October a busy month for Costume and Magic Trick Shop in South Elgin

Tucked between the bigger box costume and party stores up and down the Randall Road corridor is a small, locally owned shop that's in the midst of its busiest time of the year.

While customers frequent the Costume and Magic Trick Shop at 232 Randall Road in South Elgin throughout the year, owner Orrion Ferguson said he's seen quite in the influx in the past few weeks as people try to put together the perfect zombie, ghoul and even clown costumes.

Part of the draw of the store, he said, is the professional grade makeup, wigs and accessories - such as bullet wound holes - that Costume and Magic Trick Shop carries.

"We cater to a lot of theater people for the professional makeup look," he said. "Our bloods are the stage blood. At the other stores you'll find the cheap blood that turns pink on your face or costume. We have that too, but we also have the good stuff."

Ferguson added that he also can show customers how to apply the makeup and accessories for that believable look.

"Whether it be a vampire or a ghoul, we give them instructions on how to do it," he said. "We can give them instructions so it can last 10 to 12 hours without any touch-ups. They can be in a hot, crowded bar, or a hot party or a comic convention and it won't come off."

Once the makeup is covered, Ferguson said the store also has masks, wigs, scarves and any accessories you'll need to put your costume together.

While October is the store's busiest month, you can also find many customers inside in March picking up their Easter Bunny costumes, and in December getting their Santa suits.

Presently, Ferguson said, zombie costumes are still quite popular.

"And for some reason clowns are really hot this year," he said.

The business has been along Randall Road in South Elgin for three years. Before that, it was located in West Dundee.

Over the years, the store has continually updated what is carries to meet the demands of customers.

In addition to costume needs, the store sells magic tricks, which start at basic $3 tricks and go all the way up to fire paper for real magicians.

The business also has balloons and candy.

He said in the next year the store will be adding more T-shirts and novelty items.

"We have a mixture of things and every year we make some changes," he said.

Ferguson previously ran a small chain of party goods stores.

He always loved this time of year, and back when he started his own business there weren't a lot of big box stores to get the supplies, so he opened his own specialty shop.

"We've gone through that era where the big box stores have kind of come and are going now," he said. "We've developed our specialty and there is a demand for this better product that works, and is a lot nicer quality."

• Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from Batavia to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or (847) 894-5036.