After the Halloween season ends, some Spirit Halloween stores will be converted into Spirit Christmas stores, with a total of 10 locations opening in the US Northeast. These stores will offer a variety of winter holiday-themed items, including gifts, decorations, and inflatables. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to take a picture with Santa and explore a “life-sized” gingerbread village. The goal of these stores is to create a festive retail experience that captures the spirit of the season, similar to what Spirit Halloween does for Halloween.
The Spirit Christmas stores will be a mix of converted Spirit Halloween locations and new stores. The flagship store in May’s Landing, New Jersey will be the first to open on October 18, with the rest opening a few weeks later. This year, Spirit Halloween opened a record 1,525 stores in the United States and Canada, typically opening up to eight weeks before Halloween and closing shortly after. The chain is owned by Spencer Gifts, a mall stalwart, and does not release sales figures.
The Halloween season is a big business in the US, with $11.6 billion forecasted to be spent on costumes, decorations, and other items this year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). However, the winter holidays are an even bigger business for Spirit Halloween to tap into, with spending across the country growing nearly 4% to a record $964 billion last year, according to the NRF. By opening Spirit Christmas stores, the chain hopes to take advantage of the holiday season and continue to provide a festive retail experience for customers.
With the success of their Halloween stores, Spirit Halloween is expanding into the winter holiday market to capitalize on the growing spending during this time of year. By offering a festive retail experience that captures the spirit of the season, the chain hopes to attract customers looking for holiday-themed items and decor. The conversion of some stores from Halloween to Christmas locations shows the flexibility and adaptability of the company in responding to consumer demand during different seasons.
The decision to open Spirit Christmas stores reflects the company’s understanding of consumer behavior and spending patterns during the holiday season. By providing a unique shopping experience that includes seasonal decorations, gifts, and interactions with Santa, the chain aims to appeal to shoppers looking for festive ways to celebrate the holidays. With the growth of spending during the winter holidays, Spirit Halloween sees an opportunity to tap into this market and expand their presence beyond just the Halloween season.
Overall, the opening of Spirit Christmas stores represents a strategic move by the chain to diversify their offerings and take advantage of the lucrative holiday shopping season. By leveraging the success of their Halloween stores and converting some locations, Spirit Halloween is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the holiday market and continue to provide a fun and festive shopping experience for customers. As they continue to grow and adapt to changing consumer preferences, Spirit Halloween shows a commitment to meeting the needs of shoppers year-round.
