Between costumes, candy, and decorations, Halloween can get expensive fast. But, it doesn’t have to derail your debt management goals.
1. Shop Early
Whether you’re looking for costume ideas or just want to add a few decorations to your home, it’s a good idea to shop early. Stores are more likely to slash prices the closer Halloween gets, as they become anxious to get rid of the merchandise. In fact, Big Lots begins its Halloween clearance in mid-October and offers a whopping 90% off by Veterans Day.
However, if you’re not in a rush to purchase your costumes and decor, it may be better to wait until after the holiday. That’s when most stores will slash prices by 50% or more. It’s also when you can score some frightfully good deals on high-quality decorations that can be great investments for spreading spooky joy during next year’s celebrations.
If you aren’t in a hurry to buy, it can help to stick to a shopping list. This will prevent you from making spur-of-the-moment purchases that you might regret later. Plus, it will help you compare prices and find the best deals.
Another way to boost sales is by offering exclusive limited editions of your products with Halloween-themed designs or packaging. These offers create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, which will drive more traffic to your website or storefront. You can even bundle these items for a more comprehensive experience, such as a “Trick or Treat Bundle” that includes candy, spooky cups, and plates for customers planning to host Halloween parties.
It’s important to make sure that your online shopping experience is mobile friendly, especially during peak season. Many consumers use their phones to shop, and a poor user experience can significantly decrease conversions. To keep your mobile shoppers happy, make sure your website loads quickly and looks great on their devices.
2. Shop Around
As Halloween approaches, consumers are looking for ways to save on costumes, decorations, and treats. But the trick is avoiding over-spending. The good news is that retailers are working hard to help consumers keep their budgets in check, offering discounts on a wide range of products including spooky decor and costume staples.
For example, a retailer may offer exclusive Halloween coupons and sales to email subscribers and social media followers. This creates a sense of exclusivity and urgency to take advantage of the deals before they expire. Similarly, using scarcity messaging in product listings like “Only 3 left” can create a similar effect. This is easy to do with apps like Stock Countdown Timer, which can automatically update and display inventory counts on product pages.
Taking a cue from online retailers, many brick and mortar stores are leveraging discounts to attract customers in the lead up to Halloween. In addition to offering discounts on spooky decor, some stores are also bundling related items into themed bundles like a “Trick or Treat Bundle” that includes all the supplies needed for a successful Halloween party. Providing these types of offers at a discount can encourage customers to purchase additional items.
Another way to maximize savings is by shopping for second hand costumes, which can often be found on sites like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, shoppers can find a variety of discounted general fall decorations and home essentials at retailers like Pier 1, Pottery Barn and Home Depot, which have marked down products to make room for new Halloween merchandise. These spooky bargains can serve as an investment for next year’s Halloween party, and they are a great way to avoid over-spending.
3. Watch for Clearance Sales
Between purchasing a costume for every member of your family, stocking up on candy and decorations, and decking out your home, Halloween can be a costly holiday. Fortunately, you can minimize these expenses by making smart choices and keeping your eyes peeled for spooky deals.
If you can’t afford to purchase your entire Halloween lineup at once, look for clearance sales before November 1. Inflatable yard decorations, spooky string lights and indoor decor are frequently marked down, and bulk deals on Halloween-themed baking items make it easy to prepare for trick-or-treaters. You can also save money by shopping at surplus stores, which typically carry overstock, surplus and slightly damaged merchandise. Clearance sales on Halloween decor are not only budget-friendly but also perfect for spreading spooky joy to your neighbors and trick-or-treaters alike, making your celebrations even more memorable.
Another way to save on Halloween products is to create a line of limited-time Halloween-themed bundles or seasonal collections. This taps into consumer demand for unique gift ideas, creating a sense of urgency while increasing your average order value (AOV). By leveraging social proof, such as user-generated content or testimonials, you can further incentivize consumers to buy now before the deals disappear.
Targeting customers with email marketing campaigns is a great way to boost engagement and drive purchases. Segment your customer list based on past purchase history to send them personalized Halloween offers that align with their interests and needs. Then, leverage a countdown campaign to drive urgency, such as a “24 Hours Only: Huge Savings!” to encourage abandonment of their carts and boost conversions. A final email sent 48 hours later can feature a limited-time discount or free shipping offer to close the deal. This type of retargeting has the potential to increase the number of orders placed by up to 40%. In addition to boosting your bottom line, this strategy helps you avoid a post-Halloween slump.
4. Sign Up for Email Alerts
A countdown timer or exclusive Halloween-themed bundles are a great way to drive urgency and get shoppers to buy. This approach plays off of the scarcity principle, which states that people are more likely to make a purchase if they think that it won’t last long.
Email marketing is a powerful tool to leverage during Halloween, as it allows you to reach a targeted audience at a time when they’re most interested in your products. Using automation tools like Mailpro, you can schedule email campaigns weeks in advance and set triggers based on user behavior, making it easier to manage your workflow.
In addition to the benefits of email automation, email marketing can also help you create a consistent message that resonates with your audience. If your audience receives a series of emails that don’t align with one another, they may become confused and disengaged from your brand. This is why it’s important to plan your campaign ahead of time and use a content calendar that clearly outlines the timing of each promotional email.
Creating a sense of urgency is an effective tactic to drive sales during Halloween, and offering free shipping is a simple and cost-effective way to do so. Offering this incentive can help reduce cart abandonment and increase average order value by encouraging customers to add more items to their carts. For even more impact, offer the perks in your emails and on your website to ensure they are visible to all of your shoppers. You can even personalize your free shipping offers based on customer data to create a more personalized shopping experience. This will boost conversions and build customer loyalty for the future.
5. Shop Online
Whether you’re shopping for spooky decorations, costumes, or candy, online deals can be a great way to save on your Halloween shopping. However, there are some tips you should know to make sure you don’t overspend this year.
The trick to staying on budget is setting a limit and sticking to it. A good way to do this is to set aside the amount of money you’re going to spend for Halloween and keep it in an envelope. Every time you want to buy something, pull out the envelope and remind yourself of your budget and financial goals.
Shoppers love the feeling of exclusivity when they receive special offers or discounts, so incorporating urgency into your Halloween marketing campaigns can drive conversions. For example, you can offer exclusive discounts for your email subscribers or social media followers that will expire soon to create a sense of exclusivity and scarcity. You can also display a countdown timer on your product pages or homepage to add a sense of urgency to your promotions. Apps like Hurrify and Countdown Timer Ultimate on Shopify can easily integrate this feature and provide real-time stock updates to generate a sense of urgency.
Free shipping is becoming an expectation for many shoppers, especially during high-traffic holiday sales events. By offering free shipping, you can reduce cart abandonment and increase average order value (AOV) by encouraging customers to purchase more items. You can even offer a minimum purchase requirement to qualify for the free shipping offer to encourage more people to shop your Halloween sale. Additionally, you can use customer reviews to drive more conversions by displaying star ratings and verified buyer badges on your product pages. This helps establish your store as a trustworthy source of products that can help your customers plan their Halloween festivities.