This coming weekend is odds on for a scarily big celebration. After missing out last year due to Covid measures, with Halloween falling on a Sunday, it will be tricks and treats galore!
PG Buzz checked in with two Retas’ finalists – Sean Austin of Austin and Co, Malvern and Heidi Early of Earlybird Designs, Stoke Newington – about their innovative approaches to the event this year.
Austin & Co
There is no missing the Hallowe’en-themed window in Malvern-based Austin & Co, and there is not a pumpkin in sight!
“We think it’s pretty awesome (ok, slight bias) but we’ve had a great reaction!” exclaimed Sean Austin, owner of Austin & Co. And it is not surprising as Sean has made the extensive window of the recently relocated shop creating an arresting display featuring giant mariachi skeleton puppets, that were made from upcycled scrap materials.
The mariachi skeletons have been loaned to Austin & Co by the Worcestershire Resource Exchange (WRE), which diverts useful resources from ending up in landfill and to promote the re-use of materials that already exist rather than producing more.
The puppets, made by 38 volunteers over 375 hours, originally featured in the Worcester Carnival in 2015, their Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) theme tieing being the WRE’s take on the celebration theme of the carnival.
This is the biggest push Austin & Co has ever given to Hallowe’en, but the response has more than warranted it.
“I have done a small nod to Hallowe’en in previous years where I’ve literally scoured the shop for anything that was orange and black and put it in the window with a pumpkin! This year, as I knew of the skeletons’ existence I offered my window to the charity,” explained Sean.
As a card sending occasion, while Sean acknowledges “it’s nowhere near the levels you see in the US where it’s linked in with sending cards to your teacher (haven’t quite worked out the link!!); but interest is steadily growing in the UK.”
In addition to making a display of blank cards that could be used for a Hallowe’en send, such as those featuring a black cat, Sean is also experimenting with a specific card from Middlemouse. “I can see Hallowe’en growing. A few years ago I started to take Thanksgiving cards due to a large expat community in the area, and together with online sales, it’s now a profitable card giving occasion.”
Earlybird Designs
Heidi Early, co-owner of Stoke Newington-based Earlybird Designs is right behind the planned celebrations that children and adults are looking forward to this year, but her strong social conscience also feels it is a time to think of others less fortunate than many.
As part of this Earlybird is heavily involved in the Stokey Halloween Trail, joining forces with other retailers and businesses and the Local Buyers Club to support its Trick or Eat scheme.
As the poster in the shop window proclaims (as well as being promoted on social media), Earlybird is a drop off point for food items that will then be taken to the local Hackney Food Bank.
“Halloween is a fun time, but when so many families are struggling to put food on the table it is also a time for those who can do, to give back. Last year the Local Buyers Club, across a number of areas collected five tonnes of food all of which was put to good use,” Heidi told PG Buzz.
Heidi and the Earlybird team will all be getting into the spirit, dressing up for the Trail (which runs from 3pm-6pm on Sunday (31 October), with a box of treats ready to give to customers.
“It is lovely to see so many children and their parents making such an effort to come out, and the amazing costumes they come up with,” add Heidi.
The shop is doing well with its Hallowe’en themed products, from balloons to hanging bats to face paints and greeting cards.
“It is definitely growing as an event. Last year was the first year we were really asked for Hallowe’en cards so have made sure we have plenty in from Stripey Cats, but I reckon we will sell out. We have also done especially well with some gorgeous velvet pumpkins from Talking Tables,” reveals Heidi.
Top: The mariachi skeleton puppets that have been loaned to Austin & Co. (Photo acknowledgement of WRE in 2015: Courtesy of Duckworth Worcestershire Trust)
