5 Spooktacular Halloween Marketing Ideas  

Halloween is right around the corner, and so are your festive marketing campaigns.  

The spooky season kicks off a flurry of holiday shopping.  

In 2024, Americans planned to spend a total of 11.5 billion U.S. dollars on costumes, decorations, and candies.  

So, where are people shopping for Halloween this year, what are the top selling Halloween items, and what are some spooktacular marketing ideas to help you reach them? Keep on reading to find out.  

Where do people shop on Halloween? 

The Halloween shopping experience is a mix of old and new habits. Many shoppers (68%) still enjoy the thrill of shopping in-store for spooky gear.  

But the convenience of shopping online is also very much appreciated, with 31% of Halloween shoppers ordering online and picking up in-store, and 65% of online shoppers getting items shipped to their homes.  

What are Halloween shoppers buying in 2025? 

In addition to candy and fall home decor, this years top selling Halloween items are influenced by a blend of pop culture, personal expression, and a growing consciousness about the environment.  

Pop culture is a major influence, with costumes inspired by recent hits like Barbie, Spider-Man, and M3GAN, as well as timeless horror characters like Grim Reapers and vampires, dominating the costume scene.  

Beyond outfits, themed decorations, from Barbie-inspired pink hues to large-scale garden props, are in high demand for both indoor and outdoor spaces. 

 Shoppers are looking for ways to personalize their celebrations, which is boosting the popularity of customizable items like neon signs, DIY crafts, and specialty apparel such as scented fall-themed wax melts.  

A new, significant Halloween shopping trend is the consumer shift towards sustainability. More people seek out reusable party supplies and sustainable products to make their Halloween celebrations more eco-friendly. 

5 Spooktacular Halloween Marketing Ideas 

Check out these 13 spooktacular Halloween marketing ideas to attract customers to your store and website. 

1. Start Planning Early 

If you think October is the time to kick off your Halloween marketing… you might already be late to the (costume) party. 

According to the National Retail Federation, 47% of Halloween shoppers start buying before October. Some even start as early as July, thanks to the rise of “Summerween”—a trend where Halloween lovers begin decorating and costume-hunting while it’s still beach season. 

Why the rush? It’s not just about avoiding last-minute stress (though 38% of early shoppers say that’s a big reason). It’s also about excitement, inspiration from social media, and FOMO. 

This means your spooky strategy needs to be ready well before the leaves start changing- because the early bat gets the candy. 

2. Treat Customers to Halloween Offers 

You don’t need to be a retailer with Halloween merch to capitalize on what the spooky season has to offer.  

Capture your customers’ attention by sending them a Halloween-themed email or postcard with a small treat (like a discount or freebie).  

A couple of years ago when I had just moved into my new neighborhood, a local salon sent me a personalized postcard saying “Welcome to the neighborhood! Enjoy 15% off your first visit—no tricks, just treats!”  

This kind of timely, personalized outreach creates a lasting impression and keeps you top-of-mind for future holiday purchases.  

3. Festive Creative in Social Ads or Retargeting Campaigns 

Give your social ads and retargeting campaigns a Halloween makeover. 

Swap out your typical visuals for something festive—think pumpkins, ghosts, cobwebs, or even animated skeletons. If spooky isn’t your thing, plaids and colorful leaves are a more traditional alternative. 

A local coffee shop could run a retargeting ad featuring a steaming Witch’s Brew Latte with the caption: “Back for a limited time—don’t ghost us!” This is a spooky-cute way to attract customers back into the shop for something holiday-related and limited-edition. 

Seasonal creative shows customers that your brand has personality, depth, and uniqueness.  

4. Run Social Media Contests to Help Your Community Celebrate 

Halloween has always been about costumes and creativity, so why not tap into that with a fun social contest?  

81% of consumers are swayed to make spontaneous purchases due to social media content- making it a key player in your #spookyszn strategy. 

Social media giveaways boost engagement and help to spread your brand and business organically. 

Invite your followers to share photos of: 

• The best decorated porch in the neighborhood 

• Their pets in costume 

• A DIY Halloween treat or craft 

• Something related to your brand and the holiday 

You can offer a gift card, free service, or exclusive merch to the winner. 

My friend sends her pup to doggy daycare, and every year they host a costume contest via social media. They share all of the dogs that come in costumes for the week of Halloween, and followers can vote on the best costume. The winner gets a pup-related prize, and a year of bragging rights (of course). 

5. Interactive Halloween Experiences 

62% of families plan to participate in interactive Halloween activities this year. 

This is a golden opportunity to create holiday-themed experiences for your customers. 

Some interactive Halloween experiences you can create include: 

• Host a Halloween workshop or pop-up: think of pumpkin painting, spooky cookie decorating, a mini pumpkin patch, or a DIY costume station to create memorable brand moments. 

• Partner with other local businesses: sponsor a Halloween-themed activity or contest. Use the holiday to get your name out there, and in front of new potential customers. 

• Create custom Halloween activity kits: bundle some themed items into a “Haunted Home Kit” or “Trick-or-Treat Survival Pack”- perfect for retail brands. 

Last year, a local craft brewery near me hosted a Monster Mash Bash partnered up with some food trucks to host a scavenger hunt and a haunted house. They also served limited-edition fall beers. Needless to say, the event was a hit, and the neighborhood is looking forward to their next holiday event. 

Final Thoughts 

You now have five frightfully fun ways to make your Halloween marketing campaigns a success.  

Show up with personalization, creativity and a hint of seasonal magic. Start brewing up those themed emails, conjuring-up exciting contests, and charming new movers with your pumpkin-spiced promos. 

So, are you ready to lean into the spooky spirit of the season with your marketing?