Halloween

chloe93_2

Hi, As part of my GCE Business, i have to set up my own mini company, our target market is Halloween, i was just wondering how much the average people spend during the hallowenn period, what people do at Halloween and how popular Halloween really is. If you could answer these questions for me it would be a really big help.

Thank you.

chloe93_2

Thank you for you input, im glad you have said this because alot of people tell me how much they go out and spend although i know this isnt the case for everyone, so im glad you have told me that you are unaware of it being overally popular.

wendyphant

What we are doing this year is having a lunch time party on the friday for all the kids (30 3-6 year olds) i hire the hall and each parent either brings a plate of food or £2 it is a school activity for the kids and they have lunch a dress up and a run around. I do a few games and they have a goodie bag to go home - sweets , glow in the dark bracelet (20 for £1 in poundland) Do buy a few bits for it but nothing big - it appears from friends that house parties are the big thing to keep the kids off the street HTH

Biggles

It's big in the US. Nowhere else that I know of.

It's nothing in the UK and never has been, though obviously commercial interests would like it to be in order to make some cash while they're waiting to rip us off at xmas!

samsil

round near us (modern housing estate with lots of kids) people go quite full-on for it, and this year because my son is at school we'll be going for it more so ourselves.....
near us, most people with kids really went to town. houses were decorated with cobwebs, fake gravestones in the lawn, gruesome hands popping up out of the lawn, decorations in windows and of course carved and lit pumpkins. I cant wait for it this year it was so enjoyable. I think it really is becoming more like the states, you only have to look at how much merchandise is available- if people arent buying into it, it wouldnt be increasing- all the supermarkets are doing outfits and pumpkins...whereas when I was a kid we wore a bin bag and a mask, and a carved out swede!

Money_maker

We play it down. Do the pumpkin, usually homegrown but will be bought this year. About £5 max on sweets for my kids. Sign on door to keep the kids taught to beg from strangers away from my door. Now if you were talking Christmas - well thats a whole new ballgame...

tutti_2

we do go all out with a big Halloween party as it is my daughters birthday but to be fair lots of our decorations are home made and the main expense is food and drink although one year we paid around £60.00 for vinyl wall paper which covers a whole room and has been used for 3 years. Still all in all it probably works out at £50 - £100 each year for additional novelty items and paper plates etc

wilykit

I love Halloween, mainly because I love fancy dress and any excuse to dress up! Last year I spent around £50 on my outfit, maybe more and I usually buy a new outfit every year - apart from this year I am recycling an outfit I have only worn once for about 2 hours because the night was ruined and I had to go home!

Because I have my own house I am having a party and my friends and family are coming - my mum has even got into the spirit this year and has bought loads of decorations etc!

MrsBartolozzi

Biggles wrote: »

It's big in the US. Nowhere else that I know of.

It's nothing in the UK and never has been, though obviously commercial interests would like it to be in order to make some cash while they're waiting to rip us off at xmas!

I would beg to differ!

Hallowe'en and guising was a big thing when I was little (and I'm 38) and my Dad went out guising when he was young too, so it's not an American import. The "trick or treat" aspect may be American, but dressing up and going round doors doing a "turn" in exchange for some treats has gone on in Scotland for many, many years. (wikipedia says at least since the 19th century, also in Ireland from the same time).

To the OP, my kids are a bit old for all the dressing up now so I don't spend much. I usually get a couple of bags of funsize sweets/chocs for those who come to the door, maybe £5?
When they were younger they would dress up, but the emphasis around here was on mainly homemade costumes with shop bought accessories iykwim, so I spent probably no more than £10 on masks/hats/wands etc. Oh and the couple of £ for the turnip (when i was young) or more likely nowadays pumpkin lantern.
More money would be spent on the food, dooking for apples, treacle pancakes, general party food for the village hall party which would be a mix of home made and bought stuff. So not a huge spend really.

Biggles

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

Hallowe'en and guising

Er, guising?

Red_Doe

Guising. Disguising oneself, dressing up and in Scotland, blacking the face.
Sorry Chloe, I hadn`t realised this thread was here and just started another on Halloween.
I think Halloween is, or used to be, a deal more popular in Scotland than in England. Not sure why though, sorry.