Halloween Now A Big Bucks ‘Holiday’ For Retailers
Posted October 31, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A long time ago, when baby boomers ruled the Earth, Halloween was mostly a made up holiday, where moms and dads used odds and ends and a few store bought masks to dress the kids up for the big night out.
That was then.
Now, All Hallow’s Eve has not only become a big night for the kids, it’s a huge windfall for store owners.
According to Pollara Poll done for the Retail Council of Canada this month, most of us will spend at least $60 on the faux-holiday, buying everything from candy and costumes to pumpkins and decorations. That’s up three bucks from 2005.
That seems like a small amount, but when you add it all up, it’s a truly frightening number. Halloween now accounts for about $1.15 billion in sales across the country, a spooktacular figure that keeps rising every year.
British Columbians spend the most on the eerie yearly ritual, about $65. Alberta and Ontarians are next. Consumers in this province shell out at least $63 on Halloween themed items to put on, put up or give away.
Not surprisingly, homes with kids under 18 spent the most – an average $75. But even people with no children still spend up to 50 bucks reigniting their own trick or treat youth.
So what exactly are we spending all that ghoulish cash on? Here’s the list:
Candy & Treats
No surprise here. It’s not just merchants who sweeten their cash registers at this time of year. Candy makers earn some of their biggest profits leading up to October 31st.
Avg. Canadian: $29
Ontario: $31
Costumes
Another big seller you can’t disguise at this time of year. Most Canadians spend an average of $33 buying something scary to wear for the night.
Decorations
We’re cheapskates at $19, but a few orange streamers or plastic pumpkins will do for the majority of us. After all, it’s really about the candy. And speaking of pumpkins:
Pumpkins
If you don’t buy one, you may be out of your ‘gourd’. At least 58 percent of Canadians purchase a real jack o’lantern, doling out about $10 for the privilege.
Halloween Cards
It’s the one area where card makers really haven’t been able to scare up a lot of interest, unlike Christmas or birthdays. Only 7 percent of Canadians actually buy Halloween cards. Those who do spend about 11 bucks for their ghoulish greetings.
