As surreal as it may seem, the spooktacular climax to autumn is almost upon us. Along with all the things that make Halloween wickedly good, there are opportunities for your small business to capitalize on the fun. Halloween is widely considered to kick off the holiday shopping season and is the 2nd largest shopping holiday of the year, close on the heels of Christmas. This “bewitching” holiday makes up a large chunk of the annual revenue online retailers see. Holiday shoppers spent an estimated 8 billion dollars last year for Halloween alone, and this year that number is expected to be even higher.
In 2020, 148 million Americans celebrated Halloween with a record $92.12 of average spending per buyer. Even more, 34% of those Halloween purchases are made through eCommerce sites. That’s a lot of opportunities! Now is the perfect time to launch your holiday readiness plan and capitalize on all the tricks of the trade. Even if your store doesn’t sell costumes, candy, or Halloween décor, there are creative ways for brands of all kinds to participate in the bewitching fun by appealing to Halloween lovers. Don’t allow your business to fall flat in the Halloween game.
Knowing HOW your buyers are celebrating is key to marketing TO them. People are looking for joy, and what brings more joy than a holiday full of costumes, creativity, and candy?
How is Halloween spending split?
When surveyed in 2020, consumers said they planned to spend money on:
• 65% planned to buy costumes
• A whopping 96% of respondents said they planned to spend money on the good stuff – candy!
• 75% expected to buy decorations
• 40% planned to spend money on Halloween greeting cards
Keeping these figures from last year in mind will give you a better idea of what to expect this year and how to market most aptly. Make it worth their while for customers to visit your eCommerce business and purchase your products and services.
By realizing exactly how loved this haunting holiday is, eCommerce business owners can stay ahead of the competition and appeal to their audience’s fright-loving side — and it would bring the most significant benefits to get started with your preparations now. Check last year’s sales and traffic numbers to get an idea of what to expect this year, and don’t let your business fall by the wayside as others capitalize on the Halloween spirit.
1. Halloweenize your shop!
Creep it real and decorate your homepage for the season. Create a fun Halloween video showcasing your shop’s spooky side, and include any promotional discounts or special items. Add a witchy welcome coupon pop-up with a catchy image or punny message to draw them in. You can also tap into nostalgia by using classic Halloween imagery. Remember, fall harvest items can do double duty for both Halloween and Thanksgiving. Be sure to promote both themes, and don’t remove fall items from your highlights before the end of November. Make sure to test your site on mobile, because over 60% of Halloween searches are coming from mobile devices.
2. Issue frightfully good flash sales
Advertise short flash sales every day to draw new and returning patrons alike. You could also provide “door prizes” like coupon codes or a free treat with purchase for stopping by – all in the name of Halloween! This would be a great opportunity to upsell and offer your patrons a spell-binding bargain!
3. Create an email campaign that will give your customers goosebumps
Email marketing has been proven to work devilishly well and has some of the highest ROIs of all marketing tactics. Ongoing interactions with your customers will help build necessary relationships and increase loyalty to your brand. Email marketing campaigns are pretty affordable and are often a great way to promote your business and stay connected.
4. Use social media to appeal to their “dark” side
It’s no secret that social media is a highly beneficial tool for any business. During the holidays, strategically created social media posts can bring lucrative results! Use a unique hashtag (like #halloween2021) to increase engagement and put your shop in front of audiences wanting to have a howling good time.
5. Utilize your shop suggestions by tweaking them to represent Halloween as well as the other upcoming holidays
With Halloween often regarded as the start of the holiday shopping season, offer a Christmas-themed add-on at checkout. This can plant the seed for future holiday purchases, potentially leading to a more significant profit margin. It may also get plan-ahead shoppers thinking about what else they could buy right now, especially if you’re running a sale or offering discounts.
6. Increase your shop’s upselling tactics
Increase your AOV by offering your patrons a spell-binding bargain, giving them more treat for their money, and making it worth their while to purchase more. An example of this would be giving out a small, Halloween-themed gift with a $XX purchase. As a result, your customers will see that you value them and likely keep you in mind for upcoming holidays.
Halloween is one of the best times of the year to delve into creativity and design ghoulishly fun experiences. It’s generally an inexpensive way for families and friends to have fun and keep traditions alive. Unfortunately, many eCommerce business owners can miss out on this spooky lucrative holiday that launches the holiday shopping season. So jump into the spooktacular season by giving your patrons a scary-good deal when they visit your shop!
Make Cash Flow Less Frightening with Payability
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Conclusion
Halloween is generally an inexpensive way for families and friends to have fun and keep traditions alive. Many eCommerce business owners miss out on this lucrative and spooky holiday and fumble the perfect launch to the end-of-year holiday shopping season. This charming holiday allows everyone to delve into their imagination and share shockingly fun experiences. Jump into the spirit of Halloween by giving your patrons a frighteningly good time when they visit your shop.
Since many places are still imposing gathering restrictions, it’s an ideal time to be creative while observing one of America’s favorite holidays. As we near Halloween, and the beginning of the robust holiday shopping season, prepare your business now to take advantage of the seasonal craze. Poor cash flow can negatively affect your business growth, and Payability has solutions to help you with that. Understanding the impact of the holidays on your small business can get you ahead and keep your eCommerce shop from stumbling into an early grave.
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