Difference between revisions of "Prop suppliers"

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== Buying props ==
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It is a good idea to buy [[prop ideas|props]] well in advance. If you wait until the day before to buy that vital UV pen, you will find that every branch of Ryman's and Maplin has run out of them.
  
It is a good idea to buy props well in advance. If you wait until the day before to buy that vital UV pen, you will find that every branch of Ryman's and Maplin has run out of them.
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However, you may well find that you need to buy props at short notice, so this page contains details of bricks and mortar retailers. It's also worth browsing in a physical store to get ideas.
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== US web retailers ==
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http://www.spygear.net/ has a lot of spy-themed children's toys. The 'night vision' products are basically head-mounted torches, rather than consumer-grade NVDs.
  
 
== UK web retailers ==
 
== UK web retailers ==
  
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===Blank cards===
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Witzigs sell playing-card-sized blank white cards for £5.69 per 200 [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Playing-cards-blank-both-sides-200-00811/dp/B000YERGMM here], which actually work out cheaper than normal playing cards (and much cheaper if you order in bulk).
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===General===
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http://firebox.com/ and http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/ are good for various toys and gadgets - although often not the cheapest source.
  
 
== London prop suppliers (bricks and mortar) ==
 
== London prop suppliers (bricks and mortar) ==
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===Chocolate coins===
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* '''Hamleys''' has these as of June 2009.
  
 
=== Costumes ===
 
=== Costumes ===
  
Good comprehensive range to buy or rent:
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* Good comprehensive range to buy or rent: '''Angels Fancy Dress''', 119 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8AE  
 
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:http://www.fancydress.com/content/london_store (as of June 2009)
Angels Fancy Dress, 119 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8AE http://www.fancydress.com/content/london_store (as of June 2009)
 
  
Steampunk/vintage costumes:
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* '''Party Superstores''' at Clapham Junction; full-on costume rental, plus a lot of cheap props and hats and makeup
Prangsta, 304 New Cross Rd, SE14 6AF http://www.prangsta.co.uk (trading as of June 2009)
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:http://www.partysuperstores.co.uk
  
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* Steampunk/vintage costumes: '''Prangsta''', 304 New Cross Rd, SE14 6AF
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:http://www.prangsta.co.uk (trading as of June 2009)
  
=== Toys: ===
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===Electronics and technical===
  
Hamleys is worth wandering round for inspiration until you get a headache. The staff are not very good at knowing what is actually on sale outside of their little department.
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* '''Maplins''' is a good bet.
  
=== Chocolate coins==
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===Ribbons===
  
Hamleys has these as of June 2009
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* '''Kleins''' on Noel Street turned out to be the cheapest, when I last did a haberdashery run.
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:http://www.kleins.co.uk/
  
=== Anything vaguely technical===
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=== Toys ===
  
Maplins is a good bet
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* '''Hamleys''' is worth wandering round for inspiration until you get a headache. There's an amazing number of cheap toys which suggest gimmicks for games. The staff are not very good at knowing what is actually on sale outside of their little department.

Latest revision as of 13:55, 3 December 2011

It is a good idea to buy props well in advance. If you wait until the day before to buy that vital UV pen, you will find that every branch of Ryman's and Maplin has run out of them.

However, you may well find that you need to buy props at short notice, so this page contains details of bricks and mortar retailers. It's also worth browsing in a physical store to get ideas.

US web retailers

http://www.spygear.net/ has a lot of spy-themed children's toys. The 'night vision' products are basically head-mounted torches, rather than consumer-grade NVDs.

UK web retailers

Blank cards

Witzigs sell playing-card-sized blank white cards for £5.69 per 200 here, which actually work out cheaper than normal playing cards (and much cheaper if you order in bulk).

General

http://firebox.com/ and http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/ are good for various toys and gadgets - although often not the cheapest source.

London prop suppliers (bricks and mortar)

Chocolate coins

  • Hamleys has these as of June 2009.

Costumes

  • Good comprehensive range to buy or rent: Angels Fancy Dress, 119 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8AE
http://www.fancydress.com/content/london_store (as of June 2009)
  • Party Superstores at Clapham Junction; full-on costume rental, plus a lot of cheap props and hats and makeup
http://www.partysuperstores.co.uk
  • Steampunk/vintage costumes: Prangsta, 304 New Cross Rd, SE14 6AF
http://www.prangsta.co.uk (trading as of June 2009)

Electronics and technical

  • Maplins is a good bet.

Ribbons

  • Kleins on Noel Street turned out to be the cheapest, when I last did a haberdashery run.
http://www.kleins.co.uk/

Toys

  • Hamleys is worth wandering round for inspiration until you get a headache. There's an amazing number of cheap toys which suggest gimmicks for games. The staff are not very good at knowing what is actually on sale outside of their little department.