“Halloween sales are definitely growing and I do feel that there is greater potential for card publishers to create more card designs for the event,” stated Graham Fraser, owner of Alba in Oban, which went to town on its Halloween window and product selection this year.
While the UK has a long way to go to match the amount the US public’s $9 billion spend on the ghoulish event – including $400 million on Halloween cards, according to the recent research by the National Retail Federation in Americ – retail multiples and indies are seeing it as a pre-Christmas sales opportunity.
“After a few years of plateaued sales, slowly but surely the Halloween season’s sales are creeping up. Halloween fits in well in between our summer ‘Puffin season’ and Christmas. For us, while we do offer a small card selection, notably from Stripey Cat Cards, are star performers are Snazzeroo’s range of make-up and hairspray and Gisela Graham’s pumpkins,” said Graham.
Jonathan Crosby, founder of Stripey Cat Cards feels that Halloween is “getting there, slowly” on the card front. “We increased our range this year and will do again next year. The fact that we use glow-in-the-dark googly eyes on the Halloween cards goes down well.”
He says that while some retailers are still rather reticent about stocking Halloween cards, those that have, from indies to Paperchase, are increasing the number they are ordering year on year.
Denise Laird, co-owner of Spirito in Glasgow is another independent who gives Halloween a thumbs-up. “Halloween is a great opportunity to create a really interesting window and engage with our community. Getting involved is really important having something interesting and fun for all our customers and the staff”.
Although Spirito steered away from many novelty items Halloween has brought a positive knock on to its autumnal accessories sales as well as an opportunity to introduce more winter products that also did well.
While Denise did not stock any specific Halloween cards this year this is something she is considering for next year, with her eye having been caught by the “fab Concertina Halloween card from Coulson Macleod.”
Top: Three designs in Stripey Cat Cards’ Halloween range.
