The Costume Shoppe
The Costume Shoppe is a family-owned, year-round costume retailer in Calgary, Alberta, operating one physical storefront and a worldwide-shipping e-commerce site, selling and renting 15,000+ costumes and 8,000+ accessories to consumers, cosplayers, corporate teams, and local event hosts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersCalgary, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Costume Shoppe does
The Costume Shoppe is a privately held, family-owned costume retailer founded in 1994 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It operates a single year-round physical storefront at 4307 Blackfoot Trail SE alongside a worldwide-shipping e-commerce site at thecostumeshoppe.com, supported by local delivery, curbside pickup, and in-store pickup options. The business carries an inventory of more than 15,000 costumes and 8,000 accessories spanning mens, womens, childrens, pet, and gender-neutral categories, plus masks, wigs, cosplay contact lenses, professional and special-effects makeup (Ben Nye, Kryolan, Mehron, Graftobian, LIT, Bleeding Art Industries, Woochie, Moon Creations), cosplay construction supplies (foam, thermoplastics, paints, adhesives, tools), and a curated Artisan Made category featuring local craftspeople. There is no proprietary technology stack referenced; the storefront runs on a standard BigCommerce platform and operations rely on human-curated, appointment-based rental consultations rather than algorithmic systems.
The company's revenue mechanics combine one-time purchase sales (costumes, accessories, wigs, makeup, masks, cosplay supplies), a costume rental department that customizes over 22,000 looks via appointment-based consultations, shipping fees on online orders, group/corporate bundle pricing, and ancillary items such as gift certificates and clearance stock. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from roughly $2.99 (eyelash glue) to $169.99 (premium costumes), with bundle discounts on contact lenses and wigs and a 15% restocking fee on store-credit returns. GTM is hybrid: direct-to-consumer retail and e-commerce augmented by heavy event-driven marketing through sponsorships of Otafest, Calgary Expo, Horror Con Calgary, and the Strathmore Medieval Faire, plus blog content, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter), email newsletters, and community initiatives such as the year-round Calgary Food Bank Donations Trunk.
The Costume Shoppe serves a diverse customer base that includes individual general consumers (Halloween, Christmas, Easter, themed parties), the Calgary cosplay and convention community, corporate teams seeking group costume solutions, event hosts needing mascot rentals, and local businesses for cross-promotional partnerships. No external equity investors, parent companies, or funding rounds are disclosed; ownership is concentrated with Ryan, identified as the owner, and the company has 11-50 employees.
The Costume Shoppe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Costume Shoppe
- Legal name
- The Costume Shoppe
- Website
- https://thecostumeshoppe.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Costume Shoppe is a family-owned, year-round costume retailer in Calgary, Alberta, operating one physical storefront and a worldwide-shipping e-commerce site, selling and renting 15,000+ costumes and 8,000+ accessories to consumers, cosplayers, corporate teams, and local event hosts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Costume Shoppe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Costume Retail
- NAICS
- Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers (458), Formal Wear and Costume Rental (532281)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Costume & Cosplay Sewing Supplies Retail (CRALADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Pet Apparel & Accessories Retail (Leashes, Collars, Clothing) (CRALAHAM)
Keywords
Where The Costume Shoppe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calgary
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Costume Shoppe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Costume and Accessory Sales: One-time purchase of costumes, accessories, wigs, makeup, masks, and cosplay supplies through both physical retail and e-commerce channels.
- Costume Rentals: Rental department specializing in handmade, vintage and high-quality rental costumes. Rental representatives customize over 22,000 looks with appointment-based consultations.
- Shipping Revenue: Shipping fees charged for online orders, with GST applied to Canadian orders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing across multiple categories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group/corporate event pricing bundles |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Return policy restocking fees |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Costume Shoppe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Costume Shoppe is a family-owned, year-round costume retailer based in Calgary, Alberta, operating a single physical storefront at 4307 Blackfoot Trail SE and an e-commerce website shipping worldwide. It sells more than 15,000 costumes and 8,000 accessories across categories for men, women, children, pets, and gender-neutral shoppers, along with cosplay supplies, wigs, contact lenses, masks, professional and special-effects makeup, and artisan-made products. It also operates a costume rental department that can customize over 22,000 looks through appointment-based consultations.
Product overview
The Costume Shoppe is a family-owned, year-round costume retail store in Calgary, Alberta operating both physical and online storefronts. The core offerings center on costumes (15,000+ items) and accessories (8,000+ items) available for both purchase and rental. The product portfolio includes costumes for all genders and ages (Mens, Womens, Childrens, Pet, Gender Neutral), accessories (footwear, jewelry, props, hats, legwear), professional makeup and special effects products from brands like Ben Nye and Kryolan, cosplay supplies (foam, thermoplastics, tools), wigs and cosplay contact lenses (Epic Cosplay Wigs, Rockstar, Arda, Westbay), masks (animal, character, masquerade), and artisan-made handcrafted items. Services include costume rentals with customization options for over 22,000 looks, gift certificates, and community initiatives such as a Calgary Food Bank donation program. The store also sponsors local conventions including Otafest and Calgary Expo with cosplay repair stations and contests.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Costumes Over 15,000 costumes available for purchase across Mens, Womens, Childrens, Pet, and Gender Neutral categories, including onesies, inflatable costumes, ride-a costumes, and mascots. Intended for individual consumers seeking costumes for Halloween, themed parties, conventions, and seasonal celebrations.
- Costume Rentals Rental of handmade, vintage, and high-quality costumes with the ability to customize over 22,000 looks. Includes Christmas Seasonal Rentals. Available by appointment with knowledgeable rental representatives at the Calgary store.
- Accessories Over 8,000 accessories including costume footwear, jewelry, pieces and kits, glasses, gloves, hats and headpieces, legwear, and props and play weapons. Sold to consumers completing or accessorizing costumes.
- Cosplay Supplies Foam and thermoplastics, paints, adhesives, dyes, tools, and foam fillers for cosplay costume construction. Targeted at cosplayers and convention attendees building costumes.
- Makeup and Special Effects Professional makeup and special effects products including hair colour, nails, prosthetic forms, teeth, eyelashes, facial hair, temporary tattoos, and nipple pasties. Carries brands such as LIT Cosmetics, Ben Nye, Bleeding Art Industries, Graftobian, Kryolan, Mehron, Moon Creations, Woochie, Rock-A-Lash, and Tinsley Transfers.
- Wigs and Contact Lenses Cosplay contact lenses (Loox, Primal) and wigs from Epic Cosplay Wigs, Rockstar Brand Wigs (including Lacefront Rhapsody), Arda Wigs, Westbay Wigs, and Children's Wigs. Cosmetic contact lenses cannot be shipped outside Canada.
- Masks Animal masks, character masks, masquerade masks, and scary/Halloween masks for purchase.
- Artisan Made Products Handcrafted items from local artisans including Albert Freek, Cory Crispins Creations, Fantasy by Numbers, Kens Custom Creations, Mancave Authentics, and Rod Lachmuth Leathers.
- Oddsome Finds Collectibles, board games, candy, and seasonal decor including Christmas and Halloween decorations.
- Gift Certificates Digital gift certificates available for purchase on the website, redeemable in-store and online.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15,000+ costumes and 8,000+ accessories available for purchase
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Costume Shoppe
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Costume Shoppe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Costume Shoppe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OtafestcoreAnnual sponsor of Otafest, Calgary's premier Japanese anime and pop culture festival. Provides cosplay supplies, sponsors cosplay contests, and supports the Cosplay Repair Station where attendees can get help repairing costumes on-site.
- Master ChocolatminorLocal Calgary chocolate company partnership for Easter cross-promotion. Customers purchasing Easter bunny costumes receive gift cards to Master Chocolat. Joint marketing through referral cards and social media.
- Calgary Food BankcoreYear-round food donation drop-off location (Food Bank Donations Trunk) established by owner Ryan. Supports food insecurity initiatives in Calgary beyond holiday season.
- Cosplay SkilltreeminorPartnership at Otafest where Cosplay Skilltree teaches first-time cosplayers foam crafting for props and costumes. Provides take-home kits and online video courses.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Costume Shoppe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- CosplaySky: Direct-to-consumer online retailer specializing in cosplay costumes, wigs, and props with custom sizing. Overlaps with The Costume Shoppe's cosplay community segment and competes on price/selection for catalog cosplay characters.
- EZCosplay: Online cosplay costume and wig retailer with a broad catalog of character costumes. Comparable to The Costume Shoppe's cosplay segment as a digitally native alternative serving the same convention-going customer base.
Regional players
- Smiffys: UK-based costume brand and retailer with global e-commerce distribution across Halloween, fancy dress, and party categories. Comparable assortment and event-driven demand, though primarily serving UK/European markets.
Broad incumbents
- Rubie's Costume Company: Largest wholesale and retail costume manufacturer/distributor globally, supplying licensed character and Halloween costumes. Comparable as a category leader in costume supply, though Rubie's operates upstream (manufacturing/licensing) versus The Costume Shoppe's specialist retail.
- Party City: Broad party-supply and costume retailer with year-round stores across North America. Comparable as a mass-market competitor offering costumes alongside balloons, decor, and party goods, with deeper geographic reach but lower specialist depth.
Direct peers
- Yandy: Online costume, lingerie, and Halloween retailer with a broad catalog of costumes and accessories. Directly comparable as an e-commerce alternative for the same consumer segments The Costume Shoppe serves (Halloween, themed parties, cosplay).
- HalloweenCostumes.com (Fun.com): Online-first costume and Halloween retailer offering a deep catalog of costumes, accessories, and décor. Comparable to The Costume Shoppe's e-commerce assortment, though with nationwide reach versus The Costume Shoppe's Calgary-anchored model.
- Spirit Halloween: Largest seasonal Halloween costume retailer in North America operating pop-up stores each fall. Directly comparable to The Costume Shoppe's costume retail core, though Spirit is purely seasonal and far larger in scale.
- Costume SuperCentre: Online costume retailer carrying adult, child, and pet costumes plus accessories and rentals. Closely comparable assortment and rental model to The Costume Shoppe, with similar targeting of Halloween, cosplay, and themed events.
- J&P Costumes: Family-owned specialty costume retailer with both retail locations and online sales, offering costumes, rentals, wigs, and accessories. Closely comparable to The Costume Shoppe's family-owned, multi-channel, rental-plus-purchase model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Costume Shoppe social profiles
Digital presenceThe Costume Shoppe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Costume Shoppe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Costume Shoppe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Costume Shoppe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Costume Shoppe
What does The Costume Shoppe do?
The Costume Shoppe is a family-owned, year-round costume retailer based in Calgary, Alberta, operating a single physical storefront at 4307 Blackfoot Trail SE and an e-commerce website shipping worldwide. It sells more than 15,000 costumes and 8,000 accessories across categories for men, women, children, pets, and gender-neutral shoppers, along with cosplay supplies, wigs, contact lenses, masks, professional and special-effects makeup, and artisan-made products. It also operates a costume rental department that can customize over 22,000 looks through appointment-based consultations.
Is The Costume Shoppe a public or private company?
The Costume Shoppe is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Costume Shoppe founded?
The Costume Shoppe was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Costume Shoppe based?
The Costume Shoppe is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, in the North America region.
How does The Costume Shoppe make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Costume and Accessory Sales are the primary driver. The others are costume Rentals and shipping Revenue.
Who are The Costume Shoppe's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are CosplaySky and EZCosplay. Smiffys is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Rubie's Costume Company and Party City. Direct peers are Yandy, HalloweenCostumes.com (Fun.com), Spirit Halloween, Costume SuperCentre and J&P Costumes.
Does The Costume Shoppe have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Costume Shoppe.
What industry is The Costume Shoppe in?
The Costume Shoppe's product category is Costume Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALADAJ, Costume & Cosplay Sewing Supplies Retail, with a secondary code of CRALAHAM, Pet Apparel & Accessories Retail (Leashes, Collars, Clothing). Its NAICS code is 458 and its SIC code is 5600.