Getting Your Store Ready for the Holiday Season? Don’t Forget About Halloween!
The holiday season is fast approaching, meaning most cross-border sellers are likely busy getting their stores ready for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas. Amidst the preparations, however, it can be easy to overlook one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year- Halloween! No longer just an American holiday, Halloween has spread to 23 countries, each with their own unique ways of celebrating.
For sellers, now is the time to target last-minute Halloween shoppers with exclusive promotions and innovative marketing campaigns. Here, we’ll be covering who is celebrating Halloween, what they’re shopping for and the evolving trends that are shaping the holiday. Ready to get started? Let’s go!
Halloween Has Gone Global!
Celebrated all over the world, Halloween provides a great opportunity to target specific markets with culturally specific products. For sellers wishing to branch out of the US, here are a few ideas of where to focus your efforts:
Japan
While traditions like trick or treating never made it to Japan, Japanese people invest heavily in their costumes, which range from popular characters in computer games and movies to manga comic books. Halloween is marked by throughout Japan by massive street parties, carnivals and even parties on trains, which have turned into one of the trendiest places to celebrate the holiday.
Ireland
Similar to the US, Halloween in Ireland is characterized by trick or treating, scary costumes and massive parties, parades and carnivals throughout the country. Additionally, Ireland’s many castles present the perfect backdrop for ghost tours and other activities that have made Halloween one of the most popular holidays in the country.
India
Western holidays, including New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day, have been gaining traction in India for years, so it’s no surprise that Halloween has become popular in major cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Children are dressing in scary costumes more and more every year, while pubs and hotels throw Halloween themed parties.
Halloween Spending is Reaching an All Time High
For sellers worried that the COVID-19 pandemic dampened the Halloween spirit, fear not. Spending is not only increasing, but also set to reach a record high. Americans are forecasted to spend more than $10 billion this Halloween, up from $8 billion in 2020. Per-person spending on costumes, decorations and other accessories is also on the rise, and is expected to reach more than $100, up from $92 in 2020.
Furthermore, Americans aren’t the only ones increasing their Halloween spending. Brits spent approximately £500 million during Halloween 2020, with that number forecasted to increase this year. Highlighting the holiday’s significance in the UK, 25% of Brits purchase pumpkins for Halloween, which amounts to some 17 million pumpkins!
What Are Halloween Shoppers Looking for This Year?
As with all holidays, trends change from year to year, making it difficult to keep track of what shoppers are looking for. Still, there are some constants that sellers can always turn to when deciding what to sell on Halloween. This year, things like “girls superhero costume” and “witchcore” saw significant increases in search volumes. The same can be said for seasonal products, like “fall candle” and “pumpkin candle”. When in doubt, Halloween decorations and autumn themed goods are a relatively safe bet when deciding what to market to your customers.
Halloween is Only the Beginning
Eager to get ready for the rest of the holiday season? Learn how to maximize your Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and get advice from the experts at Cdiscount on how you can prepare your store for the rest of the year.
This holiday season, as always, Payoneer is here to facilitate your cross-border payments and open your store up to a universe of opportunities. For information, simply click below.