Party retailers everywhere are hoping for a bumper year this Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

According to VerdictRetail.com, the tills are set to ring over the 2015 festive period as Q4 spend reaches £92.1billion - the biggest Q4 ever. But just how much of that will go to the party industry?

Whilst you may have been planning and preparing for this time of year for months, Joe Public hasn’t - lots of the little extras are left right up to the last minute. It’s up to you to capitalise on those opportunities!

And there will be plenty of them... ladies will be dancing, lords will be a-leaping, and they will be all looking to party retailers to

make their event go off with a bang. Just because it’s as cold as Jack Frost outside doesn’t mean December can’t be merry and bright.

We all know that festive parties need decorations, tableware, balloons and

wearable accessories.

Most people won’t have even considered those yet, or at least many won’t buy them until December, so you have to make sure you’re prepared.

We know it’s not possible to stock the whole range for

every single theme and trend out there, so here are a few ideas

and tips for last-minute buying over Christmas and NYE 2015...

When it comes to innovative ideas and trends, Amscan knows Christmas. Its marketing executive, Charlotte Cox, tells us: “With regards to partyware we are seeing a trend towards a more traditional colour scheme this Christmas with a preference for green, red and white coloured decorations and tableware. Our new holly and snowman designs

fit this trend perfectly and include handy containers perfect for family parties. Snowflake decorations are also a very popular choice to transform a setting into a winter wonderland.”

Charlotte also knows from experience that festive wearable accessories are a

Festive Parties

Sorted By Sancto“Christmas and New Year

will always be the season which separates the

ultra organised with those last minute panic buyers, even it appears in the party and fancy

dress market.Whether it’s the last

minute shoe covers for the elves and Santa’s beard

for the grotto, or the glitzy masquerade masks and sequin dresses for New Year celebrations, Widmann Sancto International are sure to have it covered.We have plenty of accessories, everything from glasses, quality wigs, beards, belly stuffers and boot-covers, not forgetting novelty head boppers and sexy stockings in lots of colours and styles.”Anna Solly, Sancto International

Below: Perfect for New Year celebrations Widmann srl &

Sancto’s masquerade masks.

“With regards to partyware we are seeing a trend towards a more traditional colour scheme this Christmas with a preference for green, red and white coloured decorations and tableware.”Charlotte Coxmarketing executive, Amscan

There is so much more to December than your standard twelve days of Christmas. The whole month is awash with office parties, kids parties, Christmas festivities, New Year’s Eve parties and masquerade balls. So what last-minute preparations can you make to ensure those goose will be a-laying in 2015?

Inset: Santa getting into the festive spirit.

ON HIGHMerrilyDing Dong

Right: An 18 inch Olaf foil balloon from Amscan, one of a variety of new balloons for this Christmas.

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Festive Parties

popular last minute purchase, adding a touch of fun to any Christmas celebration. She advises that: “Keeping well stocked on items such as Santa hats, headbands and festive glasses is key as these items can fly off the shelves once the Christmas celebrations begin. We have added a whole new range of hats this year providing a great choice for all price points.”

Balloons are another last-minute purchase over Christmas and New Year. Anna Hickman is the marketing communications manager for Pioneer Europe, and points out that Christmas and New Year are big seasons for balloon décor. Their latex, foil and 3D designs are already proving a big hit. Anna revealed the top three trends they have seen so far this year: “The Scandinavian look, with our

new Merry Christmas Nordic pattern foil; the snowflake design, thanks to the Frozen phenomenon; and traditional red, white and green”.

Charlotte at Amscan agreed: “Balloon trends for Christmas are largely family friendly designs using a colourful palette that will brighten any setting. With this in mind we have added a variety of new foil balloons for this Christmas featuring cute designs including; the Christmas Scene Orbz, Smiley Snowman SuperShape and Santa and Reindeer Sing-A-Tune balloon.”

On the big day itself, everyone likes a Christmassy dinner table.

Tableware is at its most popular at this time of year. Sophie Robinson, marketing assistant for Unique Party, believes they have the

perfect themes for Christmas, from the loveable snowman to classic holly designs. Sophie

tells us: “Unique Party can cater for all customers’ tastes with a wide selection of Christmas tableware ensembles.”

So you should be covered for last-minute Christmas sales

now, but just a few

days later it all starts again... it’s New Year’s Eve and another round of celebrations and parties begins. Ringing in the new year tends to be a

“Unique Party can cater for all customers’ tastes with a wide selection of Christmas tableware

ensembles.”Sophie Robinson

marketing assistant Unique Party

Above right: Classic Cinderella costume from Leg Avenue. Below: Assorted Half mini hats from Amscan International guaranteed to get any party started.

more glamorous affair than Christmas, with themes including anything from 1920s to masquerade. Indeed, head of marketing and communications at Leg Avenue, Joyce Mallo, has seen masquerade as the up-and-coming trend this year: “I think retailers can tempt and inspire their customers by creating a glamorous New Year’s Eve display of lacy masks, which also make a perfect stocking filler - a fun, affordable and unique gift.”

Charlotte at Amscan agrees that NYE is usually a more glitzy affair, pointing out that trends for New Year’s Eve parties this year feature a sophisticated colour scheme of silver, gold and black. Telling us about their own ranges, Charlotte says: “We have

extended our collection of coordinating decorations

with new banners and hanging decorations, in particular the fluffy decorations with danglers add a contemporary twist to the occasion. Balloon designs for New Year’s Eve also include the trend for a gold, black and silver colour scheme in addition to brightly coloured options providing a stunning firework effect.”

If Christmas and New Year’s Eve 2014 wasn’t exactly jolly for you, you can’t let the ghost of Christmas past get you down. As long as have décor, tableware, balloons and accessories covered, the festive period should leave you rejoicing in the season.

Make your resolutions early this year... to have a fabulous Christmas and New Year’s Eve 2015.

Don’t Forget an Angel“If you’re looking for stocking fillers with a difference, you can’t do much better than a temporary tattoo from Tinsley Transfers. With everything from extra large wings to tough looking skulls and tribal tatts, Tinsley Transfers are a great gift that anyone would be delighted to wake up to on Christmas morning.”Emma Angel, director, Angels Fancy Dress

Below: A traditional Christmas scene featuring Santa on his sleigh from Qualatex.

Right: The ever popular Frozen theme party plates from Unique.

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Festive Parties

Festive Parties

Get the party started with Pams Christmas and New Year’s Eve range. What’s a party

without a party popper from Pams.

Add some pizzazz to the party with this vibrant Happy New Year balloon available from Amscan.

Set the scene for a stylish New Year’s celebration with these new fluffy decorations from Amscan.

Strong festive-themed collections from Unique.

These great value felt antler headbands from Amscan make a great impulse buy.

This Smiley Snowman foil balloon by Anagram will lighten anyone’s spirits this Christmas.

Sancto’s Santa without a big white beard and sack full of presents just isn’t Santa.

Your celebrations won’t go down like a lead balloon if

you buy Qualatex balloons.

Angels’ elastic wings transfer from Tinsley Transfer bringing the Christmas angel to life.

This ‘Daring Venetian’ from Leg Avenue masquerade mask is perfect for New

Year’s Eve.

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