retail profiles // sexy // chicago costume

Q&A with Courtland Hickey, key buyer

Number of stores: Two year-round locations, various seasonal pop-ups
Primary location: 1120 W. Fullerton, Chicago
Square footage: 2,500
Year opened: 1976

Ted: Describe your store.

Courtland: Chicago Costume is Chicago’s only full-service costume store, offering sales and rentals and web service, specializing in masquerade masks, women’s costumes, facial hair and theatrical makeup.

Ted: What makes your store special?

Courtland: Selection, service and price. We have really great costumes and accessories people can’t find anywhere else, and we have lots of great ideas and resources to help them achieve their costume goals.

Ted: What brands are important to your store?

Courtland: Leg Avenue, Rubie’s and Lacey Costume Wigs.

Ted: What brands have you dropped from the store?

Courtland: California Costume Collections, Peter Alan and InCharacter Costumes.

Ted: What brands are customers asking for by name?

Courtland: Leg Avenue is the only brand anyone has ever heard of.

Ted: What are you looking for in a vendor or sales representative?

Courtland: Sales reps should be knowledgeable and aggressive. Personal attention is super important. Also, they have to use email and be computer savvy.

Ted: Describe your customer base.

Courtland: Females age 18 to 34.

Ted: Describe popular styles or trends in your store.

Courtland: Mini hats and 1920s-themed stuff is always popular!

Ted: Describe your price points and size ranges.

Courtland: Costumes are $40 to $300. We carry sizes for babies all the way through adult size 4X!

Ted: What is your average customer size?

Courtland: Women’s dress size 4 to 6.

Ted: What does your average customer spend per visit?

Courtland: $50.