Thread: Props in stores this year: lets set our expectations

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I think it is going to be a very poor year. Looks like Michaels is going to gave little to none and I expect the same at Target, WalMart, Kmart, etc. Just a few cheap things and some decor.

I think with the economy not recovering fast enough retailers are just not willing to tast the risk with a big inventory.

Target, Walmart, and Kmart have much better offerings (online, at least) than they did last year. Not sure what Michael's is going to have - they won't put out the big stuff until about the time the aforementioned places start theirs. I feel like it's going to be a pretty decent year...at least beating last year's pathetic selection.

I hope you are right and I am wrong. Just to reiterate though, the girl at Michaels said everything they have up now is all they will have all season. Hope she was misinformed!

I never believe what the clerks tell me. I was in a store last year (think it was Homegoods) and ran across a small selection of Halloween items. Before I left I asked the clerk when they would get the rest of their Halloween stuff out and she said early October. I said, "Odd, since you've already started...." She just looked at me like I was crazy. I came back in a week later and they were fully stocked.

Well, Michaels Animatronics are coming out next week in my store, Walmart have got the shelves cleared, and I guess its for Halloween since Back to School stuff is already out. I think this year will be good!

Gosh, I really hate the idea that any store would have nothing out this year. That sucks.
Last year, my Walmart in my area sucks soo bad, I thought it was a poorly done joke. I compared it to a much bigger walmart to see what they had and couldnt believe How much they had compare to one in my hometown. Either way, I hope they have something this year.

"I gotta feeling" that this year will be GREAT in terms of selection at our favorite stores!! K-Mart and Wal-Mart surely have some good stuff on their sites already, and Michael's still is getting out more this week! Add to the mix some awesome new animatronics from Spirit, and I think this will be one of the best years for selection!

I do agree that Wal-Mart's stuff last year was TERRIBLE! They had virtually nothing. But this year is looking good!

Well I must say after spending time here chatting, discussing haunts, prop's how-too's and members haunt decor & photos... Nothing is comparable to the hand made props by the membership within the HF! Hands down, no retail prop comes close in my eyes! Round of applause to everyone's contributions and ideas! Thank you's to all!

I think it may be about the same as last year. Which was not good, but I don't think it will be any worse. The Michael's, by me, still has their back to school art supplies where they normally would put their animatronics and large lighted decorations. In the next couple of weeks, I expect they will put out the good stuff.
As far as Walmart, last year seemed to be a business plan change. Some stores had almost nothing while others were very well stocked. In my neck of the woods, it was weird: The big high traffic superstore near my house had almost nothing, but the low traffic, old school style Walmart a few miles further had a really large assortment of decorations and props. Somebody didn't earn their salary w/ that boneheaded decision.

If you are finding the selection poor at retail stores there are always online niche stores that are ready and waiting. You may pay a little more but the quality and selection are a huge difference.