Happy Dia de los Muertos

Happy Dia de los Muertos to you all!  As the veil grows thin between the Spirit World and ours...it's the perfect time to commune with your ancestors.  Light some candles, get out your skulls and adorn the place with bright colored marigolds.  Serve up some of your late Grandpa's favorite foods and take turns remembering the things you loved most about the dearly deceased.  Celebrate Life and Death during this festive celebration. 

2014 Halloween Industry Forcast & Trends

So I stumbled upon this Halloween Industry Magazine on-line that talks all about everything Halloween related for the upcoming 2014 season.  It touches on all the latest trends to look forward to in everything from costumes, make-up and accessories, to party decorations and outside yard haunt decor.  There is a palpable excitement brewing for the upcoming Halloween season this year due to the fact that Halloween will finally be falling on a Friday again for the first time in awhile.  A Friday Halloween equates into ever-more Halloween sales of all kinds because kids and adults alike will be able to extend their partying through the weekend....no school the next day for all the little ghouls and goblins coming down from their candy binges, and no work for the adults hungover from their creepy cocktails.  For that matter, a true Halloween Head could theoretically host an All Hallow's Eve Soiree on Friday night, followed up by a Dia de los Muertos Fiesta on Saturday or Sunday!

2014 Halloween Trends via 'Selling Halloween'

Black and White All Hallow's Eve Party

Dia de los Muertos Increasing in Popularity

So just what do the experts predict will be popular this year?  In costumes it seems that DIY (do it yourself) costumes have grown in popularity, probably thanks to sites like Pinterest and Etsy.  So with that, comes a desire for accessories to add to and complete a one of a kind  ensemble, rather than a ready made store bought costume that can only be worn once.  Accessories can be mixed and matched for use with other costumes and even regular outfits, as well as being used again at Renn Faires and theme parties, and for Cosplay and Larping. Licensed characters are always popular, but research has shown that buyers want more quality in their costume pieces and are also prone to mix and match styles and themes like "mixing a fantasy anime wig with vampire fangs and 60's fishnet stockings to make a unique costume."  And..........love em' or hate em', pet costumes are big, with 14% of 2013 celebrants dressing up their pets last year to the tune of $330 million dollars!!!  Wow...who would have guessed that?

Buyers Looking for Quality and Reusable Accessories

Halloween Costumes for Pets is Big Business for Retailers

This coming Fall, many indoor Halloween Parties will be hosted in the 2 weeks leading up to Halloween....so what themes are retailers looking to stock for 2014?  Well as to be expected, the tried and true colors of Orange and Black, along with Purple and Lime, are always the most popular colors.  And as for 'Icons', apparently Cats came in on top in one analysis, followed closely by Bats, Pumpkins and Owls.  Vintage Halloween is always a favorite decorating style and for good reason I'd say.  And although Ghosts and Pumpkins are also perennial faves, the industry experts have seen an uptick in Skulls and Skeleton imagery on the rise.  However, there was also an alternate opinion...that many people dislike frightening imagery, so the retailer in that market was opting for a softer look in their party goods.  What about you all....are you hard core or soft core Halloween Heads?

Orange & Black Most Popular Color Scheme

Black Cats #1 Halloween Icon

Vintage Halloween Always Popular

Uptick in Demand for Skeletons & Skulls

Another hot trend, that I personally LOVE, is the Day of the Dead decor!  However according to industry experts, it tends to be more of a 'regional' trend with those on the West Coast and East Coast digging it more than those in the MidWest.  And apparently those of us who like it, also enjoy it as a year round aesthetic...thus making it a good seller in those areas all through the year. (I can personally attest to leaving some of my Sugar Skull stuff out year round in moderation.)  They also report that the Goth theme of Black and White is popular in costumes, thereby influencing its popularity in the party good sector as party-goes want to match the theme of their shin-digs.  They identified Zombies as a growing trend, with Witches, Tombstones, and Spiders good sellers as well. And lastly, anything 'Glittered" also sells well, much to the dismay and horror of the true die hard Halloween aficionados.

Day of the Dead Celebrations Going Mainstream

Black and White Goth Costumes on Trend

Witch Costumes Always Good Sellers

Zombies a Growing Trend

Breakdown of Top 10 Costumes for Adults and Kids

So there you have it....a synopsis of some of the tantalizing tricks and treats headed our way this Halloween Season.  So the big question is....what are YOU gonna be for Halloween this year?  Will you follow the trends or start a new fad?!  If you'd like to read more Halloween Industry Trend news, check out this link to Selling Halloween!
(All Images from Pinterest and Selling Halloween)

Halloweeny Things at the Pottery Barn

It's Friday, and the weekend is here...hooray!  However, we will be working most of the weekend on house renovations and getting ready to put in new carpeting next week.  Lots to do!  While looking online for any new Halloween merchandise this morning, I did find a few things that I really liked from Pottery Barn, and thought I'd share some images.  I believe it's just a preview, and the items are not actually available yet, however, I created a shopping cart and added two things to it...and it appeared that it may actually let me purchase.  Of course, I didn't click on, to actually place an order, so perhaps I'd get a "not yet available" notice if I continued, not sure.  

I really like these string lights.  I especially love the Skellington-esque Jacks, because they are different from the standard Jack O'Lantern grin.  But at almost $40, the price does seem a bit steep for an 8ft. 10 count light strand.  Also, there were the cute Witch Hats, But I do already have a Witch Hat light set, so I supposed I can live without them.  But those Jacks are really calling me!

Jack O'Lantern Lights

 

Witch Hat Lights

And these small serving plates are fantastic too.  

I am especially digging these Halloween Plates... 

"Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble"!

 

Witch's Spells Plates

 Day of the Dead Plates

Okay...well if anyone is actually out there and reading this....

I hope you have a stellar weekend!  :o)

All Images © Pottery Barn

Pier 1 Fall / Halloween Preview

Looking online this morning I realized that Pier 1 has their upcoming Fall/Halloween merchandise up now, although it will not be available for ordering until July 21st.  Not sure if it's out in the stores yet or not, though I doubt it is out quite yet.  Anyway, here are just a few of the items I liked.  Generally, Pier 1 has too much glitter and frou frou for my taste, but there were a few cute things. 

I love Designated Halloween Pillows....in fact, I may have a slight hoarding issue when it comes to them because they used to be few and far between.  But the last few years, they have become ever more popular.

 

And since I am also partial to Witches, I like this candle a lot!

  And of course I also have a thing for Owls, so I couldn't resist these either!You can visit the Pier1 Fall Halloween Preview on-line now 

to check out all their upcoming seasonal offerings!

 

All images © Pier1.com