The Retail Lore Surrounding Halloween
In a season filled with stories and legends, let’s take a look at a few retail Halloween myths.
It’s October 1. Not only is it officially pumpkin season, it’s the start of Halloween Month!
Longtime readers of the SSCS Blog know that Halloween is a favorite of ours, back to its immediate Celtic predecessor, Samhain, which may be even spookier given far how back in the reaches of history it goes. There are many myths surrounding that ancient festival, but one of the most enduring is the epic battle between Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and Aileen, the fire-breathing underworld dweller he eventually defeated.
Legend also says that Fionn built a stone bridge from Ireland to Scotland. It’s called Giant’s Causeway and its alleged ruins are in Northern Ireland. The SSCS Blog has seen them first-hand. They are pretty impressive:
The story of Fionn mac Cumhaill is just one of many tales that make the Halloween season fun and interesting, though there is another entire class of Halloween lore that often gets overlooked among the ghosts and jack o’lanterns. They’re Halloween retail myths. Let’s take a look at a few:
Myth: The Hype about Halloween Sales Lacks Substance
Let’s start with the most basic retail myth of all—Halloween sales don’t move the needle. This is more or less a busted myth, but in the earlier part of the 21st Century there was at least an underestimation of its potential.
That attitude didn’t last long. Halloween-related sales more than doubled in c-stores from 2000 to 2024, with candy sales alone increasing by 75 percent[1]. Seasonal hot drinks, limited edition merchandise, seasonal promotions, Halloween décor—these were all starting to show up in national statistics as the decade progressed.
Myth: Halloween Sales Come and Go Before You Know It
One of the reasons Halloween holds more potential than before is the lengthening of the season, and on top of it, the script has kind of flipped on peak Halloween purchase patterns. Instead of waiting for the last few days of October to buy, nearly 49 percent of people begin shopping for Halloween in September and even before[2].
Myth: Halloween Sales Are Just for Kids.
Well, that may have been true 50 years ago, but adults have more than risen to the occasion in the ensuing years. Here’s one clue: the average adult in a household spends $120 on a costume, while a child in the same household under eighteen spends $80[3]. And that’s not counting the $700 million in sales spent last year on pet costumes.[4]
The retail story is the real tale, however, as the following table compiled of information from Convenience Store News and Gitnux.org leaves little doubt that Halloween isn’t just for kids anymore:
Myth: C-Store Profitability is Haunted by Seasonal Inventory Changes
It may seem like the deft, agile approach needed to maximize seasonal profit from Halloween might be a challenge for an operator focused on inventory management. Without a computerized back office it would be, given the changes, performance indicators, and anything else needed to make good decisions about what you’re selling in September and October.
In addition to its comprehensive approach to line item inventory, SSCS’s Computerized Daily Book back office software provides a level of control that reduces waste, prevents stockouts, and ensures the right product is there for the consumer who wants it. Keep operations smooth and customer satisfaction high. Give us a call at (800) 972-7727 and we’ll explain how you can get past the specter of poor inventory control.
[1] Convenience Store News, “Halloween Expected to Break Seasonal Records,” Danielle Romano, September 24, 2025
[2] “Halloween Expected to Break Seasonal Records”
[3] Gitnux.org, “Halloween Candy Sales Statistics,” Jannik Kinder, April 29, 2025
[4] Affirma Distributors, “Halloween Spending Trends: A Look at 2023 and Insights for 2024,”
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