Halloween, OCT 31st Again!
Black Gold.
Thrift has the most eclectic selection of goods at great prices. No specialty or big box store can bring the diversity and the level of fun thrift can. No wonder it’s the biggest month of the year.
Rule number 1 - Save Stuff!
If you haven’t, start now, today. If you are saving, ramp it up! A lot of what is great for Halloween is salvaged the rest of the year. The more intentional you are about saves the bigger your success.
One idea -
Pink - With the Barbie movie coming out soon Pink will be a hot hot color. Save all of it in any shade, clothes, shoes, belts, hats, purses, and backpacks. Especially in youth sizes. Your customers will love you.
Some easy save reminders:
Anything black; pants, shirts, jackets shoes. Black is always in.
Those worn-out leather jackets that go to salvage sell at Halloween. The worse shape it’s in the better for the season.
Animal prints, clothing, shoes, belts
Bright primary colors, with pink being a big color this year other bright colors may also be winners.
Dated and out-of-style clothing. Think Retro for Halloween.
Outdated sport coats, plaid, wide lapels.
Unusual or interesting. You know it when you see it.
Accessories make the costume. Shoes, purses, belts, hats, ties, glasses. Retro, unusual, black, blinged out, bright colors.
An item that is sometimes missed is fashion bras. Those with colors, detailing, and style.
Shoes:
Spike heels,
Women’s black knee-length boots
Blinged out
Cowboy boots
Bright colors
Other stuff:
Ugly neckties
Belts with colors, treatments, unusual looking.
Hats, lots of hats, this is a sometimes underestimated subcategory.
Condition:
The best thing about Halloween is that bad condition can be good. Those well-worn combat boots are gold in October. Some places even make things look bad, like tearing and “blooding up” wedding, prom, or formal dresses.
Check out the Spirit Halloween website for ideas. Lots of donated items can be adapted to create the looks they are promoting.
Those that are really into Halloween save stuff year-round. Even if you are starting today, you can have an impact.
There are a lot of aspects to scaling up for Halloween. If this post is well received, I” ll write more about the topic. Also, let me know what you are interested in knowing more about.
I operated the top Halloween stores in percent to overall sales in the entire Goodwill network, co-hosted and presented at the last Goodwill Halloween Boot Camp before Covid.
Tim Gebauer
Thrift Retailer - Dedicated to the business of thrift retail.
I am happy to connect on LinkedIn.
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