In 2024, shoppers spent over $11.6 billion on Halloween, making it one of the most profitable seasons of the year. What’s even more exciting is how online Halloween marketing ideas have taken center stage,from spooky costumes to themed home décor, ecommerce sellers saw record engagement and cart sizes.
If you run a Shopify or online store, this is your chance to turn Halloween into a high-converting sales event. In this guide, you’ll discover practical Halloween promotion ideas across top product categories, from fashion to beauty to food, and learn how strategic bundling can help boost your average order value (AOV) while creating a fun, festive shopping experience your customers will love.
Fashion & Apparel
Electronics & Gadgets
Beauty & Personal Care
Home & Living Furniture
Groceries & Food Delivery
Health & Wellness
Books
Courses & Digital Content
Baby & Kids Products
Sports & Outdoor
Jewelry & Accessory
A Look into Halloween Consumer Behaviour
The spookiest holiday of the year comes with its own unique traits. Here are some facts you need to know before diving into your halloween promotion ideas:
- Earlier shopping than ever: Most shoppers now start browsing for Halloween items as early as mid-September, with nearly 40% completing their purchases before October 15. Early planners look for convenience and better inventory options.
- What drives decisions: Discounts remain the top motivator, but bundles and themed collections are gaining traction, especially when they make gift-giving or party prep easier. Sustainability also matters; eco-friendly costumes and reusable décor are trending in 2025.
- Online vs. offline spending: While in-store browsing is still popular for last-minute décor, online sales now account for nearly 70% of total Halloween spending, led by mobile shoppers.
- The power of early, personalized campaigns: Brands that launch themed offers early and use personalized recommendations see higher engagement and repeat purchases throughout the season.
Don’t ghost your sales!
Bundle Your Way to More Revenue!
What Do People Buy for Halloween Events and Celebrations?
Halloween shoppers love to splurge across multiple categories – from dressing up to decorating, and even upgrading their gadgets for spooky- themed content. Here’s a quick look at where the biggest Halloween purchases happen and how ecommerce sellers can tap into each:
| Category | Popular Purchases | Opportunities for Ecommerce Sellers |
|---|---|---|
| Costumes & Accessories | Family and couple costumes, pet outfits, makeup kits | Create bundle deals (e.g., “Family Costume Sets” or “Makeup + Wig Kits”) |
| Home Décor | LED pumpkins, lights, wreaths, themed tableware | Offer early-bird discounts and decor bundles for parties |
| Snacks & Treats | Candy boxes, healthy treat packs, custom gift sets | Sell mix-and-match bundles or DIY candy kits |
| Beauty & Fashion | Halloween nail art, limited-edition palettes, gothic outfits | Run limited-time collections or bundle cosmetics by theme |
| Tech & Entertainment | Projectors, smart lighting, spooky sound devices | Promote “party tech bundles” or home theater kits for events |
Halloween Marketing Ideas by Category
Halloween marketing campaigns and sales plans can vary a lot. Why? Because every person (or company) has a different idea about what’s exciting or scary. It’s a vast sea, and to not get lost, you’ll definitely need directions. Here are 50 fresh and doable fun halloween marketing journies.
1. Fashion & Apparel
- “Dress Like Your Favorite Horror Icon” Challenge: Host a social media contest where customers share Halloween looks using your fashion items.
- “Witch’s Wardrobe” Bundle: Offer themed outfit combos (cape + skirt + accessory) as limited-edition bundles for easy costume shopping.
- Behind-the-Scenes Reels: Share short videos of your Halloween collection photoshoot or styling process to build excitement and authenticity.
- “Costume or Casual?” Campaign: Create style guides showing how Halloween pieces can transition into chic everyday outfits after the season.
- Limited Drop: “Haunt Couture” Capsule: Launch exclusive Halloween products with countdown timers to create urgency and drive early sales.
2. Electronics & Gadgets
- “Turn Your Room into a Haunted House” Tutorial: Post a video showing how to use LED lights or speakers for spooky vibes.
- “Scary Good Deal” Flash Sale: Run a 24-hour Halloween discount on tech accessories or smart home gadgets.
- Tech-Themed Costume Contest: Encourage customers to create “cyborg,” “robot,” or “AI ghost” looks and tag your brand for prizes.
- “Movie Night Starter Kit” Bundle: Combine a projector, HDMI cable, and popcorn bowl with a social sharing incentive.
- Email Campaign: “Your Devices Are Getting Spooked”: Use playful subject lines, Halloween GIFs, and upgrade offers to boost engagement.
3. Beauty & Personal Care
- “Transform Your Look” Reels Series: Feature creators doing Halloween makeup transformations using your beauty or skincare products.
- “Witchy Glow Set” Bundle: Launch a themed bundle with limited-edition packaging and a free mini sample.
- Mystery Box Campaign: “Trick or Treat Your Skin”: Offer surprise skincare or makeup sets to spark curiosity and repeat buys.
- “GRWM: Halloween Edition” Influencer Collab: Partner with 2–3 beauty creators for fun, themed Get Ready With Me videos.
- UGC Hashtag: #SpookySelfCare: Encourage customers to share their Halloween-inspired pampering routines for reposts and rewards.
Pro Tip for Halloween 2025
Don’t just discount products individually. Bundle slow movers with bestsellers into Halloween Gift Sets to clear stock and lift your AOV
4. Home & Living / Furniture
- “Decorate Your Den” Contest: Invite followers to share their Halloween home setups using your décor pieces for a prize or feature.
- “Haunted Home Sale” Countdown: Run daily limited-time deals on lights, rugs, and candles leading up to Halloween.
- “Spooky Makeover Kit” Bundle: Combine a throw blanket, pillow cover, and candle into an easy themed décor package.
- Pinterest Board: “Halloween at Home”: Curate shoppable room looks with your products for seasonal inspiration.
- Email + SMS Theme: “Your Home’s Ready for a Haunt”: Send dynamic product suggestions based on past browsing or purchase behaviour.
5. Groceries & Food Delivery
- “Monster Movie Night” Campaign: Cross-promote themed snack bundles perfect for cozy Netflix nights with friends or family.
- “Trick or Treat Mystery Box”: Offer surprise boxes with a random mix of candies or snacks for added excitement.
- Recipe Reels: “3 Scary Snacks in 30 Seconds”: Share quick, engaging Halloween recipe videos to boost social reach.
- Limited Menu Drop: Launch exclusive Halloween desserts or drinks for one week to create urgency and FOMO.
- Refer-a-Friend: “Don’t Eat Alone”: Run a referral promo rewarding both users for food delivery orders during October.
6. Health & Wellness
- “Detox After the Party” Challenge: Launch a 3-day wellness or recovery plan promoted through social media and email.
- “Trick or Treat Your Body” Flash Sale: Bundle healthy snacks, protein bars, or supplements for a limited-time Halloween offer.
- Motivational Email Series: Send “Stay Fit This Spooky Season” tips featuring quick, at-home Halloween workouts.
- Fitness Influencer Collab: Host a spooky-themed yoga or stretch session live with a health influencer.
- Limited Edition Packaging: Release pumpkin spice or autumn-scented wellness products to attract seasonal shoppers.
7. Books, Courses & Digital Content
- “Horror Week” Reading Challenge: Invite customers to read or listen to a new spooky book each day and share their progress online.
- “Haunted Knowledge” Sale: Offer 20% off all thriller, mystery, or dark-themed books and digital titles.
- Mini Workshop: “Write Your Own Ghost Story”: Bundle a writing course with downloadable templates and prompts.
- E-book Bundle: “Scary Reads Collection”: Promote a discounted digital bundle of horror or suspense titles.
- Halloween Newsletter Series: Send daily short stories or eerie fun facts to keep subscribers engaged throughout October.
8. Baby & Kids Products
- “Cutest Little Monster” Photo Contest: Encourage parents to share adorable baby costume photos for a chance to win store credits or prizes.
- “Halloween Craft Box”: Sell DIY pumpkin or costume kits with a fun, step-by-step video tutorial included.
- “Family Pajama Night” Campaign: Promote matching Halloween-themed pajamas for parents and kids as cozy bundle sets.
- “Safety First” Giveaway: Include glow sticks or reflectors with every order to promote safe trick-or-treating.
- Educational Reels: “Halloween Fun Without Fear”: Share short videos with child-friendly safety tips and easy home décor ideas.
9. Sports & Outdoor
- “Haunted Run” Challenge: Host a 5K virtual run where participants wear your gear and share their results online.
- Limited-Edition “Glow Gear” Launch: Release night-visibility accessories or reflective sportswear for spooky evening workouts.
- “Fit for Fright” Instagram Series: Post short workout videos set to Halloween-themed soundtracks for engagement.
- Themed Giveaway: “Tag Your Workout Buddy”: Encourage followers to tag friends for a chance to win sports gear.
- Halloween Pop-Up Event: Organize a local outdoor bootcamp with costumes, music, and on-site merch sales.
10. Jewelry & Accessories
- “Midnight Sparkle” Collection Launch: Introduce a limited-edition Halloween jewelry line with dark tones and mystical designs.
- “Guess the Gem” Mystery Offer: Surprise customers with a random jewelry piece or gemstone in their Halloween orders.
- UGC Contest: #MySpookyStyle: Encourage shoppers to share Halloween outfits styled with your jewelry for a chance to win.
- Bundle Deal: “2 for You, 1 to Haunt”: Run a buy-two-get-one-free promo to increase order value and gifting potential.
- “Behind the Design” Reel Series: Share short videos revealing the craftsmanship and inspiration behind your Halloween pieces.
The Halloween without Borders!
Brands do Halloween campaigns literally anywhere! So if you have the resources, step outside the online platforms and create a physical spooky experience, like in a real haunted house!
One of the most creative Halloween marketing ideas for realtors (yes, realtors!) came from Trulia’s “Haunted Open House” campaign. The real estate platform invited unsuspecting buyers to a fake open house rigged with spooky effects, lights flickering, objects moving, and even a ghostly “grandma” appearing out of nowhere. Hidden cameras captured the terrified reactions, later turned into a viral Halloween video. Trulia also added a playful touch online by mapping where “zombies, vampires, and ghosts” might live based on real-world data, blending real estate insights with Halloween fun.
For agents looking for Halloween ideas for real estate agents, this campaign shows how a themed event can turn a routine property showing into a memorable experience that boosts visibility and brand personality. It’s engaging, shareable, and perfectly timed with the holiday spirit.
Give your Shopify store
a spooky-good upsell boost!
Conclusion: Turn Your Halloween Traffic into Higher Sales
Halloween is more than a fun holiday, it’s a major opportunity for ecommerce growth. By applying these Halloween marketing ideas for Shopify stores, you can turn festive traffic into loyal customers. Launch early, use creative bundles, and personalize your offers to make this spooky season your biggest sales success yet.
FAQ
When should I start my Halloween marketing campaign?
Begin promotions in mid-September and launch main campaigns early October to capture early shoppers and maximize sales.
What are good Halloween ideas for real estate agents?
Host haunted open houses, costume contests, or pumpkin giveaways to boost visibility and engage your local audience.
How can Shopify merchants increase Halloween sales?
Create themed product bundles, limited-time discounts, and upsells using apps like Fast Bundle to boost AOV.
What visuals work best for Halloween campaigns?
Use orange, black, and purple tones, playful icons, and clean design to keep your brand festive yet professional.
