Autumn and Halloween are becoming bigger events year on year for gift retailers, driven by people wanting to make the rooms in their house reflect the occasions, as well as Instagrammable.
“Halloween has been a fantastic opportunity for us, and, as an occasion, it is loved and embraced by our customers, particularly at the garden centre,” says Samantha Gibbs, owner of a trio of Nest gift and card shops in Stoughton Grange, Stoneygate and Thurlaston Garden Centre in Leicestershire.
“The range, and selection, of products we could buy was definitely wider this year than last, and we took full advantage of it, extending our range – which was big enough already! Sales started in early Spring for Halloween stock online, and really do come up on sales figures all year round, so much so that we won’t take it off the website.”
Continues Samantha: “This year we will go into sale on the majority of the remaining lines, but only to clear the decks ready for new products next year. We anticipate a wider range of products being available again for Halloween 2025, which would be great! It’s an ever expanding occasion and gratefully received as it is a wonderful nod to the Autumn, whatever the weather, and nowadays, is the prelude for Christmas.”
At Hugs & Kisses in Tettenhall, owner Caroline Ranwell was equally delighted to celebrate the occasion with customers. “Halloween at Hugs & Kisses isn’t a particularly big event, but we do love to put in a spooky window to tempt people inside the shop, with sales this year roughly on a par with last year.
“Our gifts at this time of year tend to be Autumn themed rather than Halloweenas that seems to sell much better for us, although we do have lots of decorative pumpkins which we fill the window with, and those do sell well every year,” confirmed Caroline. “We also have glasses, mugs, coasters and oil burners, all with pumpkin and Autumn designs. We also sell a small range of Halloween decorations as people do ask for them.”
Also highlighting Autumnal trending was Jon May, co-owner of at Mooch in Bewdley and Stourport on Severn. “We have found Autumnal home decor very strong this year, rather than novelty Halloween. We increased our offer this year to offer cute wooden houses from Joe Davies, along with ceramics and candles from Gisela Graham. Sales have been strong, and novelty lines have been selling through, but not in the quantities as in previous years. We put this down to the fact our quality decorations last for more than one season – unlike ones from the discounters – so like Christmas decorations, our customers store them to use each year.”
Adds Aga Marsden, owner of Highworth Emporium in Highworth: “A few years back, we realised that when it came to Halloween, we couldn’t compete with the supermarkets – it just wasn’t working for us. We therefore decided to go down a more Autumnal route, which seems to be working much better.”
Continued Aga: “Instead of skeletons, spiders and witches, we stock tasteful pumpkins, velvet leaves, pretty Autumnal garlands, felt woodland animals and, of course, a few ghosts and vampires from Jellycat. I feel the Autumn theme is getting more and more popular and there are many examples and useful hints on social media as to how to decorate homes for the Autumn season.”
Top: Hugs & Kisses’ Caroline and Jon Ranwell (second right and right), with friends Amanda and Chris. He foursome are shown dressed up for a Halloween party at their local wine bar.
