What Are Your Customers Spending This Halloween?

According to the National Retail Federation a record 170 million people plan to celebrate Halloween this year, according to NRF’s 2013 Halloween consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight.

Seven in 10 Americans (71.5%) will get into the haunting Halloween mood, up from 68.6 percent last year and the most in NRF’s 10-year survey history. Consumers are expecting to spend more too; the average person will spend $79.82 on decorations, costumes and candy, up from $72.31 last year, with total Halloween spending expected to reach $8.0 billion.

“By the time Halloween rolls around each year it’s safe to say Americans have already spent two months preparing for one of the fastest-growing and most widely-loved holidays of the year,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Retailers know that when it comes to Halloween, new costume ideas for children, adults and pets, and the latest in home and yard décor top people’s shopping lists. We expect retailers to stock their shelves well ahead of time to capture the attention of eager holiday shoppers.”

When it comes to looking for Halloween costume ideas, consumers say their biggest source of inspiration is what they see in a retail store or costume shop. More than one-third (35.7 percent) will look for new ideas in a store and nearly one-quarter (23.7%) will turn to their friends and family.

Nearly half (49.5%) said they would decorate their home or yard. In fact, spending on Halloween decor ($19.79 per person) was second only to that spent for Christmas. Almost as many (47.8%) said they would carve a pumpkin. Nearly a third (32.9%) planned to take their children out trick-or-treating.

Social media will also play a role in choosing costumes: 15.2 percent will check out Facebook for inspiration and 7.1 percent will scour the visually-appealing Pinterest. Online searches will also be popular with celebrants: 33.3 percent say they will get their inspiration online. Of those buying or making costumes, the average person will spend $28.65 on costumes this year, up slightly from $26.52.

In 2012, 15% put a costume on their pet. This was more than the 14.7% who did the year before, spending $310 million in the process. The most popular pet costume was a pumpkin (12.7%), devil (6.9%) or hot dog (5.7%). Oddly enough, some pet owners wanted to confuse their animal by dressing their dog up like a cat (3.7%) or their cat like a dog (3.3%).

What are your business’ plans for turning this Halloween customer sales “wants” into sales for your business?

Are you decorating for Halloween?  Do you have themed sales, coupons or promotional items ready for Halloween?

You can work with MI Printing to design your business printing needs.  We look forward to helping with your business growth.  Give us a call at 623.582.1302 and let’s talk.

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MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com and miprintingpromotions.com

Girl Talk From Your Business?

Like nervous teenage boys at their first junior high dance, many marketers are struggling to figure out how to talk to their female audience, who comprise 51% of the U.S. population. True, not all people struggle when it comes to marketing to the fairer gender.  But, many do!

Those that are used to going after the female checkbook and credit cards, like clothing, make-up and groceries have mastered, or at least very good at reaching the feminine market.

Is your business truly reaching both sides of the gender market? Do you do better by means of communications with men better than women.

Some companies are making strides. Instead of merely putting men's products in pretty pink packages with frilly bows, marketers have begun to create products with real points of difference or are adapting existing products to benefit women.

Looking back in 1996 no products specifically aimed at women were launched, compared with 32 specific products in 2000, 40 in 2001 and 42 during 2010, according to Mintel International Group, a new-product tracking company.

Recent female-specific product launches include PepsiCo's Aquafina Essentials, a slightly sweetened, fruit-flavored bottled water spiked with minerals and vitamins; PepsiCo's Quaker Foods & Beverages' Nutrition for Women cereal line, with ingredients such as calcium, soy and folic acid; and Brown Forman Corp.'s Southern Twist, a sweet, fruity derivation of Southern Comfort designed for the female palate. Procter & Gamble Co. is in the process of launching Crest Rejuvenating Effects, a toothpaste line featuring flavoring and packaging to appeal to the softer sex, and shepherded by a trio of marketing managers internally dubbed "Chicks in Charge."

Female-specific marketing does not make sense for every category. Beer is one. 

Brewers have done little to cultivate women, largely because men down exponentially more of their products than do women. Even light beer, the largest segment of the market, primarily is consumed by men. 

In the beer business, said Randy Stone, CEO of consultant Marketing Management Analytics, marketing to women "ain't ever gonna be the path to glory."

Are the experts always right? Some brew-pubs have had excellent results with specific girls night outs on their slower nights.

What is your business doing to reach your female market?

Do you need help with your next business printing job?  Call MI Printing at 623.582.1302 and let us be your local business printing resource.

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MI Printing 
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com

Free Business Cards

That right! 1000 free business cards with the purchase of 1000 letterheads and envelopes.

To receive discount please mention this ad. Offer expires October 15, 2013.

Letterheads are standards for businesses and companies. Letterhead printing is crucial because it contributes to the image of professionalism and reliability that a company projects. The image of a company can be picked up from the documents that they produce and use in communications with the public.

The letterhead therefore speaks of a company's formality and credibility. Letterheads in fact, have the power to affect a response from the recipients whether its favorable or not. Depending on the look, appearance and quality, your letterhead can greatly influence the way your recipients think about you and your company's message.

Contact Matt or Paula at MI Printing for help with your professional quality letterhead. 623-582-1302

Presented By
MI Printing
Phone: 623.582.1302
Email: sales@printinginaz.com
http://printinginaz.com