Halloween brings with it a unique opportunity for marketers to engage with a diverse audience eager to embrace the enchantment of the season. Halloween target marketing is a fascinating blend of creativity and strategy, aimed primarily at families and young people who seek excitement and fun during the spooky season.
Halloween in the United States has a rich history that intertwines ancient traditions, cultural evolution, and modern festivities. Its origins can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated in Ireland over two thousand years ago, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the boundary between the living and the dead blurred, allowing spirits to roam the earth.
Today, Halloween is a commercial juggernaut, characterized by colorful decorations, themed parties, and a vast array of costumes. From haunted houses to pumpkin carving, the holiday reflects a blend of historical significance and contemporary culture, showcasing America’s ability to adapt and celebrate the past while creating new traditions for future generations.
In 2024, over 70% of consumers in the United States expressed their plans to celebrate Halloween. One of the most common ways to honor the holiday in the United States involves candy. Over 42% of respondents in 2024 (over 39% in 2023) said that they plan to pass out candy.
Another way to celebrate Halloween in the United States is by transforming homes and yards into haunting displays filled with spooky themes, creating a festive atmosphere that often features everything from carved pumpkins and cobwebs to animated figures and eerie lighting. Over 33% of respondents (over 30% in 2023) mentioned that they are going to decorate their homes and yards.
Many people also love to spend Halloween watching scary movies, which have become a cherished tradition during the season. This includes a wide range of options, from classic horror movies that send shivers down your spine - think iconic titles like "Halloween" or "Psycho" - to family-friendly animations that entertain younger audiences, such as "Hocus Pocus" or "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Speaking of statistics, almost 29% of respondents in 2024 (over 24% in 2023) are planning to spend the night watching.
Other Halloween traditions include dressing up pets in costumes (15% of respondents in 2024), throwing parties (12% of respondents in 2024), visiting haunted houses (18% of respondents in 2024) as well as taking children trick or treating (24% of respondents in 2024).
What can Datonics offer this year?
According to the National Retail Federation, total Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $12.2 billion, exceeding last year’s record of $10.6 billion. At Datonics we have a unique audience that covers all Halloween shoppers:
Shopping Intent > Holiday and Special Event Shoppers > Halloween (300301)
Costumes play a pivotal role in the celebration of Halloween, and we are delighted to present an option in this regard:
Lifestyle > Shopping Behavior > Halloween Clothing Shoppers (Custom)
Recognizing that families with children represent the foremost audience for Halloween celebrations, we also have something to offer here:
Lifestyle > Shopping Behavior > Halloween Shoppers with 0-6 Years Kids (Custom)
Lifestyle > Shopping Behavior > Halloween Shoppers with 7-9 Years Kids (Custom)
Lifestyle > Shopping Behavior > Halloween Shoppers with 10-12 Years Children (Custom)
Lifestyle > Shopping Behavior > Halloween Shoppers with 13-15 Years Teens (Custom)
Since home decoration constitutes one of the largest expenditures associated with Halloween, we also feature a dedicated segment to cater to this demand:
Lifestyle > Shopping Behavior > Halloween Home Decor (Custom)
The Halloween target marketing audience is as diverse as the festivities themselves. As Halloween continues to evolve, understanding and engaging this multifaceted audience will be essential for maximizing impact and driving sales, ultimately transforming a seasonal celebration into a year-round brand opportunity.
And of course, Datonics is here to make any of your custom ideas come true.