According to the National Retail Federation, 2017 saw $9.1 billion in Halloween spending—a number that was predicted to drop slightly (to $9 billion) in 2018. These numbers are good news for Halloween stores, but what about retailers that aren’t selling Halloween-specific wares?

As an apparel retailer, you’re better situated than you might imagine to capitalize on spending for this spooky holiday. You just have to get creative with your displays in order to entice shoppers. Here are a few tips to re-purpose mannequins, clothing racks, and more.

Create Costumes from Your Inventory

The whole point of mannequins is to show consumers what is possible. By creating complete ensembles, you take the guesswork out of styling, making the shopping experience more convenient and potentially increasing sales. A shopper who comes in for a pair of pants might also want the shirt, the blazer, and the accessories featured on the mannequin.

For Halloween promotions, consider following in the footsteps of stores like American Apparel, which drew from its inventory to create costumed mannequins resembling superheroes. You could also use masks over mannequin heads. A simple suit could become the classic Frankenstein monster with the right mask, or you could use a black dress, leggings, boots, and accessories to make a witch outfit.

You could also use mannequins for fun window displays, perhaps recreating famous scenes from horror movies. Just imagine Freddy Krueger’s iconic striped shirt and fedora from A Nightmare on Elm Street. The point is not to bill yourself as a Halloween emporium, but find creative ways to skew your displays toward a holiday theme.

Spice Up Clothing Racks

Clothing racks can also help to support your Halloween theme when you deck them out with props and lighting. Whether you’re going for pure camp, you prefer the sophistication of a gothic theme, or you lean slightly more macabre, you can use all kinds of Halloween elements and decorations to create the right mood in your store.

Don’t Forget Online Crossover

To make the most of your in-store displays, you need to carry your Halloween campaign into the online arena. Of course, overhauling your entire website is probably too expensive for this relatively minor holiday. What you can do is add elements like coupon pop-ups with a Halloween theme, perhaps displaying images of your in-store displays.

You can also take to social media to post pics, videos, Instagram stories, and more. You could even challenge followers to create their own costumes using your apparel and post pics with a creative hashtag. Designing your own themed displays is a great way to get people in the door, but encouraging patrons to participate in the fun will help to build long-term relationships with clientele.

If you are interested in purchasing Retail Store displays and accessories for your retail store, shop our website, Specialty Store Services.  We have everything you need to be a profitable retailer.  If you have a question that you would like answered immediately, you can Live Chat, or phone us at 800-999-0771.