Party store explained

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
• 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]}

Notes and References

1. News: Larkin . Patrick . Party Stores get Company . 16 October 2024 . The Cincinnati Post . 17 July 1993 . 25 . Newspapers.com.
2. News: Steele . Jeffrey . These Stores Will Make You the Life of the Party . 16 October 2024 . Chicago Tribune . 12 December 1994 . 62 . Newspapers.com.
3. Book: Ingram . Thomas . Sales Management: Analysis and Decision Making . 27 March 2015 . 71 . 9781317511632 . 13 June 2019.
4. http://partycity.com "Categories", Party City official website
5. News: Perry . Charles . Halloween Candy is so Sweet it's Scary . 16 October 2024 . Statesman Journal . Los Angeles Times . 29 October 1999 . 29 . Newspapers.com.
6. News: Das . RonnieM . The party is over for over 45 of the nation's "Party City" stores. 13 June 2019 . WLNS-TV . May 14, 2019.
7. News: Khalaf . Roula . Party City: volatile helium costs forces retailer to rethink its business . 16 October 2024 . Financial Times . 26 January 2023.