How Spirit Halloween Became a Titan of the $10 Billion Halloween Industry | WSJ The Economics Of

Each fall, there’s one store that suddenly seems to be just about everywhere: Spirit Halloween. The brand taps into the $10 billion Halloween industry by setting up shop in otherwise vacant real estate for three months each year.

Photo illustration: Adele Morgan

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[the_real_mccoy]

Perfect example of creating a competitive advantage. Spirit halloween has almost completely cornered the market, and save millions every year in their excellent business strategy.

[ashleytakesphotos]

I worked at a Spirit last year and I was shocked at how much hard work goes into building those stores. We don't have a crew to come in and build those walls or set anything up, thats all the staff and management building everything. And the rushes that last week before halloween were insane, worse than black friday/christmas/any other holiday. It was so much fun, but I have a newfound respect for those employees too

[averagejoe]

Its absolutely mind bogeling that a store open for 2 months a year can be this successful. Real bang up job.

[kendall]

Let’s not forget that Spirit Halloween is more adult oriented whereas Party city is more child oriented

[Tuilelen]

I have lots of good will towards Spirit Halloween as a business and as a store because it doesn't try to be more than what it is. These days it feels like as soon as a company gets mildly successful, it decides it needs to "branch out" and do other things, e.g. Amazon with their streaming. Spirit Halloween is about Halloween, and that's the end of it. It's always there, everyone knows what it's about, and it isn't trying to take over the world. I respect that. I don't have any compunction spending money on that.

[VoidedMirror]

I respect Spirit Halloween. They come, they stay for a month or two, and then leave without a fuss. They mark the beginning of the spooky season.

[maritza_]

I love spirit Halloween and I’m so glad they come back each year 🙌🏼🙌🏼🎃

[joylox]

My area used to have a really cool year round Halloween store, but it wasn't sustainable. It was cool, they used an old hearse as a delivery vehicle, and sold a lot of performance makeup. Usually what I see is rental companies, such as those that carry event gear like tents and bouncy castles, will carry a few costumes, but it's not the same. I tend to sew a lot of my own and the making of costumes was a highlight for me, but getting accessories like wigs and props at Spirit makes it easier. They tend to have a lot more adult options too.

[Kaice]

I used to work for a novelty gift store that opened its own pop up halloween store right across the street. We would have to set up the entire store ourselves each year. I really enjoyed it and it really got me into the halloween spirit as I never really celebrated as a child because my mom till this day doesn't care for the holiday. I love seeing Spirit stores pop up because they give me that nostalgia and I can walk into any halloween store and know all the brands and what you should and shouldn't get lol.

[writerpatrick]

Many stores rely upon the Christmas season for the bulk of their sales. Spirit uses Halloween as it's season, and it's not spending money on lightly used retail space the rest of the year.

[raywalteroutdoors]

My daughter, age 7, has been doing the countdown every year since age 2. As soon as that sign goes up in the summer saying Spirit is opening soon she asks everyday if we can go the day it opens and every week after. Watching her go from terrified to touching everything over the years has been fun.

[VdokaOppz]

Every year since as little as I can remember in the late 2000s, Spirit halloween is something I look forward to every year so much. Now at 19 still feel the same way and more!

[artemaeus]

My favorite holiday <3 I always love browsing Spirit stores

[kimackerman]

Such an unique idea on how to was created form the start. I think it's the only store that only opens once a year and in abandoned stores, and everyone goes crazy over the many costumes and decor👏🏻 my dad and I always love visiting the stores.

[selispeks]

This is really cool. I don't ever buy anything there because of the prices, but now they make a lot more sense! Still, it's really cool. It's a staple of my generation's culture I know I'll one day look back upon fondly, and wish the newer generations that replace us could enjoy. I'm so happy to have it.

[lcgw]

These are the hard hitting questions that need answers

[aerah]

Been waiting for this series to be updated

[loganreuland]

I was a manager at spirit Halloween and it’s a nightmare of truck load after truck load delivery’s and we started setting up as early as the end of july

[Jekuyuyttt]

I thoroughly enjoy Spirit Halloween’s walk through displays

[haleyfolk]

My dad and I love spirit, whenever we need to go to spirit for something my mom always tells us not to break the bank. I can’t tell you the amount of times it’s been a dress up week at school and we run to spirit to get what I need for the week