As they scoped out dress-up possibilities at A&H Costume Rentals & Sales in Riverside, Calif., Derek and Madonna Martin said they've been doing more comparison shopping this year than in past seasons before plunking down cash for costumes and other Halloween goods.
For instance, they were able to find a Mickey Mouse costume for their 2-year-old son Elias in excellent condition at a garage sale for $3. "We looked around, and that would have cost closer to $50 at the Disney Store," Madonna Martin said.
They're not the only parents keeping tight family budgets in mind this Halloween season. The National Retail Federation projects that spending on the holiday will reach $4.75 billion by Oct. 31, but the average buyer will be spending about 15 percent less than last year -- just over $56.
Experts say cutbacks will include buying less candy and recycling last season's costumes and decorations.
Here's how consumers are cutting back, according to a federation survey:
-- 46.5 percent buying less candy
-- 35.4 percent using last year's decorations
-- 16.8 percent making costumes instead of buying
-- 15.8 percent reusing last year's costumes
-- 26.4 percent attending fewer activities
"The economy has caught up to Halloween this year," said Tracy Mullin, president and CEO of the federation. "Since retailers know that Americans will be looking to celebrate on a budget, there's no doubt we will see creative costume and decorating ideas in every price point imaginable."
Locally owned costume stores, some of which have been in business for decades, find themselves competing not only with big-box retailers but also a rising number of temporary seasonal stores that crop up in vacated retail spaces.
Price is still a big factor, A&H manager Debbie Nichols said. One sign of current economic times is that the store's discount bin -- featuring an array of closeout masks and costume accessories for $5 -- needs constant restocking.
At Party Plus, a Redlands, Calif., store operating for the past 27 years, manager Jenner Goolsby said the fact that Halloween falls on a Saturday this year bodes well for sales, even if the usual group of procrastinators holds off until late next week.
"I think we'll really be busier than last year," Goolsby said, adding she has not yet seen signs the economy is discouraging celebrants.
"I think a lot of people say, 'Hey, it's the one time of the year when I go out and get a costume, so let's splurge a little,' " she said.
Goolsby said popular costumes this year include Michael Jackson, princesses, pirates, witches and "Halo" video-game characters.
She said the store since Oct. 1 has seen brisk business sales of costumes as well as custom-printed Halloween banners for family and office parties.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif.
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