Party accessories are the unsung heroes of the fancy dress industry. While costumes grab the headlines, accessories consistently deliver the highest profit margins for retailers. They are lightweight, easy to store, attract impulse purchases, and sell in huge volumes across every seasonal event. If you are not already stocking wholesale party accessories, you are leaving money on the table.
Why Accessories Are High-Margin
The economics of party accessories are compelling for any retailer:
- Low wholesale cost — Many accessories cost under £1 at trade prices
- High retail markup — Markups of 4-6x are standard, with some novelty items achieving 8-10x
- Impulse buying — Customers add accessories to their basket without much deliberation
- Multi-buy potential — Shoppers often buy several accessories at once, especially for group events
- Low return rates — Small, low-value items are rarely returned
- Tiny storage footprint — You can stock thousands of accessories in the space needed for a few hundred costumes
Key Accessory Categories
Hats and Headwear
From witch hats and cowboy hats to tiaras and novelty headbands, headwear is one of the most diverse accessory categories. Stock themed hats for every major event — top hats for New Year, leprechaun hats for St Patrick's Day, Santa hats for Christmas, and witch hats for Halloween.
Masks and Eye Masks
Masquerade masks sell year-round for parties and events, while character masks and horror masks peak at Halloween. Venetian-style eye masks are popular for hen parties, proms, and themed evenings.
Wigs
Wholesale wigs bridge the gap between accessories and costumes. They transform any outfit and sell across every fancy dress event. Stock a range of colours, styles, and character-specific wigs to maximise your sales.
Props and Weapons
Toy swords, magic wands, inflatable instruments, and themed props are popular add-ons to costume purchases. They are low-cost items with excellent margins and strong appeal to both children and adults.
Face Paint and Makeup
Face paint kits, SFX makeup, fake blood, and theatrical cosmetics serve the Halloween market and beyond. Dance competitions, school events, and themed parties all generate demand for face paint products throughout the year.
Gloves, Boas, and Wraps
Feather boas in every colour sell for hen parties, festivals, and Pride events. Long satin gloves complement flapper and burlesque costumes. These finishing touches increase the average order value of every costume sale.
Bundling Strategies
One of the most effective ways to increase revenue from accessories is to create themed bundles:
- Event kits — Combine 4-5 accessories into a themed kit (e.g. Halloween Horror Kit: mask + fake blood + gloves + cape)
- Costume completion packs — Pair popular costumes with matching accessories at a small discount
- Group packs — Sell packs of 5 or 10 matching accessories for hen parties, stag dos, and team events
- Lucky dip bags — Bundle mixed accessories at a set price to clear slower-moving stock
Seasonal Peaks
Plan your wholesale accessory orders around these key selling periods:
- February: Valentine's Day accessories, World Book Day prep
- March: St Patrick's Day, World Book Day, Easter
- June-August: Festival season, Pride events, summer parties
- September-October: Halloween — your biggest accessory season by far
- November-December: Christmas party accessories, New Year's Eve
Browse Our Wholesale Accessories Range
Wicked Nights stocks thousands of wholesale party accessories at competitive trade prices. From hats and masks to props and face paint, we have everything you need to build a high-margin accessories range. Pair with our wholesale wigs and hen party supplies for complete event coverage.
Apply for a trade account today and start stocking the products your customers are looking for.