How to Start a Party Supply Store

Part 1 - How to start a Party Supply Store business - Background

Party supply stores offer supply rentals, costumes, party favors, seasonal items, balloons, decorations and disposable silverware items. They’re a one-stop-shop for anything seasonal, often revamping entire product lines to take care of seasonal crowds. They’re often prioritized providers on Halloween, Christmas and birthdays due to their niche products and services.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Party Supply Store business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a party supply store?

A party supply store’s initial investment is about $90,300. This accounts for all certifications, insurance and products. A starting party supply store needs to obtain a number of products, including paper products, decorations, banners and tablecloths. It will also need a full line of wedding accessories, such as cake tops, server sets and similar items. Halloween costumes, candy and entertainment supplies will need to be purchased. In some cases, an additional $10,000 in startup expenses will exist, channeled into etching and engraving machinery.

What are the ongoing expenses for a party supply store?

As a rule of thumb: For every $1 spent on labor, operators can expect to spend $0.30 on capital investment. These investments are minimal, and yearly expenses can be as low as $15,000. These expenses account for utility costs, annual rent, product sourcing and advertising. Assuming the party supply store is of average size, and in a profitable shopping location, a rent expense of about $3,000 per month is acceptable.

Who is the target market?

A party supply shop’s best customers will be seasonal “holiday shoppers.” Holiday shoppers may shop exclusively at a party supply store during Christmas, Halloween and the Fourth of July. That said, holiday shoppers can often be rushed. For this reason, an ideal shopper will be one who doesn’t exploit holiday product return policies. Because holiday-purchased items aren’t useful during non-holiday hours, product purchase exploitation frequently happens.

How does a party supply store make money?

While a party supply store can make money year-round, much of its revenue will be gained during the holidays—specifically Halloween. A store makes money by selling costumes, party favors, candy, balloons, costume makeup and decorations. Several party supply stores offer bounce house, fogger and professional party display rentals, too. If a party store offers such big-cot rentals, they frequently limit their availability. Again, a party supply store’s ability to maximize sales greatly depends on its customers’ holiday and party needs. Often, a party supply store is a local area’s only provider of costumes and specialty holiday products. It simply isn’t profitable for department stores to carry such items, year-round.

How much can you charge customers?

Basic party supplies should cost between $4 and $15, depending on their use. High-demand, disposable items like paper cups, plates and banners will be slightly less expensive. Costumes, meanwhile, will need to be priced competitively while also making money. Average costumes should be priced between $40 and $80, depending on their complexity. Low-quality costumes—and child costumes—can be sold for about $20. Candy, balloons and other small, bulk-purchase items can be sold for under $5.

How much profit can a party supply store make?

A party supply store can make a little over $100,000, if it’s operating efficiently. Once expenses, investments and advertisement are paid, a party supply store manager can make approximately $57,000 per year. Assistant managers can expect to make approximately $33,000 per year.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Attract local support. Once your business has grown, vary its services to suit monetary needs. A party supply store capable of offering the area’s only bounce houses, professional displays and specialty costumes will thrive. Effective cost control, too, will help a costume supply store thrive.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a party supply store?

A party supply store needs to be a preferred location during the holidays, due to its niche product stock. For this reason, day-to-day activities during holiday hours are drastically different than during non-holiday hours.

Over the holidays, a holiday supply store owner must handle rush orders, filing go-back items, handling costume fittings, managing increased product shipments, creating a custom return policy, and prioritizing customer service. During non-holiday hours, an owner must be able to conduct the regular responsibilities associated with any small business owner. In-house finances, marketing, management, promotion, and shop upkeep are important.

While owners shouldn’t focus on product upkeep too much, several items in part stores—due to their disposable nature—may need to be replaced over time. Party supply stores often face slow periods when holidays aren’t near. These time periods deserve extra attention, so as to keep the shop operational.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful party supply store?

Above all, a strong sense of finance and marketing is needed. Because party supply stores face considerable difficulties with year-round financing, a strong grasp on local economics, product sourcing, and promotion is needed. A successful party supply store owner is often well-read in local customer needs, too.

A knack for customer service is also important. During holiday hours, a party supply store can become hectic. All staff should be capable of handling tough customer decisions. Professional selling, a background in retail—specifically clothing—and knowledge of current trends certainly helps. Because Halloween is a notoriously party-store-centric holiday, having knowledge about current costume favorites is a must.

What is the growth potential for a party supply store?

Party supply stores do have difficulty growing. Because they’re in a niche product and service category, they often have financial growth and scaling difficulties during non-holiday hours. For this reason, larger chains like Party Land and Party City dominate the market. A party supply store can, however, become a local area’s preferred location rather easily. Party supply store franchises certainly exist, but they’re difficult to obtain.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a party supply store?

Prepare for holiday hours well before they arrive. Party supply retailers face exhaustive considerations, and they’re constantly facing slow periods capable of shutting down the entire establishment. Market analysis, cash flow projections and a firm grasp on profits and loss is vital. During Halloween, local shoppers will flock to whichever location has the most expansive product line. If you can provide unique, low-cost or bulk costume items, you’ll dominate your area’s market for a very important month.

How and when to build a team

You only need a team of two to three workers in the beginning. Fortunately, a party supply store is—basically—a small retail outlet. Have a worker to manage back-of-the-house supplies. Have another worker engage customers. The final worker should work at the register. Build your team to at least five before the holidays roll around, however. During the holidays, accidents and theft aren’t only possible—they’re likely.

Part 2 - Is a Party Supply Store business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Party Supply Store business in 90 days