(Filed Under wholesale Costume News). Citing reports that more than 158 million people worldwide celebrated Halloween to the tune of just under $7 billion in 2013, the 2014 Halloween & Party Expo stated it expects a strong showing of buyers from across the states and around the globe for its event at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on Jan. 25 to 28, 2014.

The Halloween & Party Expo also noted that 85 percent of the 600,000-square-foot show has already been reserved by exhibitors, making it the perfect place for buyers to find costumes not only for Halloween, but for customers’ year-round theme parties and 5K fun runs. Vendors also specialize in party supplies and accessories among its immensely varied selection of goods, making the expo a one-stop shop for many buyers.

“The first year we went, we made the decision that this was the only show we needed to go to,’ said Scott Smiledge of Vamp Fangs in Massachusetts, in a quote supplied by the show. “Every major player is there under one roof. It’s where we do all of our buying for the year. We don’t do any research on line; we go to the expo and what it offers us is what we feed off of.”

The expo’s expansive product selection offers a lot of information and inspiration for buyers who don’t necessarily specialize in Halloween. “We’re new to Halloween,” said Ben Baker of Houston-based Imagination Toys and Shoes, (in another quote,as well as others, below supplied by the event). “And since we’ve been coming to the expo, we’ve picked up deals, and our sales in Halloween paraphernalia have gone up dramatically.”

The expo also provides a chance for many buyers to peruse items carefully before committing to a purchase. “Some things in a catalog look a lot different when you see them in person,” said Richard Adler of Mr. A’s Magic and Costume Shop of West Palm Beach, Fla. “To be able to walk among the items and touch the fabrics and check out the props, you can see the quality, which you can’t usually get on line or in a catalog. It makes a big difference.”

Buyers also appreciate the expo’s many events and activities designed to educate and entertain attendees. The 2014 Halloween & Party Expo will be under the same roof as HAuNTcon, a haunted attractions trade show, and together, the shows will offer more than 60 hours of educational seminars, plus a runway costume event and costume ball complete with complimentary food and drinks, plus prizes and all-night entertainment. “The fashion shows and parties afterwards were great,” Adler noted. “We had a blast.”

Buyers interested in attending the 2014 Halloween & Party Expo can learn more and register at HalloweenPartyExpo.com.

more wholesale Costume News >>

Published 11-25-2013 by Katherine Rautenberg