“Our store is still full, we could have a 2nd Halloween:” Costume store sees sales increase similar to national trend

WYOMING, Michigan – Gayle Vaartjes has been making and sewing costumes all of her life. She owns the Kostume room on 36th Street SW in Wyoming where it now sells hundreds of costumes, wigs, masks and makeup.

Her greatest pleasure, she said, is helping people put together a costume.

“It’s so awesome,” Vaartjes said in an interview on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s so good to see everyone and all the new people we see coming again. It’s exciting for us because that’s what I want to do, that’s what I prefer, is to help people getting ready for their holidays. “

Vaartjes said that this year superheroes, movie characters, kings and queens are the hottest costumes. Long-time client Dawn Williams stopped by to buy one for work.

“This will be my Friday outfit,” Williams said, holding up a pink polka-dot Minnie Mouse dress. “It’s family-friendly and I’m going to buy Shipt from Meijer and I want to look family-friendly.”

Williams was among dozens of customers who shopped at the store on Tuesday. Vaartjes said that this Halloween season they have seen an increase in foot traffic and sales.

“Last year has been quite difficult,” said Vaartjes. “But we prepared and we thought we would have 40.50% less than our sales. So we took that into account in our purchases and went with it.

Vaartjes said that by Halloween week 2020 they actually did well in sales. However, this year they are doubling.

According to the National Retailer Federation, consumer spending on Halloween-related items this year is expected to reach a record $ 10 billion.

“We can get out now and that’s what makes it so fun, ”said Williams. “So I think people are really ready to go out and have a good time again. So that’s the main thing because I don’t think we could do a trick-or-treat last year either.

Last year he was put off by the CDC. However, this year he encouraged. Nevertheless, safety is a top priority at the Kostume room.

“Our rentals are all clean. We have our own laundromat. So we clean everything and I mean everything, ”Vaartjes stressed. “So everything is disinfected and washed. We make sure he’s ready for the next person.

Vaartjes said they are open all year round, but this week they will be open daily through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. They are ready to help customers choose the perfect outfit.

“Our store is always full,” said Vaartjes. “We could have a second Halloween. We have so much.