Running a successful fancy dress business is all about stock – having the right stock at the right time. Of course, there are always going to be the ‘classic’ costumes that everyone’s after and that have stood the test of time. These will always play a fundamental role when it comes to making good money.
Then, of course, there’s spotting an opportunity when one arises, like those switched-on chaps with the Morphsuits. If you see an impressive or remarkable reaction to someone’s outfit at a party or event, then there’s a pretty safe bet that it will receive a similar response where ever it goes, so keep your eyes and ears open for good, untapped areas of the industry.
But what about new stuff? Where do we look and how do we know we’re on to a winner? Well, we’re pretty confident, as are Fancy Dress Stack Ltd that 2012 is going to be all about superheroes.
With an impressive number of superhero blockbusters appearing on the big screen, fancy dress companies need to be sure they’re ahead of the game and stocking the right gear in order to be there when the purchasing/renting floodgates open. So, what’s coming on? “The Dark Knight Rises” for a start! Who doesn’t love a Batman film, and what a fabulous costume it makes too. So, there’s the Batman suit for the boys and, excitingly for the fit ones amongst us, Catwoman is making a reappearance for the girls. How popular is that going to be?
For the Peter Parker lovers amongst us, Spiderman is back, or rather “The Amazing Spiderman”, this time battling against the evil Lizard Man! Inevitably, this new release is going to ignite interest in all associated fancy dress outfits, so be prepared.
As if that’s not enough to be stocking up on, The Avengers is also due for release and is possible the film to open up the most opportunities since it brings together the earth’s superheroes to fight the evil armies of Loki and save the world. Featuring in this film will be the likes of Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Captain America and Thor.
Finally, Hugh Jackman will be appearing in the new X-Men film, The Wolverine along with his sidekick mutant, Gambit.
With all these phenomenally high-profile and popular films, fancy dress companies can expect to see surges of orders for associated costumes and their more classic counterparts (such as The Joker, Robin etc). We should all be thinking about how best to position ourselves in order to be high up on the selection list when the customers come calling. The buzz these films will create in 2012 will be incredible. Let’s not miss the boat!