Thread: Factory Card now Party City?

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It seems that Factory Card Party Outlet as well as the Party America chains has been aquired (as of 2007) by Amscan the owners of Party City.
Did anyone know this? I had no idea that they were all owned by the same company.
http://www.hoovers.com/company/Facto.../htcsyi-1.html
Less competition! Less decorations!?

There actually has been some discussion here on the board, maybe a few months ago, about this. The Factory Card Outlet locations were closing down and we heard from one person who reported on the closing of his local store that some would become Party City stores. When Buzz posted last season about his find of the Bat Bar, I had stopped in our local outlet store to look for one on clearance and had started chatting with the store manager at that time. She had just gotten the news that day that her store was going to close and that she was going to have to start laying off people. It was a touching conversation and one that left me feeling bad for everyone. The manager was very helpful at that time and suggested that I check the Party City stores in the area as they might have some stock left.

As for Party America I don't remember reading that they were also acquired. I think we have/had a few of them around the area. I'm sure there is going to be more consolidation in the coming months.

bummer. To think last month, I was suggesting they add a location to my area! O' well!

You got me curious so I looked up Party America and they apparently went under the Party City umbrella in 2006, while retaining their name. This is from their "our story" section of their website.

Here's a quick run down of the company:
Party America opened in 1980;
2003 they purchased Paper Warehouse adding 100 stores;
2004 purchased Party Concepts adding 130+ stores including factory outlet stores under the names of Paper Factory and Paper Outlet;
2006 Party America joined the Party City family (I'm assuming that means Party America was acquired by Party City).

It's interesting how some stores retained their name for quite sometime (like the factory outlet stores). I didn't see any mention of a name change for Party America so am thinking maybe they will stay Party America.

I guess this isn't so unlike TJMaxx, HomeGoods, Marshalls, and HomeSense (and another one or two chains in Canada) all being under one umbrella company.

Interesting, my local Party America switched over to Party City just before Halloween last year. Out here both stores are (were) on the pricey side for most props, but Party City has a 50% off sale on blacklights each season. Also a good place for cheap ping-pong eye-balls. You can't have too many of those things.

If you have or might have a Party City in your town, consider signing up for their online newsletter. They offer some good email discounts through their newsletter and you get alerts when sales will be happening.

well it's now official! Factorycard.com now redirects to PartyCity.com It's only a matter of time before all of the stores close.

Used to be one of my favorite Halloween shopping spots. Not really cheap, but a lot of stuff.

My local Party City closed down a year or two ago. But a ton of stuff was 75% + on clearance so I got some cool Jack-o-lantern lights!

My batbar came from a Paper Factory. They have alot of neat halloween decorations and being in a small town,there is always lots of items left over and discounted. I love that store!