Thread: Slim Pickings

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Why does it seem that Halloween is starting to be a non exsistant holiday anymore? Me and the wife went shopping yesterday for some things to finish off certain rooms and such. During our shopping spree I found that almost every store was out or had an abumdance of stuff that no one wanted. so off we go to Michael's. Well we get inside and find that they are also tearing down their Halloween displays and setting up for X-mas.. Ummm hello..... I have 11 days left till Halloween. It seems that the stores are only puting up Halloween items to make a quick buck and then getting rid of everything. Anymore I feel that if I cant make it myself I wont shop anymore for props. I know I can go to Spirit but even they are not as good as they use to be. maybe its just me but I feel that my favorite holiday is beginning to get the shaft from retailers. I guess I will just start to save gas and help the enviroment and sit my butt down and order online or make my own from now on. Sorry for the rant but its getting frustrating to see X-mas stuff out so early and Halloween items out for only a month or less.
:: Edit... or better yet I think I will put a red santa suit on my Grim reaper and set out tombstones with the reindeer names. Goblin toymakers and a zombie Mrs Claus in an animated rocking chair. Maybe then my point will be made. OK I feel better now.

I know how you feel, people just don't want to get involved and the stores over here never stock good items. I get the feeling Halloween isn't a big thing here because the U.K is so politically correct its bothered about upsetting certain religious minorities.

We never used to be this bad, we're losing our culture over here

Totally agree with you HSITUK ( love the name LOL )
I was in Tesco early October, asked one of the sales guys where is the halloween stuff ( sainsbury had their meager offerings out already) and he looked at me like i was an idiot! He had the cheek to say "Well it IS a bit early for Halloween Madam!" is it? is it really? Cos we were standing right in front of the christmas puddings display which I pointed out to him quite happily.

Sick of the PC brigade stomping on everything. grrrrrrrrrr

I have had this conversation with a few friends on the Purchasing side for various retailers and what the common response has been that they make their orders with vendors 8-10 months out and all signs back then said that the economy was still going to be in the tank until early December. The strategy was to make up for lost sales in late 3rd and early 4th quarter by appropriating funds on Christmas related goods.

While I think it stinks to not have product available for me now, it was an overall smart financial decision. Christmas fans will at least be happy.

As far as us Halloween nuts...If everyone is as vocal as I have been to the management of our favorite outlets, the chatter will be passed upward to have enough stock for next year.

On the bright side, the lack of available items on the shelves forced a lot of us to look at our inner creative minds. I know I built way more things this year than I have all years previous combined and I think I like what I made better. At least I don't have to worry about seeing the same set up as mine on my street.

I too second your thoughts HSITUK. It's a total nightmare - everything is just too PC over here! Arg.

Gone are the days of just having fun because it's fun!

Drayvan, I know what you're feeling...I'm in South Florida and when I went to our local Target (which was pretty decent last year), all I left with was a werewolf gargoyle for my cemetary. There was NOTHING! I've found more things online this year and just revamped some existing props I had.

HSITUK, poor you! I can't believe the country that gave us the SEX PISTOLS (for God's sake!) has become p.c.! Everyone takes the fun out of everything so as not to "offend". Over here, Halloween has started to be referred to as "Harvest Fest". What exactly do we "harvest" in South Florida? I could tell you, but then the Feds would want to know where I got that information....

I've noticed that in some stores, but in the nearest Target, they still have lots of nice things. They've obviously sold a lot of things, too. They are starting to condense their aisles because they've sold so much. The Target nearest to me has 7 or 8 aisles plus an open area (about three aisles wide) with Halloween decor, treats, and costumes. There is one aisle that already has Christmas decos plus the back wall, but that's it. I'm sure next week there will be another aisle full of Christmas since one of the Halloween aisles was almost empty.

The only thing I don't like about our Target is that they wait so late because most of the schools in that area don't start until after Labor Day, so they wait until then to take the Back to School stuff down.

Johan took the words right out of my fingers.
First, I must qualify that I am spoiled. Living in LA I have access to year around halloween stores and being close to a major port means I also have access to very cheap textiles and materials. I really do not have it that bad.

That being said, this retail slump reminds me of when I was growing up.. the only Halloween related products you would see in a large retailer would be makeup and some cheap masks. Costumes all came out of patterns from McCalls or stuff we threw together ourselves from what we could find. Store bought decorations were all paper, everything else was re-purposed from something else.

It's an adjustment but I think overall it will make the haunt community stronger and better equipped with new skills and fresh ideas.

I can not wait to see what new things everyone comes up with!!

p.s.
HSITUK, Lilbugwitch, wildcat123 and anyone else stuck in areas low in spirit or places where is just has not caught on yet.
You are pioneers.. It is harder, more expensive and you have less local support, but the rewards are far greater. Years from now when I am visiting some place far from home and I see a Halloween display where I would not expect it, I know it is because of people like you. Cheers!

Johan took the words right out of my fingers.
First, I must qualify that I am spoiled. Living in LA I have access to year around halloween stores and being close to a major port means I also have access to very cheap textiles and materials. I really do not have it that bad.

That being said, this retail slump reminds me of when I was growing up.. the only Halloween related products you would see in a large retailer would be makeup and some cheap masks. Costumes all came out of patterns from McCalls or stuff we threw together ourselves from what we could find. Store bought decorations were all paper, everything else was re-purposed from something else.

It's an adjustment but I think overall it will make the haunt community stronger and better equipped with new skills and fresh ideas.

I can not wait to see what new things everyone comes up with!!

p.s.
HSITUK, Lilbugwitch, wildcat123 and anyone else stuck in areas low in spirit or places where is just has not caught on yet.
You are pioneers.. It is harder, more expensive and you have less local support, but the rewards are far greater. Years from now when I am visiting some place far from home and I see a Halloween display where I would not expect it, I know it is because of people like you. Cheers!

While living just south of you in the OC, I have struggled to make it to all of the stores open year round. I might need to make a concerted effort next year.