Preston Joseph Hebert Sr.
October 28, 2008
Olive "Nookie" Sonnier Pitre
October 30, 2008
When it comes to holiday shopping, Halloween may not be the first holiday that comes to mind.
But for certain types of retailers, this is the biggest and busiest season of the year.
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend nearly $6 billion on Halloween-related items this year, with the average person doling out $66.54.
For some local businesses, the Halloween season will make or break their entire year.
“Our Halloween is like Wal-Mart’s Christmas,” said Torey Hebb, third-year manager of Ultimate Party, a decoration and party supply store in Houma. “We do 80 percent more business in the month of October than any other month. I began stocking Halloween items on Sept. 1.”
“About 70 percent of my yearly business is done this season,” said Bernadette Dugas, the 12-year owner of Mermaid’s Masquerade Costumes Sales & Rentals in Houma. “People started ordering and buying Halloween costumes in early September.”
With the holiday falling on a Friday this year, “consumers may plan to celebrate all weekend long,” said Phil Rist, vice president of strategy for BIGresearch, which conducted the NRF survey.
While the economy is struggling nationally, neither Hebb nor Dugas said their stores have felt any impact. Hebb was more concerned that recovering from hurricanes Gustav and Ike would put a dent in sales this year.
“I expected people would spend less because they had to make repairs after the storms,” Hebb said. “But we’re on pace to outdo last year’s numbers.”
Dugas said her experience after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 foreshadowed her store doing well in 2008.
“Business was great after Katrina,” she said. “I think because people were so depressed about the hurricane, they wanted to do something fun by now. They want to have a good time. It’s fun to play dress up.”
According to the NRF, consumers will spend an average of $24.64 on Halloween costumes (including adult, children, and pets) $20.39 on candy and $18.25 on decorations and $3.73 on greeting cards.
Shopping among the fake skeletons, witch-themed yard signs and orange and black decorations at Ultimate Party were David Waddell and Kellie Luke of Houma. The pair was looking for supplies three hours before they had a Halloween party to host.
“Between candy and costumes and everything else, we’ll probably spend about $150 for Halloween,” Waddell said.
Meanwhile, Lolli Schwab of Houma was hoping to keep her Halloween spending to about $60 this year.
“It’s hard to do when you know kids are going to come to your house trick-or-treating, and you have parties to go to,” she said
Young adults ages 18 to 24 plan to spend $86.59 on the holiday, the most of any group, according to the NRF.
Mermaid’s was packed with young adults seeking the perfect outfit among hundreds of manufactured designs and 2,000 rental costumes available.
After some slight alterations, Brittany Parfait of Chauvin, shopping along with her friend Heather Trahan, decided to take the Little Red Riding Hood costume. It was the second costume she bought for Halloween.
“The first was a referee uniform,” she said. “So, I’m way over the $100 limit I set. Normally I don’t dress up, but since I’m older and can go out to the clubs, I want to look my best.”
Raceland resident Tiffany Crappel brought her parents, Gerald and Janet, and their credit card along as she picked out a short pink, black and white striped outfit.
“I’m spending $60 on her costume,” Gerald Crappel said. “My son (Ben) is going to the same party she is and I spent $60 on his costume.”
The best-selling costumes this year are traditional garb such as pirates, vampires, witches and fairies.
“Kids will wear almost any movie or cartoon character,” Hebb said.
Usually the Saturday before Halloween is the busiest day of the year for both stores. But with the holiday being on a Friday this year, Hebb and Dugas hope costumers will expand their usual one-night holiday partying.
“It’s going to be this crazy until the end of the weekend,” Dugas said.
Bernadette Dugas (right), owner of Mermaid’s Masquerade Costumes Sales & Rentals, helps Tiffany Crappel of Raceland decide on a costume as her parents, Gerald and Janet, look on. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF
