Thread: Christmas means opportunity

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I have found a lot of opportunities waiting patiently for Christmas to pass and the markdowns to begin. I grab my big colored flood lights for 75 percent off. Also the power stakes and extension cords at the same markdown. I also look at the animated displays wondering how I can turn them to the darkside of Halloween. Evil LOL.

What about the rest of you? Do you also love the holiday markdowns for Halloween props and decorations? It saves me a lot of money.

yeah, I'm also patiently waiting for Christmas sales next month. The animated reindeer usually go for about $5. That's $5 for a spinning motor. That's pretty good. Plus now theyhave those polar bears that I can probably use in my "Enchanted forest" haunt next year.

I did the exact same things as you, jbrimaco. Last year got floodlights, the holders, etc. for cheap. I haven't done any hacking of animated dsplays yet, but I'm going to be looking for a christmas tree spinning motor to use. Also another thing, for gravestones and mausoleums and crypts, the angel decorations can work really well.
But then, year round, doesn't it seem we look at all kinds of things with an eye to, "How can I use this in a prop?"

michigal wrote: "But then, year round, doesn't it seem we look at all kinds of things with an eye to, "How can I use this in a prop?""

Totally! Once we savage the holiday markdowns, there's looking forward to garage sale/free-cycle season, and then sometime during late spring our do-it hardware/lumber centers put their 'summer project' stuff on sale, and finally, late summer, we can begin looking forward to the first early clearance of last-years Halloween stuff to hit the shelves. O.k., so my year's planned out, how 'bout you?

We'en12amEternal,
I am so glad you also have the year planned out for Halloween opportunities! Remember red lights from Valentine's Day and the Fourth of July. Green lights from St. Patrick's Day! Always look for the opportunities.

Man oh man,
I am already seeing things in the holiday sections that will make great props. Come on markdowns. LOL

We have a store here that's similiar to big lots. I found a singing reindeer there very cheap....3 euros. He's missing his antelers so that's why he was so cheap. Pieter opened him up today. He's got 2 servos that move his mouth and ears and a motor that turns his head left and right while he sings. He sings 'grandma got run over by a reindeer'.

Anyone have one of these or hacked one of these?

MsM

Like a vulture I stand and wait in the shadows for the after Christmas sales. I've been through Wal marts a few times now already looking LOL. The electric candles for .25 cents each. C7 and C9 strands of lights. Mini battery powered lights. Plastic outdoor spotlight fixtures and the spots to go in them. I've seen holiday material go real cheap by the yard but haven't picked up any. Thinking some black or dark gray die and you'd never know it had snowmen on it.

Originally Posted by MsMeeple

We have a store here that's similiar to big lots. I found a singing reindeer there very cheap....3 euros. He's missing his antelers so that's why he was so cheap. Pieter opened him up today. He's got 2 servos that move his mouth and ears and a motor that turns his head left and right while he sings. He sings 'grandma got run over by a reindeer'.

Anyone have one of these or hacked one of these?

MsM

That would be cool to change the music. Maybe a halloween song. Maybe snarling and growling. Cover the thing with faux fur and make a wolf. Or a chupacabra!

I lurk the Christmas decorations looking for things that I can use for both seasons. Especially the colored lights! I scored BIG time last year after the holidays. And those battery operated "on for 8 hours/off for 16" flicker candles are first on my list. I picked up some before Halloween and they worked great! But I don't want to spend that much for more!

Can't have enough green and black extension cords! And people use floods all year long, but it never fails that they deep discount even normal everyday things if it has any hint of holiday to it! Thank goodness store owners can't think past their labeling system!