Party City Holdings Inc. Announces Retail Sales For Five-week Halloween Season Ended November 3, 2012

News provided by

Nov 30, 2012, 03:05 ET

ELMSFORD, N.Y., Nov. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Party City Holdings Inc. ("the Company"), America's largest retailer of party goods, today announced its retail sales results for the five-week Halloween season ended November 3, 2012. The Company's retail sales include sales under its retail banners, Party City (including the Company's Canadian locations), Halloween City and Party City.Com.

Retail sales for the five-week period ended November 3, 2012 totaled $358 million and were $5 million, or 1.4%, lower than retail sales for the five-week period ended November 5, 2011, principally due to the adverse impact of Super Storm Sandy during the all-important Halloween weekend shopping period. Super Storm Sandy's adverse impact on 2012 sales is estimated at approximately $10 million.

During the five-week Halloween season of 2012, the domestic Party City brand (including e-commerce sales and all permanent stores that operated as Party City stores during the period) experienced a 0.6% comp sales decrease and temporary Halloween City store sales decreased by 11.9% compared to the 2011 Halloween season, principally due to the impact of Super Storm Sandy as well as the impact of the Wednesday Halloween. E–commerce sales and Party City Canada sales increased by 5.8% and 5.4%, respectively, compared to the 2011 Halloween selling season, with no meaningful impact from Super Storm Sandy.

During the five-week period ended November 3, 2012, the Company operated 594 Party City stores (including Canadian locations) and 13 smaller outlet stores, as compared to 575 Party City/Factory Card & Party Outlet stores and 42 outlet stores for the year earlier period. In addition to its network of permanent stores, the Company operated 421 temporary Halloween stores (including Canadian locations) in 2012, as compared to 416 in 2011.

About Party City

Party City Holdings Inc. designs, manufactures, contracts for manufacture and distributes party goods, including paper and plastic tableware, metallic balloons, accessories, novelties, gifts and stationery. Party City Holdings Inc. also operates retail party goods supply stores in North America, principally under the names Party City and Halloween City. Party City is North America's largest party goods chain and the premier retailer of Halloween costumes, theme party supplies, birthday decorations and other specialty party supplies.

SOURCE Party City Holdings Inc.