Specialist stores selling supplies for parties began developing in the late 1970s in the United States and rapidly expanded into the 1990s.[1] They can offer a wide variety of types of products, and will often stock seasonal items for a number holidays— such as Christmas or New Year.[2] Commonly stocked merchandise may include:[3][4]
- Balloons and streamers
- Wrapping paper, greeting cards
- Cake decoration items
- Seasonal holiday items[2]
- Candy and soft drinks[5]
- Plates, utensils, cups (especially disposable ones for parties) and table decorations
In 2019 a global shortage of helium sharply reduced supply for helium-filled balloons, due to the US rationing helium because of a reduction in supply by 30% stemming from a Saudi-boycott of producer country Qatar, impacting party stores such as Party City, one of the reasons the company cited in closing 45 of its 870 stores.[6][7]
- ^ Larkin, Patrick (17 July 1993). "Party Stores get Company". The Cincinnati Post. p. 25. Retrieved 16 October 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Steele, Jeffrey (12 December 1994). "These Stores Will Make You the Life of the Party". Chicago Tribune. p. 62. Retrieved 16 October 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ingram, Thomas (27 March 2015). Sales Management: Analysis and Decision Making. p. 71. ISBN 9781317511632. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- ^ "Categories", Party City official website
- ^ Perry, Charles (29 October 1999). "Halloween Candy is so Sweet it's Scary". Statesman Journal. Los Angeles Times. p. 29. Retrieved 16 October 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Das, RonnieM (May 14, 2019). "The party is over for over 45 of the nation's "Party City" stores". WLNS-TV. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- ^ Khalaf, Roula (26 January 2023). "Party City: volatile helium costs forces retailer to rethink its business". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 October 2024.