Halloween is big business for retailers. It’s not just the candy, costumes and decorations that bring in the bucks.

Using items you already have can help shoppers save money on costumes and decorations. Look for creative DIY projects on Pinterest or check out the repurposed costume section at thrift stores.

1. Shop early

With Halloween on the horizon, retailers are releasing their spooky offerings even earlier than usual. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), more than 47% of consumers planned to shop for Halloween costumes, decor and candy before October started this year. That’s up 10% from last year and 40% from five years ago. Younger shoppers (25-34) are leading the pack, with 56% of them planning to start shopping for Halloween items before October.

Many stores capitalize on Halloween shoppers by jacking up candy and costume prices right before the holiday. To avoid this, plan ahead and purchase items early. Shopping early for unique items, like a Halloween themed gift, can not only save you money but also ensure you find something special for everyone on your list. This also gives you more time to shop for deals and sales.

Consider shopping for costumes and decorations at thrift stores or dollar stores. You can often find items that are just as good — or better — than name brands at a fraction of the price. You can also save by making your own costumes and decorations. There are plenty of ideas online to inspire creative costumes that can be made from items you already have at home.

If you’re planning to spend a lot of money on Halloween, create a budget before you start shopping. This will help you prioritize what’s most important and avoid racking up more debt. Using Payactiv’s free budgeting tools can help you define what your priorities are and how much you should be spending on each item.

Many stores are revamping their apps or launching new ones to make it easier for shoppers to find, customize and share their Halloween purchases. This is a great way to engage with your target audience and increase your visibility. You can also use posters and flyers in high-traffic areas to attract shoppers.

2. Shop online

Shoppers who shop online ahead of Halloween are a highly-coveted audience that can be targeted with targeted campaigns. Using data such as shopping history, device usage, and location information can help identify these shoppers and create tailored messaging to increase engagement.

The number of consumers looking for Halloween supplies on sites like Amazon and eBay has grown year after year, making it important that your store’s inventory be stocked with popular costumes and decorations to maximize sales. For ecommerce businesses, launching advertising campaigns and offering limited-time discounts on these items in the weeks before Halloween can boost engagement and sales.

Similarly, if you’re selling home décor, hosting decorating tips on your website can encourage customers to start preparing their spaces for the holiday. You can also target audiences by segmenting their email addresses to send them themed content relevant to their interests and buying habits.

Many people turn to social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok for inspiration when choosing their costume or decorating ideas. Targeting this audience through hashtags and engaging posts on your social channels can be a powerful way to reach prospective shoppers.

For retailers who want to boost engagement and loyalty in the lead up to Halloween, consider implementing special loyalty incentives that are unique to the season. Creating a buy one, get one free offer on a specific item or even a free beverage (like a pint of beer or coffee) can attract customers and provide an easy and convenient way to reward them for their loyalty. Adding a special Halloween-themed code to these offers makes them more fun and engaging for your audience. In addition to rewarding loyal shoppers, these promotions can also be used to clear out inventory and drive more revenue.

3. Shop deep discount sales

Halloween may not receive the same level of consumer attention as other holidays like Christmas, back to school and Valentine’s Day, but it still ranks among the top five most important events for retail. That’s why it’s so crucial for retailers to understand how consumers shop for the spooky holiday, and provide them with options that will help them stick to their budgets and financial goals this year.

One of the most important things shoppers can do to save money on Halloween is to take advantage of deep discount sales. Costumes and other Halloween merchandise typically go on sale right after the holiday, which allows shoppers to score deals that would have been impossible otherwise. Additionally, many online retailers offer easy returns and free shipping on Halloween merchandise, making it a safe bet for shoppers to try out their costumes and decorations before buying them.

Another way to save money on Halloween is to repurpose materials that you already have at home. For example, you can use old buckets and bags to collect candy from trick-or-treaters instead of buying pre-made ones. You can also repurpose pillow cases and old clothes to make DIY masks or face paint kits. Lastly, many supermarkets sell discounted bags of candy right after Halloween. Shoppers can then stock up on these bags to hand out next year, saving themselves some money in the process.

Using labels and badges is a great way to draw customers’ attention to your Halloween offerings. With Fordeer’s custom label and badge creation tool, you can add fun labels like “Frightening Discounts” or “Wicked Good Deals” to your products and boost sales this season. So, get in the spirit of Halloween and start creating spooky labels for your products today!

4. Shop local

Halloween is a major retail event for many communities. According to the Daily Economy, local stores, restaurants and shops see an increase in revenue as shoppers seek costumes, candy, decorations and other products for this spooky holiday. Supporting these local businesses can help to boost the economy and encourage shoppers to spend money within their communities.

While Halloween spending continues to be robust, consumers are seeking affordable ways to celebrate the spooky holiday. A third of Americans expect higher prices for Halloween items this year, with most adjusting their celebrations by reusing costumes or cutting back in other areas. Offering competitive pricing and implementing flash sales or limited-time deals can help to drive Halloween sales and clear out inventory efficiently.

Increasingly, consumers are choosing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional Halloween candy. Single-use candy wrappers often have a high plastic content and are not recycled, leading to waste in landfills and litter on the streets. Selling candy that has recyclable wrapping, or even better, is all-natural candies and chocolates, is an excellent way to show your customers that you care about the environment and want them to be able to enjoy Halloween responsibly.

In addition to a green approach to candy, offering alternative costumes is an excellent way to promote sustainable Halloween shopping. Offering a range of gender neutral and age-neutral costume options can appeal to a wide audience. Offering accessories like wigs and makeup can help to make it easy for consumers to create a unique, custom look. Moreover, creating a costume tutorial video can be an effective social media strategy to promote these DIY ideas and attract young customers. This is particularly important for millennials, who are highly active on TikTok, where costume inspiration and tutorial videos are especially popular.

5. Shop smart

As Halloween is a distinctly unique holiday, it presents brands with the opportunity to engage with their audience in creative and fun ways. By offering themed promotions, exclusive product lines, and digital experiences, brands can strengthen loyalty in this crowded marketplace and stand out from the competition.

Consumers are more price-conscious than ever this year, looking for ways to celebrate Halloween on a budget without compromising on the festive spirit. Retailers can help by promoting cost-effective costumes, decorations, and treats that won’t break the bank. By creating product bundles that include everything needed to get ready for the big day, retailers can offer their customers value and convenience while boosting sales.

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are a vital channel for brands to leverage for Halloween marketing. Influencers and user-generated content can help drive awareness and increase brand visibility, particularly for a brand that may be new to the space. By tapping into the power of these platforms, brands can make the most of their budget and reach a wider audience of consumers.

Consider offering a discount on costume purchases for those who come into the store in costume, to reward your loyal customers and encourage more visits. Also, promote your Halloween-themed product collections to align with the latest consumer spending trends. Curating special Halloween collections makes it easier for shoppers to buy the items they need and boosts average order values. Offer these bundles at a discounted price to increase customer satisfaction and boost your bottom line. In addition, by targeting specific neighborhoods with direct mail, you can increase foot traffic and encourage a greater volume of transactions leading up to Halloween.