Spirit Halloween is known for disappearing soon after Halloween, but this year, the retailer is planning to extend its presence in some cities by opening a new type of store focused on the upcoming holiday season.
Spirit will launch ten Spirit Christmas stores throughout the Northeast, aiming to take advantage of the popularity of holiday decorations among Americans. These locations will offer a variety of decorations, inflatable items, and gifts. Additionally, shoppers can enjoy the chance to take photos with Santa in a festive gingerbread-themed area.
Some Spirit locations are transitioning to holiday mode even before Halloween ends, with the first Spirit Christmas store slated to open on October 18 in Cape May, New Jersey.
Additional locations are set to open in Waterford, Connecticut; Dartmouth, Massachusetts; Erie, Pennsylvania; Bohemia, Albany, and Poughkeepsie in New York; and Brick Township, Marlton, and Woodbridge in New Jersey.
While ten Spirit Christmas stores may seem minimal compared to the company’s extensive Halloween operations, which feature 1,525 Spirit Halloween stores across the nation and employ around 50,000 people, this could be a pilot project for a more significant expansion in the future.
This initiative aligns with consumer trends, as Halloween is a profitable holiday for retailers, with the National Retail Federation estimating that Americans will spend $11.6 billion this year on costumes and decorations. However, this figure pales in comparison to the holiday spending in December, which totaled $964 billion last year.
Although a significant portion of that spending goes toward gifts, holiday decorations also account for a considerable amount. One study revealed that the typical American who adorns their home with outdoor decorations spends an average of $384 on them, with over half of households engaging in festive decoration practices, including tree lights and other smaller adornments.