Thread: Stores that carry Halloween... what happened?

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Does anyone else feel that what stores are putting on the shelves is rather limited this year? I am not sure if this is a biased perception since I built alot more this year. Or maybe it has to do with the recession or a change in buying trend set from years before.

Here is what I have found:

* Shelf = 1 side

Biglots - .5 shelves less of props

Halloween Express - meh.. same old high prices and a few cool items

Kmart - Missing at least a whole shelf of props this year

Michaels - not sure as I didnt watch it close last year

Party City - considering that they carry over their stuff from year to year, its hard to tell. Their new animatronic clown is kind of cool though.

Savers - 1 shelf less of masks

Shopko - Missing .5 shelves

Spirit - I had never been to one until this Sunday. OMG! That store rocks. I was very tempted to put "The Reaper of Souls" on the credit card.

Target - about the same.. "I think"

Walgreens - about the same

Walmart - They have plastic pumpkins, foggers, and costumes. Its like they just completely skipped over the prop section this year.


In regards to really cool items, besides Spirit, I think Michaels is the only store that comes to mind with their animated witch and skeletons.

So on that note, is it me or is there just not as much stuff out their this year?

Walmart's selection is horrible this year, and I am not impressed with many other stores as well. Total bummer.

I must say that I am very disappointed in the selection at retail stores this year. I think it may be due to the recession but in my thinking the holidays is when you would want to put more stuff out at good prices rather than decrease selection. Especially on the second biggest spending holiday.

Yup. K-Mart and Walmart have scaled back. I need to check out Michael's, Target and Big Lots.

Its the economy

Absolutely agree. Got to figure it's the recession, but it may be that Halloween didn't sell as well last year, or they overstocked anticipating huge sales last year, and now they're only putting out a small selection to make up for it.

Yes, I've noticed the same as well. Most stores do not have a large selection this year. I've even noticed that stores are cutting back on the selection of non-Halloween items as well.
This is because of the economy.

I'm not sure if this is just me but I find the large standing props in Michaels look really cheaply made. I'm sure they'd look much better under the cloak of darkness but I have yet to be tempted to buy one from there...

Cheap craftsmanship but top prices...

Locally the two best stores have been Walgreens and Party City and it's mostly "seen that" stuff there. Walmart absolutely sucked as there were no lights, no props, only scene setters and stuff like that, K-Mart had a similar selection as last year although light on larger props, Target was miserable, reminded me of a Martha Stewart display and at years offerings early and have been refreshing with new stuff every couple of days. Didn't get into Costco yet. Seemed that even the Walmart employees were peeved about being asked about the selection. Here I am looking for cheap, low cost ravens with no shipping and K-Mart had one style and he was $9.99. Dollar Tree had some small ones and I picked up these, but still I look for cheap ravens.

Walmart has stunk it up this year. I need to visit my local Spirit store though. So far Walgreens and RiteAid have been the best.