunk or Treat” decorating kit…The store can package these items together for a price point and make it easy for their customer to “Grab and Go.” —Mark Stouffer, Beistle
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70 percent of moms report they expect to celebrate Halloween 2020 with their children…37 percent of moms interviewed expect to decorate outside and 35 percent inside their homes…Nationally, Halloween décor collections are growing steadily.” —Insight to Action 2020 Halloween Trends Report
be the same as last year…. Nationally, Halloween décor collections are growing steadily.” To find out what the vendors on the front lines of the décor market are predicting for Halloween 2020, The Costumer reached out to Scott Morris of Morris Costumes and Mark Stouffer of Beistle, who share their insights with our readers. The Costumer: Halloween obviously is going to be a bit different than those in past years. What are your feelings/predictions about Halloween 2020? Scott Morris: Everyone wants to find a release and socialize for Halloween. There will be more house parties and neighborhood parties but little school or community events. There will still be college parties of some sort and lots of house
decorations. There will be some drive-thru haunted yards and decoration sales will be up. Trick or treating can still be accomplished easily with social distancing. The Costumer: Do you anticipate that decor will be a bigger part of the Halloween experience this year due to COVID-19 restrictions? Mark Stouffer: Yes, we have had a lot of interest in outdoor décor this year and interest has remained strong in our Vintage Halloween line, which features reproductions of Halloween decorations that Beistle made many decades ago. Inflatables have been popular, as have our plastic back drops and Insta-Murals that are great to create a scene. Our creepy creatures are larger decorations with more presence. For inside, the Vintage Halloween décor is popular because of the nosc os t u m e r s . o r g
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“The stores must have the décor displayed and operating to create an atmosphere. Leaving it in the box will not invite customers to shop.”
Photo courtesy of Beistle
—Scott Morris, Morris Costumes
talgia and many people remember them from childhood and want those same memories for their children. The Costumer: Many small, independent stores typically focus on costumes, so they don’t carry a lot of decor items. Do you have any advice on how they can re-work their inventory this year and merchandise decor in ways that will appeal to customers? Morris: Costumes should have as much décor as feasible including static and animated props, inflatables and lighting including inside décor. The stores must have the décor displayed and operating to create an atmosphere. Leaving it in the box will not invite customers to shop. Stouffer: Even if you don’t carry a lot of items, it is important to keep things fresh for the customers, so it is always good to add a few new items to the mix each year. I think it is also important to display the items. If you get them out of the package and create a few displays, it gives the customer ideas on how the items can be used and how to decorate.
Photo courtesy of Beistle
The Costumer: Trunk-or-treat experiences likely will be popular this October. Do you think there are ways to incorporate decor into those type of events— ideas shops can promote to boost decor sales? Stouffer: One idea is to create a “Trunk or Treat” decorating kit. Include a banner to display across the open trunk, Whirls to hang from the inside, some spider webbing, and add in a few other items like cutouts or clings. The store can package these items together for a price point and make it easy for their customer to “Grab and Go.” —Kathleen Furore is the editor of The Costumer. c os t u m e r s . o r g
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business basics Spread ‘Em Out: Stagger Promotions to Prevent Late-October Logjam By Ed Avis Everyone needs more customers right now, but nobody wants crowds potentially spreading COVID. With Halloween on the horizon—and hopefully lots of costume and makeup sales—how do you address this conundrum? By incentivizing customers to shop early. For example, Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds, an NCA member costume shop in Austin, Texas, is encouraging customers to select their Halloween costume rental as early as September 1 and not return it until November by offering a “day-and-ahalf ” rental. “All of our rentals are based on one night, and customers can reserve them 30 days in advance,” says Jerry Durham, a manager at Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds. “For Halloween they can reserve 60 days in advance, and the Halloween special is that they can pay a night and a half rental and take the costume as soon as September 1 and not bring it back until early November.” This means that customers will not be jamming the store in the week before Halloween to pick up their rentals. Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds has offered this deal for many years, but this year it’s especially important because of COVID. “In the past we did it so we didn’t have to store all the onenight pickups. We just don’t have enough space if everyone does that,” Durham says. “With people coming in and choosing a costume starting on September 1, even if they don’t know what they’ll be doing or what night they’ll be doing something, they have the costume already. And it cuts down the crowds that inevitably will happen in the last half of October.” SEP T/OCT 2020
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Another option for spreading out Halloween sales is to offer a discount in September that declines as Halloween approaches. Janine Wardale of Graftobian Make-up Company says she saw a costume shop offering this kind of sale—the discount will be 20 percent at the beginning of September, 15 percent after two weeks, 10 percent in the last week of September, and then prices return to normal in October. The idea is that people will come in early to buy their costumes and makeup, which will reduce the crowds in late October. And, naturally, this kind of sale should increase sales overall. There are variations on this “declining discount” sale. For example, you could distribute coupons to regular customers that are more valuable in September than in October (or work ONLY in September), or you could offer some kind of free giveaway with every purchase, but only in September. Another way to spread out crowds—and hopefully increase sales—is to hold a series of limited-attendance events like makeup classes or zombie classes in September and early October. You could limit attendance to a safe number, say 5 to 10, and space the customers carefully. Then encourage them to buy the supplies or costumes they will need for Halloween at that point, rather than waiting until closer to Halloween. The bottom line with all of these ideas is two-fold: They should increase overall sales, and they should spread those sales out over a longer period of time, thus keeping the crowds smaller (and easier to keep at a social distance) in that crucial week before Halloween! —Ed Avis is the publisher of The Costumer.
Christmas Preview: Santa Suits Santa’s coming to town…he just might arrive in different ways this year By Kathleen Furore
The Ministry of Fun Santa School in London has been training professional Father Christmases in the UK for the past 25 years. They’re hard at work this year, too; but they’re started earlier than usual because they’re facing a new challenge: to reassure clients hiring a Santa and the public that it’s possible to make the experience safer during the coronavirus pandemic. Creating red velvet masks with white fur trim, a “social distance grotto” that gives children a contact-free visit with Santa, and a small sleigh Santa can put presents on and invite children to pull towards them are steps the school has taken so far, according to trainer and company founder James Lovell. SEP T/OCT 2020
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“I’m hoping that what we’re doing here today at Santa School is showing people what they can do and that they can do it magically,” Lovell said in a story at reuters.com. Creativity Abounds in Santa’s Bag On this side of the pond, Santa has started early this year, too, hoping to work a little pre-holiday magic during the pandemic. In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Christmas City Santa (aka Santa Kringle) has appeared live in Story Time With Santa on Facebook, and is available for virtual visits via Face Time or Zoom.
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And in Milford, Connecticut, one Santa created a video to show kids proper hand-washing techniques. He also delivered the message that he, the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are fine, and encouraged them to keep learning even though they are out of school. The video is even close-captioned and interpreted in sign language. That kind of creativity is proof positive that Santa will survive, and possibly even thrive in new ways—because the jolly old elf is such an indispensable part of the Christmas season that it’s a given he’ll show up in some form this year. “First of all, I think everyone is looking to celebrate anything good,” says Terri Greenberg, owner of Halco, makers
“I think there will be many dads, grandparents, or family friends who will dress as Santa and Mrs. Claus for home parties,” Greenberg predicts. Will They Rent or Buy? That’s the question on every Santa-stocking shop owner’s mind as the holiday season approaches. “Because this year is unlike any other, I see higher sales of Santa suits and accessories in place of rentals,” predicts Greenberg, who suggests costume shops make the most of the situation by offering a new and unique marketing program. “Make it easy for the consumer,” she says. “Advertise
“Make it easy for the consumer. Advertise ‘Complete Santa Suits with accessories for the At Home Santa—everything you need for the Jolly Old Man and his Mrs. C.’ ” —Terri Greenberg, Halco
of the Original Santa Suit and an industry leader around the world in Santa suits and other Christmas apparel. In fact, there’s a possibility there might even be more demand than before for Santa attire since families won’t be able to count on their local mall or party venue for the traditional visit with Santa. SEP T/OCT 2020
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‘Complete Santa Suits with accessories for the At Home Santa—everything you need for the Jolly Old Man and his Mrs. C.’” Buying a Santa suit is also the best option for virtual visits from St. Nick, which Stephen P. Arnold, president and CEO of the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas
a rented, climate-controlled globe so he (or Mrs C) could visit with children safely, too? And, wrap the idea up with a targeted children’s storybook that the parents could purchase and read to their children in preparation,” Arnold wrote.
Photo courtesy of Halco
(ibrbs) says has been the focus of discussions about the 2020 holiday season. And in his recent letter to members in the ibrbs newsletter, he offered another idea that costume shops might be able
to adapt and bring to life in their communities. As Arnold explained, an ibrbs member recently sold a local Ohio business owner on the idea of using the storefront window to communicate with passersby by creating a visit with Mrs. Claus in July—totally safe, socially distanced experience. “What if companies could hire Santa to appear inside
There’s no question the upcoming season will be different than ever before. But as Milford’s Santa told the kids hanging on to his every last word, “Things are going to get better. This won’t last forever…Pretty soon we’ll all be back to doing what we do.”
Keep it clean: Sanitizing Rental Santa Suits While experts predict people will be buying more often than renting Santa suits this year, there will be rentals going out. The Costumer asked Terri Greenberg, owner of Halco, for tips on making sure the rental suits are thoroughly cleaned before sending them back out to a new customer. Here’s what she told us:
“We want our costumes to last a long time and having
them dry cleaned is the best way to keep them looking great. It’s an expensive proposition, but if you are dry cleaning, the company must start with a clean chemical system and they should use a low heat process to dry. It’s a good idea to invest in a wire dog brush to use on the white fur trim. But if the time is short in between rentals, we recommend turning the jacket and pants inside out; then you can steam the suit, use Febreeze or a cheap vodka spray for odors, spot clean with a mild detergent, and let the suit hang alone to dry.” c os t u m e r s . o r g
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P roduct parade
Graftobian’s Zombie Makeup Kit. With all
those zombies walking about, we at Graftobian feel that the best way to survive is to blend in with the crowd. Our kits have everything you need to simulate the entire spectrum
between freshly bitten and severely emaci-
ated. Products are fragrance free and cruelty
iconic and recognizable
free (no animal testing!). But we did test on
a few of those shambling reanimated corpses that raised both of their hands towards us to indicate that they were volunteering... we’re
608-222-7849; graftobian.com
monster in cinematic
history, Boris Karloff ’s portrayal of the
pretty sure they were just super excited about the high quality of the makeup!
Trick or Treat Studios; Universal Monsters— Boris Karloff as Frankenstein Mask. The most
monster is timeless. This full
over-the-head mask, sculpted
by Justin Mabry, captures the monster with stunning detail. This and the rest of the
Universal Monsters are getting new life at Trick or Treat Studios! trickortreatstudios.com
New for 2020! Halco’s Blue Plush Santa Suit. Made of blue pile plush with white long-hair
trim, this suit includes
pullover coat, pants, hat with pom-pom, belt
with buckle, and boot tops
with white long-hair plush cuffs. Available in Large and XL sizes.
724-929-7300;
HalcoHolidays.com
Dreamgirls’ Hot Haunts. The Prince of Darkness, style 11939, has a rich velvet tunic with large pentagram patch and attached cape. Also includes belt with attached chains and pentagram charms. Princess of Darkness, style 11940, offers a sleek zip front faux leather jumpsuit with vampire collar and attached faux leather skirt is lined with contrasting deep red satin for a dramatic effect. 800-214-0100; dreamgirlintl.com
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NCA Marketplace
Farthingales’ Corset Making Supplies. Woven
Advertising in the NCA Marketplace is $35 per issue (10% discount for NCA members). You will be billed upon publication; payment is due upon receipt. For full details, see the advertising contract available at www.costumers.org. Contact Ed Avis at 708-218-7755 or pub@costumers.org.
boning a.k.a.
Rigelene is an
amazingly versatile
product for costumers to create light weight apertures
for unique shapes.
It comes in various
widths and in both black and white. You can cut it
with scissors and sew through it, making it easy to use. 519-801-5328;
farthingalescorsetmakingsupplies.com
Dreamgirls’ Mythical Magic Couple. The Venus, style 11926, is an elegant mythical goddess dress with a sheer over skirt, cascading chiffon sashes and gold trim embellishments. Also included are a gold leaf head piece and armbands. The Apollo, style 11925, is a versatile costume that that includes a richly embellished Greek styled skirt with Lyre print, gold satin cape with large ruby stone embellishment, armbands and gold leaf headpiece. It can be worn with or without the shirt, which is also included.
Like the NCA on Facebook!
Go to www.costumers.org and look for the Facebook link at the bottom of the page!
800-214-0100; dreamgirlintl.com
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My Favorite Costume Steve Short Kansas City Costume Company Kansas City, Kansas www.kccostume.com Like many long-standing, independent costume shops, Kansas City Costume Company has been
the production package for Cinderella, which premiered at Rainbow Stage in Winnepeg, Canada in 2019: two peasant dresses and two ballgowns. One of the
“I did a lot of research into how to quick-rig the costume…designers on Broadway have really stepped up their game,” says Burrell, who learned place-
through many changes since its founding in 1920s in Kansas City, Kansas. In 1971, the shop merged with Maxine Short’s Retail Theatre Supply and began filling the costuming needs of schools and theaters in the greater Kansas City area. Eventually, the company broadened its reach to include professional designers and theaters. Steve Short and business partner Carl Welander have owned the company since Short’s mother passed away in 1999, and together have weathered many twists and turns—the most recent being the COVID-19 closure, which has shaken most everyone in the industry, including, as Short says, “many in the NCA family.” Through it all, Short has worked with thousands of costumes. One of his recent favorites encompasses multiple costumes that in-house designer Kenneth Burrell co-created as part of
peasant dresses is a plain peasant dress, the other hides one of the ballgowns. “During the part of the show when the mice become horses, Cinderella is wearing the peasant dress with the ballgown rigged into it,” says Burrell, who explains that the gown drops down as she swirls during the song “Impossible,” creating what appears to be a miraculous costume change right on stage. Because there isn’t room to hide a full, puffy ballgown under the peasant dress, a coachman arrives with a sheer coat, which Cinderella dons as she steps into the stagecoach and is whisked offstage, where her dresser is waiting with the full gown. “She steps out of her clothes, steps into the full gown, [puts on] white shoes and necklace, then puts on gloves as she enters the ballroom and ascends the stairs to the awaiting Prince,” Short says.
ment of seams was key. “Where the seams split, I used metal eyes with fishing line to keep things together… then when Cinderella pulls the broach off, the whole thing splits [to reveal the ballgown]. It’s ‘Broadway magic!’” “It is important for us to have this kind of package, with all of the tricks, in stock,” says Burrell, “Until the pandemic hit, the package had been booked regularly. It would go out, come in, we’d clean it and it would go back out.” Once the current crisis subsides, the hope is that it will be booked regularly again.
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What is your favorite costume? To be considered for an upcoming My Favorite Costume profile, email Editor Kathleen Furore at kfurore@yahoo.com.