As children get ready to go trick or treating next week (31 October), how is the spookiest night of the year shaping up for gift retailers?
“Halloween continues to be an occasion that delights us,” enthuses Samantha Gibbs, owner of three Nest gift stores in Stoneygate, Stoughton Grange and Thurlaston Garden Centre & Tea Rooms. “Sales online have been growing since very early in the summer, and now that the shops are fully embracing the season, customers are really enjoying self-gifting for their homes. It’s a wonderful nod to the seasons changing and a prelude to Christmas. We have significantly increased our Halloween stock this year, and sold out on many lines weeks ago. Wax melt and oil burners have been popular, particularly in neutral colours for those who don’t want to adorn their homes in orange!”
Heidi Hopkinson, owner of Serendipity House in Kirkham, is also feeling very positive about this year’s Halloween, confirming: “There are definitely more people decorating and for longer. They seem to be approaching the occasion like Christmas and decorating their homes in the lead up, with the event proving very popular. We’ve re-stocked twice on Jellycat Halloween which we launched early at the end of September. The Talking Tables range has been great for us too, along with Langs. We’ve been careful on all our choices but have definitely been very happy with them.”
At Mooch in Bewdley and Stourport on Severn, co-owner Jon May highlights: “We launched Halloween a month earlier this year and sales have been steady, with ceramic light up Jack-o-Lanterns from Gisela Graham popular once again, along with Halloween gonks from Gainsborough Giftware.
Confirms Jon: “This year in particular, online sales have been very strong, but we’re also expecting our shops to be busy for Halloween during this week’s half term holiday.”
Top: Among the in store Halloween displays at gift shop Nest.
