Challenges Today and Going Forward

Halloween Merchandise at Halloween and Party Stores

By: June Allan Corrigan

The pandemic made the 2020 Halloween season more than a little challenging for many retailers who deal in the trade. In March, few would have predicted they would still be dealing with COVID restrictions come October. Of course, their seasonal sales picture was impacted, although some results proved surprising. For this article, four stores in different areas of the country detailed what the scene looked like for them, and how they are preparing for Halloween 2021.

Sales of Halloween merchandise were definitely down at Shindigs & Celebrations in Nashville, Tenn. There was some retail activity but all the paper products and plasticware the 3,000-square-foot store would normally have sold for Halloween parties just didn’t move. “That’s all been down because people aren’t getting together in big groups,” said Owner Sandra Vaught . She’s setting her sights on Halloween 2021, expecting things will turn around. “I’m hoping it will be better because in 2019 we had a phenomenal Halloween season. And then 2020 occurred so it’s kind of hard to compare.” One thing Shindigs and Celebrations will not be doing is ordering a great deal of stock because they have a lot left over.

It was a totally different year at Party Décor & More in Rehoboth Beach, Del. The Atlantic coast town is known for its big Sea Witch Festival plus other seasonal events like Trunk or Treat. “Halloween was basically canceled here. They canceled all the parades and everything,” said Store Owner Jim Pratt . Even the big traveling Halloween store that comes to the area and sets up every year didn’t offer up much competition. “They didn’t do very well either,” he said. Shoppers weren’t in the market for costumes inside his 3,000-square-foot store, although they did pick up a few decor items. “They did decorate but it wasn’t like in the past.” Party Décor & More’s usual habit of handing out candy to trick or treaters didn’t happen either.

Looking ahead to Halloween 2021, Pratt anticipates it, like everything else, will be better. “I think we’re preparing for everything to be bigger in 2021. We’re in a resort area so there are lots of hotels here that had events and they were all shut down.” Party Décor and More definitely plans on buying new Halloween

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