Goodwill gets into the spirit of Halloween
‘Bootiques’ will offer donated costumes
Those who prefer a do-it-yourself flair for their Halloween costumes — or who like to keep things on a budget — often can be found combing thrift stores for inspiration. Where else are you going to find a cheap wedding dress for that ghostly bride getup?
Going all in on embracing the trend, Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania this year has created what it is calling “Halloween Bootiques” within most of its stores in the Pittsburgh region.
Not only have donated costumes been organized in one place, but new items like hats, wigs and other accessories have been tucked under hard-to-miss pumpkin orange signs. Pets don’t have to feel left out, either — there’s gear for fourlegged friends in stock.
The store-within-a-store concept is “the centerpiece of the largest Halloween campaign in the organization’s 99-year history,” the nonprofit said.
“You can get a costume at a bigbox store, but for something unique, you can come here,” said Andrew Marano, vice president of donated goods retail, as he showed off a Goodwill location in Cranberry, where about 115 brand-new items were featured along with donated costumes and decor. That’s in addition to the usual mix of donated items carried throughout the store.
The “bootiques” will be open in 29 stores in southwestern
Pennsylvania and six in West Virginia.
Mr. Marano said the particularly enthusiastic employees in the stores will help Halloween shoppers who may want some input on creative costuming.
Customers figured out that thrift stores were a good place to get costume pieces early on.
Halloween has been the busiest time of the year for Goodwill. Between September and October, sales spike 20 percent to 25 percent, Mr. Marano said.
Year-round, sales hit an average of $2.5 million a month in the region’s 34 stores.
But the organization is hardly alone in seeing sales surge this time of year. Witches and zombies are big business.
Last year, consumers were expected to shell out $9.1 billion for Halloween, up from $8.4 billion in 2016, according to the National Retail Federation. The Washington, D.C.-based trade group plans to release 2018 figures this week.
Spending on Halloween candy alone was expected to reach $4.1 billion last year, a 4.1 percent gain compared with 2016, according to IHS Markit.
To really get into the Halloween spirit, Goodwill has planned several events over the next several weeks.
On Sept. 29, the organization is partnering with the Humane Animal Rescue for a pet adoption event at its store in Robinson. Pets up for adoption will appear in costume.
Goodwill also plans scavenger hunts at its stores throughout October. Shoppers who find a hidden pumpkin can win 50 percent off their purchases that day.