What Aussies Are Buying for Halloween 2025

Recent data from Roy Morgan and the Australian Retailers Association gives us a clear picture of where the money is spent. Focusing on these most popular items is the most innovative way to invest your inventory budget.

The popular Halloween categories are:

• Lollies: 38% of shoppers buy them to give out as trick-or-treats.
• Costumes: 37% of customers buy costumes. For themselves, their children, and, interestingly, for their pets as well.
• Decorations: 32% of shoppers buy Halloween decorations. Partly to make a spooky vibe at home and partly to mark their homes as participating in Halloween.

The largest spenders are people aged 35–59. Family-friendly products are your best option. It's also worth noting the significant increase in pumpkin sales in the week leading up to Halloween.

When deciding what to buy, a Point of Sale (POS) system can be a helpful tool. Look at the best sellers in the period starting a month before Halloween last year, as your POS Software shows you what you sold in your shop last year.

Please take a look at what your competitors are doing; I think you will find costumes, stickers, masks, fake body parts, and more. All of which are selling well now.

Use this to decide what to concentrate on.

For most SMB retailers, every square metre of floor space counts, so you need to be clever about how you display and bundle your products.

Maximise Your Counter Space for Impulse Buys

Use the counter for small, high-margin items that shoppers can quickly grab. Think about:

• Pre-packaged bags of lollies
• Fun Halloween-themed pens or other stationery
• Halloween stickers

These items need little space.

Create "Halloween Packs" to increase value.

Busy parents value convenience, so bundling products into themed packs makes their lives easier and boosts sales. This positions your store as a one-stop shop for Halloween.

Ideas include:

• "My First Trick-or-Treat Kit": a small bag with a kid-friendly torch, glow sticks, and allergy-friendly lollies.
• "Quiet Halloween Fun Pack": activity book, crayons, small puzzles.
• "Ultimate Treat Giver's Pack": assorted lollies in a fun bowl.

Turn safety into A key selling point. Shoppers now prioritise product safety, especially parents. Stand out by prioritising safety and building trust.

• Button Battery Safety: Ensure toys with button batteries have secured compartments to guarantee safety and compliance. Last year, the ACCC sued some retailers who sold unsafe toys at Halloween.
• Flame-Resistant Costumes: Stock labelled fire-resistant costumes, as fire is a real problem on Halloween, and explain to staff to inform customers to boost trust.
• Enhance Visibility: Utilise reflective tape, glow sticks, and flashlights as essential items for trick-or-treating to boost sales. It's a concern as kids will be running around at night in dark costumes and car drivers will not be able to see them. Offer a range of high-margin add-on items. I would suggest marketing these as "trick-or-treating essentials" and display them near the costume section for easy impulse buys.
• Allergy-Friendly Options: For many families, food allergies are a significant concern during trick-or-treating. My neighbour walked around with her son last year to make sure that the lollies he got were safe to eat. Become the go-to store in your area by offering a great selection of allergy-aware products.
• Stock face: Stock paint that is marked as safe. Make sure that they have a clear ingredient list. 

For safety, clear signage is the key!

Halloween Marketing

As a local retailer, market your business to position it as the trusted, safe, and reliable choice for Halloween.

Simple signs in your window or around the store can have a significant impact. Try messages like:

• "Shop Safe, Shop Local This Halloween."
• "All Our Light-Up Toys are ACCC Compliant. Ask Us!"
• "Allergy-Friendly "Halloween Treats Right Here in Your Neighbourhood."