Ghouls and goblins may be socially distanced or even virtual this Halloween. But retailers are hoping that won’t keep you from spending.
COVID-19 to crush Halloween? Many say BOO to that!
“We’re not going to let this one miss out on Halloween,” said Mother Talia Samona holding her toddler Blair. Talia is going to be Cruella de Vil and her children are going to dress up as the Dalmations!
“I may get candy for the kids, maybe,” said Dad Kenneth Daniels.
But some are planning to spend a little less.
Animan Manchanda said, “We’re not really sure how many people are going to come.”
Another woman who chose not to share her name told us, “I’m probably not planning on buying as much,” referring to bags of candy.
I dropped by the Spirit Halloween store in Southfield for a look.
Manager Kristopher Potts says they’ve been busy.
“Everybody thinks that Halloween is going to be canceled which it's pretty much not because, like, we’ve been selling a lot of merchandise in the store,” said Potts.
Due to the coronavirus, face coverings are required to enter the store, there is a customer limit, fitting rooms are closed, and signs are posted reading “Please Do Not Try On Masks.”
At the clearance section, a Minion Dave costume – originally $34.99 --is now about $8.00, and a Leonardo Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume that was originally $44.99 is now it’s about $10.00 -- just to name a couple deals.
You can find more specials and discounts here.
Targetis offering up to 30% off select Halloween costumes and décor – online only.
Plus, you can find decorative pumpkins starting at $5.00 and a BOGO 25-percent-off deal for Halloween candy bags.
At Meijer you can find discounts like $2.00 off a 120-piece bag of Hershey All Time Great Snacks Size candies through October 3, 2020, and you can get up to $3.00 offselect pet costumes.
The National Retail Federation expects Halloween spending to drop from $8.78-billion to $8.05-billion – a slide of more than $700-million.
“People are definitely shopping earlier for Halloween,” said Meegan Holland with the Michigan Retailers Association.
She said the MRA hopes Michiganders will “keep their money in the Mitten.”
This weekend -- October second through the fourth -- the MRA is holding its annual “Buy Nearby Weekend.”
One lucky shopper will win a $500.00 gift card.
Just post a selfie while shopping at a local store with the hashtag #buynearbymi on facebook, twitter, or Instagram, and you’ll be automatically entered.
As for the possibility of any coronavirus-related shortages?
“I can’t really predict what Halloween shortages there might be. But I’ll tell you I was in the store the other day, and there were racks and racks of candy,” said Holland.
Holland predicts pet costumes, greeting cards, and groceries for spooky recipes will be big this year.
The National Retail Federation anticipates the most popular costumes will be princesses and superheroes for the kids, witches and vampires for adults, and the Pumpkin for the pets.
Spirit Halloween’s hottest costumes selling right now at the Southfield store include Harley Quinn, Beatlejuice, Carmen Sandiego, and the Hocus Pocus characters along with superheroes and vampires.
Happy Halloween!
