by Tim Cose, Hal Leonard
According to a National Retail Federation survey, Halloween consumer spending is expected to hit nearly $9 billion in 2019. This is triple the spending in 2005. Whether it’s social media selfie fever or a serious national sweet-tooth, Halloween spending has had a strong upward trend for the past decade. It’s also a great lead-in holiday to kick off the fourth quarter and engage with customers through events and the products you offer.
According to the NRF, nearly a third of consumers surveyed plan to throw or attend a Halloween party or event. James Harding, previously of Gist Piano Center, cites events like Halloween recitals as a driving force behind his print sales. The great returns on customer engagement should come as no surprise; Halloween is exciting for all kids, including your lesson program students.
Of the families surveyed by the NRF, here are the most popular costumes for children this year:
- Princess
- Superhero
- Spider-Man
- Avengers character (excluding Spider-Man)
- Batman
- Witch
- Ghost
- Vampire
- Frozen (Elsa, Anna)
- Pirate
And just for fun, here are the most popular costumes for pets:
- Pumpkin
- Hot dog
- Superhero
- Bumble Bee
- Cat (for dogs)
- Witch
- Lion
- Dog (for cats)
- Devil
- Shark
According to kids and families, these costumes are what excite and inspire imaginations this year, so let these lists list steer your print music selection and holiday decorations in the store as we sweep into fall and the holiday season.
Speaking of decorations, we have a standing challenge from our very own Christie Smith who claims, “no one will beat [her] Halloween display at Ward Music!” So, get in the spirit, RPMDA! Share your Halloween decorations and merchandising on Facebook, not only to impress and engage with your customers but also–maybe even more importantly–to prove Christie wrong!