Catlives’ Post

Why is Halloween such big business? What turned a pagan festival into a commercial juggernaut that commands entire grocery store aisles and takes over party supply shops from the middle of August onwards? Yes, it's a fun thing for all the family. Yes, it's an opportunity for showing off your creativity (without getting judged too harshly). But most of all, it's the mother of all one-upping, keeping-up-with-the-Jones's, FOMO-driven experiences! People spend billions of dollars trying to out-Halloween their neighbor's yard, out-costume their children's classmates, and out-candy the generous old person next door. Year after year, Halloween vendors deliver bigger, more lifelike (or is it dead-like?) decorations, and clever, meme-inducing costumes. And the Halloween FOMO machine keeps driving people to buy them... So what can we learn from this? Find ways to make your product or service visible to others when it's being deployed. If potential customers see existing clients benefitting from your solution, they're likely to want one for themselves. As Halloween demonstrates, it's human nature. Make the solution visible and distinctive. Post pictures of your solution in action—preferably ones that identify the lucky client. Co-author case histories with users that include photos of the solution being deployed. If it's a tactic good enough to promote a celebration of dead people and witchcraft, surely it'll work for your B2B business 🎃 #happyhalloween #fomomarketing #visualmarketing #b2bmarketing #b2bmarketingstrategy #strategicthinking

It's Labor Day! I remember when that was a day to both celebrate our hard work, and say good-bye to the lazy, hazy days of Summer, and hello to the cool evenings and colored leaves of Autumn. Now it's just another long weekend in a never-ending routine of School, Work, Expensive Shopping, Expensive out-of-home Eating, Expensive Leisure pursuits, Expensive Vacations, and some very creative budget management. I see that Retail America has acquired a very dark sense of humor - if you've noticed how Halloween has been juiced this year in all the stores. Some retailers have opened their own 'All Hollows' Eve' emporiums that rival those of the Christmas Season. They obviously know something about the American psyche ordinary people don't know. Adam's Family envy? Certainly, Raul Julia's, 'Gomez', was to die for. Acknowledging the growing retail importance of Halloween, and that our pets often eat better than we do, and many in foreign lands, I noticed this tidbit in Wikipedia, "30 million Americans will spend an estimated $480 million on Halloween costumes for their pets in 2018. This is up from an estimated $200 million in 2010." One suspects that number has doubled since then. Some say 'Horror' is cathartic. A way to deal with our fear of the dark and the unknown. If that's what's driving the dramatic explosion of Halloween decor and paraphernalia, I suspect it's entirely justified this year... while we can still indulge in a national dance of the macabre.

The Battle Between Halloween Weekends Has Its Winner…🎃 - 1.5% Weekend Lift: Tab volume over the second Halloween weekend (Oct 31 - Nov 3) was slightly up from the previous weekend, with sales coming in 1.5% higher. - 24% More Shots: Despite the second weekend lifting heavier overall, Halloween's first weekend saw a 24% spike in shot sales, showing strong guest enthusiasm. - 58% Halloween Night Surge: On Halloween itself (Thursday), tabs opened were 58% higher than an average Thursday in October. Halloween shows the value of themed nights for driving turnout and sales, even mid-week. Operators, how do you plan to leverage special events for more engagement in the months ahead? #Halloween #HolidaySales #B2B #AlcoholSales

Halloween isn’t just about treats and costumes; it’s a perfect time for brands to let their creativity shine. I love monitoring Halloween ads and seeing how some brands add their unique touch—whether they go spooky or fun, they always know how to grab the spotlight. Why do I like this ad from Dore&Rose? 1/ Humor + Relevance: A pumpkin in a sleep mask? It’s fun, relatable, and ties directly into the product's benefits. When humor is done right, it makes the message stick. 2/ Balanced Simplicity: The clean layout highlights the product and available colors without clutter. It's all about getting the viewer to see, smile, and shop. 3/ Clear Offer: The deal is compelling and perfectly tied to the holiday season—creating just the right amount of urgency.

UPDATE: See comments for Santa's response! Is there a better salesperson in the world than a kid on Christmas Eve? Exhibit A below: 1. Expresses gratitude. 2. Shows genuine interest in the other person. 3. Asks pertinent questions. 4. Requests client feedback. 5. Saves the ask till the end and soft launches it. 6. Gives grace. 7. Offers a shareable, open-source product. AND she's waiting to put out milk and carrots until bedtime to ensure peak freshness, so add "committed to quality." This one's gonna go far. #MerryChristmas #Christmas #businessdevelopment #sales

Happy Halloween from AWG! Here are some fun facts* about Halloween and Halloween candy: 🎃 92% of Americans celebrate Halloween some/all years (75% celebrate most years, 18% celebrate some years, 7% don’t celebrate). 🎃 Only 7% of the candy bought throughout the year is purchased during Halloween season. While 6% is purchased during other specific seasons, 87% of the candy purchased throughout the year is non-seasonal. 🎃 15% of people hand out 5+ pieces of candy to trick-or-treaters. While 12% hand out 4 pieces, 32% hand out 3 pieces, 35% hand out 2 pieces, and 6% hand out 1 piece. 🎃 56% of people hand out items to trick-or-treaters. While 35% let trick-or-treaters choose and 9% leave a bowl of candy by their door. *Source: National Confectioners Association Sweet Insights Survey 2023

Consumer Trick or Treat? Halloween has become a season retailers can't resist but start early. Spotting Halloween promotions in August is becoming the norm, aligning perfectly with costume and party planning. Did you kick off your Halloween shopping early this year? The National Retail Federation's survey reveals that 47% of consumers started Halloween shopping before October, with 48% motivated by their eagerness for autumn. Candy spending is set to reach $3.5 billion, while costumes and decorations are expected to hit $3.8 billion each. Surprisingly, Halloween greeting cards make up a $500 million industry. On average, consumers are projected to spend $103.63 per person this year. Beyond the traditional candy and costumes, major retailers like Home Depot, Lowes, and Best Buy have found their way into the Halloween season. Have you encountered any unexpected Halloween deals this year?

Happy Halloween from Loomis! 🎃 Halloween might not be an official holiday worldwide, but it's undeniable that it leaves a significant economic footprint. In the United States, billions are spent on costumes, makeup, candy, party supplies, decorations, and let's not forget, pumpkins! This year, American consumers are expected to spend $11.6 billion on Halloween festivities, according to a National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics survey. Europe is not lagging behind regarding the economic impact of this festivity. As an example, the market for Halloween costumes is not only significant but also growing. According to Cognitive Market Research, this market contributes to approximately 32% of global revenue and has a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2%. So, as you enjoy your spooky celebrations, remember that every purchase contributes to our vibrant global economic cycle. Here's to a safe and prosperous Halloween! 🍬👻💰 #Global #WhereLifeHappens #Halloween

We were mobbed .... Anyone who knows Mrs. K, knows she loves Halloween. Not me so much, but I love to see the joy it brings her. This year got me thinking. Each year, Mrs. K up's the ante slowly, probably to soften the blow of the known things she buys to up the game, which now has its own area in the outside building with boxes of Halloween 🎃 inflatables and merch. Those who know the story of the baby Yoda, know! But this year, well, after running out of Welches, yes, fruit snacks by 1830, I can honestly say Mrs K owned the road. Notwithstanding, some of our American friends who would say this display was relatively tame in comparison to theirs! A couple of key things: 👉 Despite others on the road having displays, Mrs K drew the masses. Much like a marketing function, she drove footfall interest and became a destination. - Be somewhere people want to go, find out more! 👉 Operations had to step up and restock with treats at 1830, which was a good problem to have, and luckily, operations delivered. 👉 I have slight concerns that our home is all over a million Meta stories .... Thoughts: Be a destination, make your product enticing so that people want to come, offer an experience that gives value, work with operations to deliver on the outcome, and get mobbed by everyone!

1. Packing Horror: Tackle the chaos by creating a packing checklist and labeling boxes clearly. This way, you can conquer the clutter and avoid any spooky surprises when unpacking! 📦 2.Spooky Stress: Reduce moving anxiety by planning ahead. Research removal companies and their availability (but do NOT book anything until exchange)! Also, take meter readings and discuss your utility transfers in advance to keep everything on track⏰ 3. Unpacking Dread: Make unpacking easier by prioritising the essentials. Set up a “first-night” box with items you’ll need immediately, so you can navigate your new space without feeling lost in a maze! Now if that isn’t a top tip, we don’t know what is! 🙏🏼 Having helped hundreds of families move house over the years, hearing the fairy tale endings as well as several horror stories along the way, with these strategies, you can turn your moving nightmares into a smooth transition! 🏠🎃 #FDRLaw #LawEvolved #halloween #happyhalloween #movinghouse #timetomove #homemove #movingtips