I was hoping to start a halloween business. Anybody know anybody that has one or anything about the business?

Wow, theres a vague and open ended question. Yes I know lots of people in Halloween related businesses.

that's funny

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What type of business? Props, crafts, costumes?

Blinky is starting a Halloween business as well. Depending on what you are planning, you might want to talk with her.

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So many home haunting ideas and yet so little time.

Thanks for the reply. Well I have a awesome space and wanted to do costumes, make up etc. decorations. I am wondering if a stand alone independent Halloween can be profitable. I would love to talk to anybody in the biz or going into it. I have had a Family entertainment center business for past 6 years and I also did a haunted house which was great fun but pretty costly.

Take a look at the plethora of year-round Christmas shops out there. With Halloween being the number 2 holiday behind Christmas (with regards to merchandising, if nothing else), I find it hard to believe there wouldn't be a market.

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We need to discuss some of these deductions....

That is what i think. I would love to find out more if possible. I know the Spirit Store are still around so I would think that is a good sign.

it is all about suppliers,can you contact them and can you buy enough to get a nice discount,I would guess you would need at least $100-$150 thousnad to spend in order to stock your store.Remember that wal-mart is always there cutting prices and spirit also gets things alot cheaper than you will.Have you ever heard of the party club of america(PCA) they are a buying group that allows all of there vendors to pool there purchases so to speak and that makes for deep discounts,also if you want to get the best deals you need to travel to the tradeshows,forgive me but I forget the name of the one in houston next Jan. but if your serious you have to be there all the major costume companies will be there ie.Rubies,forum,disguis,leg ave etc.I know personally that you can make a living doing this(I manage a costume shop)but even though we are only open 2 months out of the year it is a year round job.if you need more specific info just asks.

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A lot depends on the market you are in and how you can branch out to keep things going. Center Stage in Gainesville florida is open year round and does well, but they are in a large college town where there are always costumes needed. Plus they teach magic and sell magic accesories.

I agree there's a market for year round Halloween. The Christmas store here has a Halloween section year round. Even with WalMart and discount chains cutting prices there should be a market. The trick would be to carry really neat and unusual items they don't carry. Jim Shore has some great Halloween stuff. Not something you find at WalMart. uuuuum, Kurt Adler used to have decent Halloween stuff. Rubies costumes has neat partyware and stuff and again not something you'd find at WalMart. If you can get some local artists to craft some things........there's a store up north that is mostly Santas. One of a Kind Santas and people pay a lot for them. I don't see why the same couldn't be done for Halloween. You might want to save up the money and do some research and maybe order a little stock here and there because a lot of businesses are closing right now. I think it's really hard to start anything new at present.