Dollar store aficionados and budget-conscious buyers are becoming more commonplace amidst these strained financial times, as consumers are getting wise to the ways of bargain hunting. There’s no longer any shame in the game of locating the wholesale steals and deals, and it’s especially true for those times when customers want to go all-out this Halloween, and have a good time without crashing their budgets. This may be the season for tricks and treats, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to watch hard-earned dollars disappear right in front of them… like a ghost.

It’s called a zentai suit, and this one is

an example of the crazy concoctions you’ll

find coming out of China these days.

(photo milanoo.com)

Finding the stores that carry wholesale-priced and discounted Halloween goods this year shouldn’t be too hard, since everyone is trying to save a few bucks here and there… without putting an end to the good times entirely. Here’s another handy Top Ten List of things to consider when promoting your ‘Halloween shopping list’ to customers this year:

• Halloween is second only to Christmas, in terms of holiday spending and planning. Besides Thanksgiving, this is the party event of 2009, and you had better be ready! Budgeting is crucial for the consumer, as it will save headaches and woes when they’re enjoying the holidays… instead of scrambling last-minute for items that could easily have been prepared in advance. You should prepare in advance too, by offering the best and hottest items earlier! Here’s a few must-see sites you have to check out for all of your discounted and holiday shopping needs: www.funexpress.com, www.dollardays.com, www.joissu.com, www.koleimports.com and find many other sites at TopTenWholesale.com…   

• It’s usually a good idea to recommend a theme for a party. This will keep party planning more focused, and allow planners to be a little more organized when they’re making purchases. Retailers, wholesalers, and online holiday merchants should offer helpful categories to streamline their shopping tasks. Your customers say they don’t like following the crowd, and prefer to stay away from anything that seems too pre-canned? Tell them to combine seemingly incompatible themes for a really fresh approach… and a lot of fun.

• Look out for those seasonal Halloween shops… because they will be opening somewhere near you… and then they’ll be gone as quickly as they showed up. These will be one of the havens for bargain-hunters, since most of the gear they carry will be marked to sell, and offered at closeout prices. Knowledge is power, and you should be looking for the early-warning signs of competitors who make their move on your territory. On the other hand, you could give it a try yourself!

• Stock up on multipurpose party supplies. Who says your customers can’t get a big supply of paper plates and disposable dinner ware, if it could be used for Christmas, New Year’s, or even next summer’s BBQ? This goes for pretty much all sorts of non-perishable items that can be stowed away until the next party is held. Tell them to buy big, and save big by getting the volume discount.

• Many will be making their own costumes and accessories. Do you know how to sew? Are you handy with arts and crafts? Pass the info along! There are many dollar store goodies and discounted items that need only a little tweaking to make them unique for the discriminating holiday shopper. Simple tools like hot-melt guns, glue sticks, glitter, buttons, beads, and sequins can come in really handy for your eager customers right now, and imagine how much fun the kids will have making their own costumes… especially in your store, or by following your online advice in a how-to series that keeps ‘em glued to your site.

• Alternatives to costly, sugary candies… are not only in fashion this year, but they’re a lot healthier, too. Nuts, trail mix, and assorted seeds can be turned into tasty and wholesome snacks for the Halloween shopper’s party guests. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little with the wholesale candies, and maybe come up with your own recipe suggestions for gooey, fun-filled desserts that have everybody asking where did you get that?

• Zentai suits could be the answer this year! Okay, maybe they’re not for everybody… but with an average retail price of USD30, they sure do look attractive to the budget-conscious buyer. Imagine a party where everyone has to show up wearing their own brightly-colored full-body spandex suit, maybe with regular street clothes over it? Sounds like fun to me… and it could sound like fun to your customers!

• Unique gifts for your party guests? Okay, I live in China… so you could say I’m in the belly of the beast when it comes to seeing some truly strange trinkets for the export market. Why not look around the Internet and scare up a few of these goodies for yourself? Remind your customers that it’s the thought that counts, and party guests will be appreciative of the fact that they thought of making them some crazy little favors and treats to take home with them when the night is over! These little trinkets can be positioned as impulse-buy items, or even as free gifts for placing orders that meet a certain size.

• Sex sells… and it won’t cost your customers much, either! Adult-themed Halloween parties are an American tradition, pure and simple. It’s the one night of the year to be naughty, and they might as well do it right. Have you looked at all of the wholesale adult novelties and gifts out there? Don’t be shy… it’s a huge industry, and last year it’s estimated to have netted around USD1 billion. Shouldn’t part of that number belong to you?

• Inflatable means… bigger, better… cheaper! Size really does matter, and sometimes it pays to offer shoppers big, colorful, inflatable toys to take up some space in their parties/costumes and add to the good times… as guests play with giant-sized microphones, kungfu-inspired weapons, and other wild super-sized versions of everyday objects. Beats a few simple balloons, right? Actually, you might as well stock a few varieties of balloons while you’re at it!

The verdict: Halloween is not so scary after all. If you plan accordingly and make the necessary preparations, you will be the one howling at the moon over the great holiday sales you’ve made… while those who wait until the witching hour will be frantically making the rounds looking for leftovers. That’s something to be scared of!