The 2018 Halloween & Party Expo was held from January 12 to 15 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Feedback from both buyers and sellers has indicated an increase in buying activity across the show.
The event reports that an 30 percent of show attendance was comprised of new buyers. The first year co-location with HAuNTcon the Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow & Convention further expanded the show floor with a focus on props and décor, masks and make-up for the Halloween buyers to source.
Each year the Featured Product Award highlights the products and companies that buyers unanimously award as the top product of the show. The 2018 Featured Product Award went to Pumpkin Pulp. Sweet Midnight and Balloon It!, whom placed second and third respectively.
New this year, the Artist Battleground provided make-up companies, including Cinema Secrets, Moon Creations, and Kryolan, the platform to showcase their products, techniques, and artists. The theme and the creatures revealed the diversity of the products. Judges awarded the Best Brushstroke award to artist Jeff West of Cinema Secrets.
Educational panels moderated by Nicole Reyhle of Retail Minded and Philip Hernandez of Gantom Lighting & Controls provided perspectives in the areas of generational marketing, vendor relations and creating first impressions. It featured panelists from Sunstaches, Refund Retriever, Halloween & Party Retailer, Shark Tank, Main Street Hub, Knott’s Scary Farm, Universal Halloween Horror Nights, Terror Behind the Walls, and more.
Halloween & Party Expo along with HAuNTcon returns to New Orleans in next year from January 25 to 27.
