If you’ve ever been to a carnival, you’ve probably seen lots of toys and prizes in every booth. Most carnivals have hundreds, if not thousands, of prizes, and you might wonder where they get them.
Here are 11 places where carnivals get their prizes:
- American Carnival Mart
- Carnival Savers
- Carnival Depot
- National Prize and Toy
- Fun Express
- A&A Global Industries
- Amazon
- Hayes Specialists Corporation
- Rhode Island Novelty
- Akron Novelty
- Carnival Source
This article will discuss these places in greater detail. Read on to learn more.
1. American Carnival Mart
American Carnival Mart is a wholesaler that sells carnival and party supplies. The business has a website and physical store in St. Louis, Missouri. So, some carnivals around that area are likely to get their supplies there.
Here are examples of some of the things American Carnival Mart sells:
- Inflatables
- Plush toys
- Games
- Novelty accessories
- Branded toys
Anything you’d find at a carnival, you can probably buy there. Much of the stuff is cheaper than what you’d pay in a regular store, which is how most carnivals profit. And it doesn’t just sell carnival prizes.
At American Carnival Mart, you will also find:
- Game supplies
- Wristbands
- Food supplies (like cotton candy)
- Casino supplies
- Trophies and medals
This wholesaler sells carnival prizes in bulk, but you can also buy things individually if you’re looking to buy something for a friend or family member.
Furthermore, American Carnival Mart doesn’t just sell supplies to people and businesses in Missouri–it ships all over the US, so anyone can buy supplies.
2. Carnival Savers
Carnival Savers is another place that sells carnival prizes. However, this place doesn’t have a physical store–all purchases are online.
Like American Carnival Mart, Carnival Savers sells all the things you’d expect a carnival wholesaler to sell, including:
- Stuffed animals
- Small game prizes
- Novelty accessories
With Carnival Savers, all items on the website are organized by price. So if you’re looking to buy carnival prizes as cheaply as possible, you could look at the ‘prizes under 10c’ section.
Although the business is in Texas, it ships all over the US. Plus, it offers free shipping on all orders over $100, which is excellent if you’re looking to buy plenty of things.
Carnival Savers also sells supplies, like:
- Wristbands
- Candy
- Temporary tattoos
Since things are priced so cheaply, it’s easy to see how many carnivals and events can make a profit from games and prizes. So if you’re looking for a new business venture, you might want to consider a small carnival.
However, there are many ways to make money, like getting a rental storage unit.
3. Carnival Depot
Carnival Depot sells many carnival prizes and supplies, which are handcrafted in the US. Everything is shipped from the Pennsylvania area, but anyone in the country can order carnival prizes.
At Carnival Depot, you can find things like:
- Plush toys
- Inflatables
- Kids jewelry
- Novelty masks and accessories
All the things they sell are prizes you’d expect to see at a carnival, and they’re reasonably priced.
Of course, the bigger prizes (like giant stuffed animals) are a little more expensive than the other prizes, but everything is cheaper than what you’d pay in a regular consumer store.
It’s possible to make a lot of money from carnival games, and buying prizes at the best price is essential because it increases profits even more. So you should look around this website if you’re considering selling carnival prizes.
Like most other carnival wholesalers, this one also sells other supplies:
- Carnival decorations
- Balloons
- Darts
- Tickets
- Wristbands
- Funhouse mirrors
You can buy as much or as little as you want, so big and small carnival businesses can purchase from Carnival Depot.
4. National Prize and Toy
National Prize and Toy is located in Ohio and has a physical store where carnival owners can go in to look around and buy prizes and other supplies. However, you can also call the store if you aren’t near it and want to order carnival prizes.
At National Prize and Joy, here are some things you can buy:
- Inflatables
- Plush toys
- Basketballs
- Different novelty prizes
- Game supplies
Plush toys are generally the most luxurious, and National Prize and Joy sell plush toys (small and large). Carnival owners can buy plush toys for as little as 20c. You can undoubtedly purchase cheap toys in bulk here.
National Pride and Joy has shipped prizes and other carnival supplies to all kinds of businesses, including:
- Carnivals
- Family centers
- Amusement parks
- Schools
Since it’s a wholesaler, the business likely has returning clients (such as carnival owners) who buy bulk supplies. This is the norm for most carnival wholesalers.
5. Fun Express
Fun Express is a B2B (business to business) wholesaler that sells carnival prizes. Since they operate a B2B model, not everyone can order supplies from them.
So, it’s a great wholesaler to buy from if you have a carnival business and are looking to buy plenty of supplies and prizes in bulk.
The variety of carnival supplies it sells is endless. Here are some examples:
- Bulk vending
- Plush toys
- Inflatables
- Novelty toys and accessories
- Candy
- Different games
Unfortunately, you must request an account to view the prices of the prizes and carnival supplies. However, most carnival wholesalers have similar prices, so you can expect the prices to be similar to other companies I’ve mentioned in this article.
Fun Express ships across the US, so many carnivals and other businesses can create accounts and buy supplies.
6. A&A Global Industries
A&A Global Industries is another carnival wholesaler, with offices and distribution centers in:
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- Florida
This wholesaler ships around the country and offers a wide range of products for parties and carnivals. It has been around since the 30s, so it’s certainly popular amongst carnival and other business owners.
Here are some examples of A&A Global Industries sells:
- Candy
- Arts and crafts
- Plush toys
- Inflatables
- Games
- Fashion accessories
- Party supplies
You will find all carnival prizes here, so it’s an excellent place to get ideas or buy from. To create an account, you must contact an account manager. This wholesaler is best for companies looking to purchase carnival prizes in bulk.
7. Amazon
You might not have thought of it, but Amazon is another place where some carnivals can get supplies and prizes. Although it wouldn’t be a popular choice for large carnivals, smaller ones could make use of the fast shipping and reasonable prices.
A simple search of ‘carnival prizes’ will give you plenty of results, and none of them will break the bank.
However, it’s not common for large companies to buy their carnival prizes from Amazon. In cases where a carnival company wants to buy a lot of supplies, it’s better and more affordable to buy from a wholesaler.
But if you want to plan a small event or carnival and don’t need to buy supplies in bulk, you could consider purchasing supplies from Amazon.
At Amazon, you can find an assortment of toys and prizes.
Here are some examples of carnival prizes you can find on Amazon:
- Small novelty toys (toys you would consider stocking fillers)
- Novelty accessories (like mustache glasses)
- Assortments of plush toys
- Face paints
- Bubble wands
Unlike some of the carnival wholesalers I mentioned in this article, anyone can buy from Amazon (as in, you don’t have to be a business or client). So, it might be a better choice for small carnivals and enterprises.
8. Hayes Specialties Corporation
Hayes Specialties Corporation is yet another popular seller of carnival prizes and supplies.
Here are things the wholesaler offers:
- Bingo and other games
- Carnival hats
- Small toys
- Party supplies
- Food supplies (cotton candy machines and deep fryers, for example)
There are thousands of carnival prizes for sale here, and you can buy things without an account. So unlike some other wholesalers, you don’t need to be a registered client of Hayes Specialties if you want to purchase anything.
According to the About page, Hayes Specialties have sold carnival items to people across the US and other parts of the world, such as Europe and South America.
The company has been selling supplies for decades, making it a popular choice amongst many business owners.
9. Rhode Island Novelty
Although you may have thought this supplier is based in Rhode Island, it’s actually based in Massachusetts. However, there is no physical store–only a distribution center where the carnival supplies are shipped from.
Rhode Island Novelty is another wholesaler that sells thousands of carnival products and prizes.
Some of them include:
- Fidget toys
- Plush toys
- Inflatables
- Jewelry
- Novelty hats
- Novelty accessories
- Keychains
- Squish toys
You must own a company to log in to the website and place orders. So while this wholesaler is another excellent choice for large carnival companies to buy their bulk supplies, it’s not a good choice for individuals looking to throw smaller, carnival-themed parties.
Due to the vast array of products sold, Rhode Island Novelty is popular among business owners looking for different carnival prizes and party supplies.
10. Akron Novelty
Akron Novelty sells carnival products and other supplies to many businesses, including:
- Carnivals
- Museums
- Schools
- Supermarkets
- Churches
- Variety stores
Carnival prizes are some of the most popular items, with many to choose from.
Some of the prizes sold include:
- Plush toys
- Novelty toys
- Inflatable toys
- Crayons and paint
- Toy vehicles
All products sold here are perfect for resale in a carnival setting, and they’re also ideal as displays for different carnival games. Akron Novelty has been in business for over 50 years, so it’s a popular carnival prize supplier in Ohio and surrounding areas.
Small and big carnival businesses can purchase products here because the minimum spending requirement is only $100. Since many prizes are cheap, carnival owners can buy many things for $100.
11. Carnival Source
Carnival Source sells discount toys, novelties, and carnival prizes. The company has been around since 2001, so it’s clear that many carnivals and other businesses rely on Carnival Source for supplies.
Here are some things sold at Carnival Source:
- Small novelties
- Popcorn boxes
- Plush toys
- Candy
- Inflatables
Although Carnival Source has an administrative office in California, there is no physical store. Everything can be ordered on the website and shipped to an address.
It’s similar to many other carnival wholesalers mentioned in this article because it sells thousands of supplies and prizes at discounted rates for businesses.
Where Is the Best Place To Buy Carnival Prizes?
The best place to buy carnival prizes is usually a wholesaler. Typically, carnivals must purchase many products at once, so buying from a wholesaler will work out cheaper. However, a wholesaler might not be the best option for smaller businesses.
A wholesaler might be too expensive for small carnivals that don’t need a lot of things because they’re often expected to purchase many items at once. In this case, the carnival might get prizes from regular shops or Amazon.
Some wholesalers give returning customers discounts or allow payments to occur at some point after the purchase is made–this is to promote good relationships, and it helps with customer and client retention.
That, coupled with the fact that wholesalers work out cheaper for big businesses, is why wholesalers are usually the best places to buy carnival prizes.
Can Anyone Buy Carnival Prizes From Wholesalers?
Not everyone can buy carnival prizes from wholesalers. Some require customers to have proof of a business before making an order. However, other wholesalers might not have such requirements, meaning anyone can make purchases.
So, it all depends on the specific wholesaler. If you’re interested in buying carnival prizes but don’t have a business, you should contact different wholesalers to ask what the purchase requirements are.
How Do Carnivals Make a Profit From Buying Prizes?
Carnivals make a profit from buying prizes because each carnival game is designed to be profitable but enjoyable at the same time. Although carnivals must buy prizes and give them for free, they make lots of money from ticket sales, games, and activities.
Plus, you can get good deals on carnival prizes when you make a bulk order from a wholesaler.
If you’re thinking about starting a carnival business and buying prizes from retailers or wholesalers, it could be an excellent business venture due to the profit you can make.
Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to make money because we have so many opportunities, so you can consider carnivals and other ways to make money!
