Party City After the Closures: Staples Shops, Web Orders and Savings

Party City looks very different from the chain many shoppers remember: its company-owned stores closed after the late 2024 bankruptcy filing, and the brand has since returned through a limited website and store-in-store shops inside Staples locations. That change matters for coupon hunting, because many “Party City coupon” pages online are left over from the old store era. The realistic ways to save now are the site’s shipping and seasonal promotions, store pickup, and the promotions Staples and Party City announce together.

Quick answer

• Party City filed for Chapter 11 a second time in December 2024 and planned to close its remaining stores, according to national news coverage.
• The brand later relaunched its website with a narrower selection, and reporting says it is returning to physical retail as shops within Staples stores, with pickup available through Staples.
• The current website lists free store pickup as an option and free shipping above a minimum order, plus seasonal promotions such as Halloween costume sales, when we looked.
• Launch promotions with Staples, such as discounts on foil balloons and custom cards, ran for a limited period and may have ended.
• Old rewards programs and printable coupons from the earlier chain may not apply, so confirm any loyalty claim on the official site.
• Coupon aggregator pages with lists of many codes are not official and often reuse old offers.

What changed, and why it matters for discounts

Before the closures, shoppers could use printable coupons, store email offers, a rewards program and clearance sections in more than seven hundred company-owned stores. After the wind-down, those store-based routes mostly disappeared. National news coverage describes a quieter period, followed by the brand returning in smaller form. Business reporting from 2026 says the brand has been opening shops inside Staples locations, each with a balloon station, and that the rollout has been expanding.

The shift has a direct effect on how you save. Savings on a party now come from the mix of channels: the Party City website, the Staples site and stores, and the periodic promotions each announces. A coupon that says “in store only” from 2023 is out of date.

Ways to save on Party City now

Using the website well

Because the product range online is narrower than in the old stores, it is worth planning your list first. The site shows promotions on the homepage and a deals area in the navigation. In autumn, expect a heavy focus on costumes and decorations. When you build a cart, look for three things: the shipping line, the pickup option, and the delivery estimate.

1. Write a party list with item types and quantities.
2. Search the website for each item and note the sale tags.
3. Compare ship-to-home with free pickup, using the cart as your guide.
4. Check the delivery estimate against your event date and add a buffer.
5. If you are close to the free-shipping minimum, consider whether you genuinely need another item instead of paying for shipping.
6. Check the returns policy for costumes and seasonal items before you pay.

Pickup versus delivery

Pickup can save the shipping charge and shorten the wait, which matters for time-sensitive events. Balloons in particular are easier to collect than to ship, since inflated items do not travel. If you want helium balloons, check whether your nearby location offers them and how far ahead you need to order. Ordering a few days ahead for a weekend event is a safe habit.

Staples store-in-store shops

Local reporting describes Party City returning to areas through shops inside Staples stores, with balloon stations and the option to order party supplies on the Staples website for in-store pickup. The details differ by market, so call or check the store page for the location you plan to use.

• Ask what items are stocked in the shop and what must be ordered.
• Ask about balloon lead time, particularly for custom or large orders.
• Ask whether Staples rewards or coupons apply to Party City items. Do not assume they do.
• Check the returns rules, since Staples and Party City policies may differ.

Coupons: what to believe

If you search for Party City coupon codes, you will find pages listing dozens of active codes with large percentages. Those pages are run by coupon aggregators. They are not official, and with the chain’s change of structure, many of the codes date from the old era. Some may never have worked. The best use of those pages is as a hint of what categories tend to be discounted, not as a source of codes.

Smarter party budgeting

Since coupon-based savings are limited, planning is where you can actually save money. A few reliable habits:

• Count guests, then buy for that number plus a small allowance, instead of the largest pack by default.
• Choose a color scheme to reduce the number of different items.
• Use decorations you can reuse, such as banners and table covers.
• Combine a theme with items you already own.
• Compare costume prices with other sellers, because costume retail is crowded and prices vary a lot.
• Avoid last-minute orders where rush shipping erases any sale price.

Stacking and timing

When a website promotion and a code overlap, the cart applies the rules written in the terms. Typically, a sale price cannot be combined with another percentage code, and some items are excluded. Timing: costume and decor discounts concentrate in autumn, while graduation and holiday supplies have their own cycles. Buying a month ahead for non-perishable items lets you catch a sale but risks stock-outs for specific themes. For a birthday, balloons and perishable-type items are best ordered closer to the date.

Coupon and promo code mistakes to avoid

• Using codes from the old chain. Many were for in-store use and are now meaningless.
• Believing “free shipping” without reading the minimum.
• Ordering too close to the date. Delivery windows can run to more than a week.
• Buying from look-alike sites. A site that imitates the Party City name with extreme discounts could be a fake store.
• Entering payment details on pages you reached through unsolicited messages.
• Paying for coupon books or code generators.
• Ignoring return rules on costumes, which can be stricter after use.

Step-by-step: an event order on a budget

1. Set your date and guest count.
2. Build the list and sort it into must-haves and nice-to-haves.
3. Check the Party City website for sale tags on must-haves.
4. Check your closest Staples store for a Party City shop and ask what is in stock.
5. Choose pickup if it avoids shipping, and confirm the pickup time.
6. Apply a code only if the company supplied it; confirm the total changes.
7. Keep the confirmation and returns information until the event is over.

Event-by-event savings plans

Because the best savings now come from planning rather than clipping, it helps to match your approach to the kind of party.

Kids’ birthday

Choose one theme and buy a matched set of plates, cups, napkins and a banner instead of mixing several licensed characters. Licensed items tend to carry a premium, while solid colours with a single themed centrepiece look coordinated for less. Order balloons for pickup close to the date, and ask the pickup location how far ahead they need the request. Decide on a party-favour limit and stick to it; favours are where small purchases add up.

Graduation or milestone party

Graduation supplies are seasonal and sell out in peak weeks, so buy early for items you need in a specific school colour. Avoid ordering personalised items at the last minute, because custom products take longer to produce and ship. Check proofing and approval steps for custom cards or banners before you pay.

Halloween

Costumes are the largest cost. The site shows promotions on costume ranges in autumn, but sale tags can sit on items with limited sizes. Check the return rules for costumes before you buy, since many sellers do not accept worn items. Consider building a costume from separate items you can reuse, such as a wig, hat or prop, which stretches the spend over several years.

Office or community event

Bulk purchases for an event make a different calculation. Count heads, buy table covers and disposable ware in larger packs, and ask your organisation whether it has a tax-exempt status that applies at pickup. Staples business accounts sometimes have their own pricing, so ask the store whether any business terms apply to party items, rather than assuming.

What to do if an order goes wrong

Keep your order number, delivery estimate and any screenshot of the promised date. If an order is late for an event, contact customer service by the channel the site provides, and ask for the order to be cancelled or expedited rather than waiting for it to arrive after the party. For pickup orders, check the ready notification before travelling to the store, and bring ID or the confirmation if the pickup location asks for it. A calm, documented request is more likely to succeed than a series of angry messages.

Quantity planning: how much to buy

Overbuying is the most common way party budgets slip. A few rules of thumb help you buy the right amount without relying on a discount:

Check whether the website lists pack sizes and quantities clearly on each product page, and compare that against your count. A smaller pack at a higher unit cost can still be cheaper overall if the bigger pack leaves you with items you never use. Leftover unopened supplies can be returned in many cases, but check the policy before relying on that.

How we researched this

This guide is based on the brand’s official pages and independent reporting named below; offers change, so confirm on the brand’s site or app before ordering. We do not publish unverified codes.

Sources

• Party City official website: shipping, pickup and deals sections
• NPR coverage of the December 2024 bankruptcy filing
• The Post and Courier report on the store-in-store return in the Charleston area
• TheStreet and FinanceBuzz reporting on the brand’s comeback

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Party City still open?

The old company-owned store network closed after the 2024 bankruptcy, but the brand has returned through its website and shops inside Staples stores. Availability depends on your area.

Does Party City have a coupon code right now?

There may be promotions on the website, but we cannot confirm any particular code. Check the site’s deals area and the cart, and ignore lists that promise a code for everyone.

Is there still a Party City rewards program?

We found no reliable current details on the official site. Some third-party pages claim programs still exist, so verify in your account before counting on one.

Can I use Staples coupons on Party City items?

It depends on the terms of the Staples offer. Ask the store or read the coupon conditions rather than assuming.

Is shipping free?

The site advertises free shipping above a minimum order and free store pickup. Read the cart for the current rule.

When are costumes cheapest?

Autumn promotions are visible, but the best prices depend on stock and timing. Compare with other sellers before you commit.

What is the safest way to buy?

Use the official website or a Staples store, check the web address carefully, and avoid any site that claims huge discounts with unusual payment methods.

Last updated: October 2026