Tips for Today: Halloween
Did you know that Trick-or-Treating evolved from the ancient Celtic tradition of putting out treats and food to placate roaming spirits? We didn’t either!
Halloween is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows (or All Saints). Today, Halloween is a more secular, community-based event, and activities include: dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins into jack-o’lanterns.
Aside from handing out candy to your customers (and/or friendly ghosts), there are lots of other fun ways to celebrate Halloween at your small business. It’s a great excuse to have fun with your customers and drive traffic into your location!
Restaurant/Bar
- Host a costume contest at your restaurant or bar, and cater it to your customer base. Have different categories (Best Kid Costume, Scariest Costume, Funniest Costume, Best Pet Costume, etc.) so that there are a variety of winners and prizes.
- Hand out Halloween candy to your customers at check-out.
- Treat parents (and kids) by giving kids in costume a free lunch or dinner on Halloween when they dine in!
- Create a specialty Halloween cocktail at your bar.
- Have special / spooky treats ready for purchase at your bakery!
- Host a customer pumpkin carving contest and let customers vote on which they like best – the winner gets a gift certificate to your business.
- Host a fundraiser – offer specially priced menu items to customers dressed in costume and donate the proceeds to your charity partner.
Retail
- Host a costume contest at your retail store, and cater it to your customer base. Have different categories (Best Kid Costume, Scariest Costume, Funniest Costume, Best Pet Costume, etc.) so that there are a variety of winners and prizes.
- Hand out Halloween candy to your customers at check-out.
- Host a raffle drawing online – ask customers to post pictures of them in their Halloween costume on your Facebook page, and draw random participants to win gift cards!
- Give a surprise gift to anyone who comes in wearing a costume!
- Host a pet costume contest, and donate proceeds or customer donations to a local Humane Society or other animal welfare organization.
Services
- Hand out Halloween candy to your customers at check-out.
- Dress up on Halloween, and encourage your employees to do the same.
- Host a raffle drawing online – ask customers to post pictures of them in their Halloween costume on your Facebook page, and draw random participants to win gift cards!
- Give a surprise gift or discount to anyone who comes in wearing a costume!
- Offer special pricing on Halloween-themed manicures and pedicures at your salon or spa.
How will you be celebrating Halloween with your customers? For more marketing holidays (and how to celebrate them) check out our Marketing Holiday Calendar!
