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Oct. 31, 2005

Costumes Harder to Find as Halloween Draws Near
By Caitlin Clinard

Do you have your Halloween costume yet? If not, then you could be facing sold out signs. Timothy Robinson, Party City manager, had one suggestion to customers who want to dress up this Halloween.

“The sooner the better,” he said.

Party City, a business that sells more than 400 costumes, might be sold out of the costume that you’re looking for. That’s because Halloween generates one third of Party City’s annual sales and costumes sell out fast around the holiday.

Robinson said that Party City gets all kinds of customers.

“You have a mixed variety,” he said. “You have some of the early shoppers that come out the very first part of the year of October and then you have your late bloomers which come in around the end of October.”

But don’t fret. Costume shops aren’t the only places to find your Halloween duds. If you didn’t plan ahead this Halloween season for a costume and you’re facing sold out signs at the generic costume stores, then try another option.

Time After Time, a thrift shop on Franklin Street, offers creative alternatives to store-bought costumes. Owner Annie Jackson gets so busy over Halloween that she has to hire more help. Her thrift shop bustled with activity as shoppers put their creative sides to work.

Kim Timko, a UNC-CH student, avoided places like Party City altogether.

“It’s cheaper and also I think it’s more authentic,” Timko said. “I don’t know, I don’t really like store-bought costumes because I think they’re kind of cheesy looking.”

Party City costumes can range anywhere from $20 to more than $50. But some of Jackson’s customers are walking away with costumes less than $20. Plus, Jackson is not running out of costumes.

“Most other places run out like by now they’re done,” Jackson said. “They’re out of all the good stuff. Tomorrow morning we’ll be here at four o’clock refilling the whole store.”

Jackson says if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind costume that you can’t find in a bag, thrift shops are the way to go. She also said it’s more fun to put your imagination to use.