Halloween stores provide costumes for trick-or-treaters

posted October 27, 2003

by Reve Williamson of Campanile

As October comes to an end and Halloween approaches, the search for a perfect costume becomes urgent.

To accompany this costume, a mask and wig are added to the shopping list. Dry ice and giant rubber rats are soon to follow; but where is the best place to purchase these seasonal items?

While the local drug store and supermarket provide one option, they pale in comparison to stores that specialize in Halloween retail, such as Spirit Halloween, Diddams and Party America. These stores all sell similar items; however, their costs, selection, atmosphere and organization vary dramatically.

Spirit Halloween Unlike its competitors, Spirit Halloween sells strictly Halloween products. Here, they do not waste their time and space with Luau tiki torches or birthday balloons.

It is difficult for other stores to compete with this, since these stores have such a wide variety of products.

The Spirit Halloween stores are only open from September to October and attempt to offer their customers the latest in Halloween costumes, accessories, masks, wigs, makeup, party goods and decorations.

If a customer brings in an advertisement from another company, Spirit Halloween will meet and beat this price, a deal perfect for frugal shoppers. Their nearest store is in Menlo Park, located where CD Warehouse used to be. They have refurbished the site, filling it to the brim with Halloween supplies.

Founded by Joe Marver in 1983, Spirit Halloween now has over 180 stores, with 52 stores in California alone. These stores take over abandoned buildings and make them functional.

They also have an extensive web-site which contains everything from "money saving coupons" and pumpkin fruit roll up recipes to "Halloween Safety Tips."

Diddams Located on Hamilton Avenue, just a few blocks away from Palo Alto High School, Diddams provides a local alternative for Halloween shopping. This family-run business was founded in 1990 and has been selling party supplies ever since. Diddams is a chain of five stores, all of which are located in California. These stores sell many products, such as toys, costumes, party supplies and novelties. In particular, they have a wide array of fluorescent wigs and balloons.

While stocked with an adequate amount of unique decorations, masks and other Halloween delights, their store lacks organization. The Halloween shelves are untidy, which makes finding a particular item next to impossible.

In certain areas there are unidentifiable odors, and at the back of the store there is an incessant ringing sound. Overall this creates a negative shopping atmosphere.

Diddams has a wide selection of products, which are dispersed throughout their two-story building. However, they have a limited amount of Halloween supplies.

The Halloween products that are available are crammed into a small portion of the store.

The aisles are narrow and crowded. In order to be efficient in Halloween shopping, it is optimal to go when the store is vacant.

Although they have numerous costumes for sale on their web-site, most of these are either backordered or temporarily out of stock. Just like their store, the web-site has a broad selection; however, everything is overpriced.

Party America Party America, an Alameda-based company, is the largest retail chain of consumer party supplies west of the Rocky Mountains. When C.E.O. Marty Allen joined Party America in 1996, the company was suffering from a failed merger with Party World.

This had resulted in a $3 million loss, which Allen had to overcome.

Since then, the company has made great progress, earning close to $50 million in sales this year. This August, the company grew even more when they purchasing the bankrupt party goods retailer Paper Warehouse, Inc.

Their decorations have over 150 party themes and there are 10,000 seasonal products to choose from, with Halloween being the store's single biggest season. In addition to having an impressive inventory, the store is chock-full of charm and personality.

When children under a certain height enter the store they are given a complimentary balloon. Party America also gives discounts to schools and non-profit organizations.

Due to its location, Party America is one of the least convenient stores. While Redwood City might be a long drive for some, it is well worth the trip.

For those who are too lazy to go that far, they also offer an online store, which lacks the charm Party America is known for, but makes up for that minor flaw with its convenience. Presently, their web-site is only selling Halloween costumes, but they plan on selling Santa Claus suits, customized balloons, New Year's "Party Kits" and more in the near future. The web-site is efficient and costumes are shipped within two days of purchase.

Their web-site, besides selling costumes, also provides helpful party-planning tips, information on sales and store locations.

Overall, the stores are hard to compare. It just depends on what Halloween supplies one is looking for. For charm, personality and realistic gravestones, Party America is superlative.

However, for a store that specializes only in Halloween supplies and doesn't bother with anything else, Spirit Halloween is the only place to go. For convenience, balloons and candy, head to Diddams.