TopTen Halloween Costume Trends for this Season

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The reports are coming in faster than you can say Jack O’Lantern! There’s a huge buzz over what Halloween costumes are going to be named as the hottest and most exciting contenders this year, and all of you in the wholesale and retail biz should be listening! This year has seen enough bad news to make anyone’s head spin, and I’m getting the feeling that Americans want to have a good time this Halloween, without paying any heed to the economic crisis, dipping US Dollars, or global financial policies that flip over faster than a Tarot Death card.

Ooops, there goes the economy… but hey, Halloween’s here!

Come on, it’s time to smile again, even if it is only for one night… but oh, what a night it will be! We’ve seen a huge source of inspiration from various Hollywood movies in the past year, political satire (both funny and terrifying), and even some huge celebrity news that makes it easier than ever for the holiday consumer to cook up a Halloween costume that sizzles. Check out Toptenwholesale.com for more wholesale Halloween costume ideas.

Here’s a quick TopTen List of Halloween Costume Trends for this Season that will give you a few ideas to get your shelves and Internet inventories stocked up for a massive season in 2009!

First of all, this seems to be the year for the guys. Sorry girls, but I actually can’t remember a recent Halloween that has made it so incredibly easy for the men to pick a costume that will get a few good laughs. With everything from the sci-fi genre; to the superhero category; to the theme of politics and world events… the boys are going to have it easy when it comes time to pick something up for the party. Just make sure you retailers and wholesalers make it even faster and easier to buy them, since men are notoriously impatient and topical about shopping.

Of course, the women have their usual pick of cute or sexy costumes… and a bunch of new ideas to try on for the night! Sure, some of the ladies out there could take a shot at being Sarah Palin for the night, or maybe (yawn!) Britny Spears…but a point to consider is the fact that men are getting off the hook easy this year… so women can splurge a little extra holiday budget on a really special costume that is clever, funny and elegant! The National Retail Federation reports a rise in average costume spending of about USD20 from 2001-2008, but maybe this year will be the one to see a faster climb, as the girls get serious about their hot look for the season.

Kids are a big market with a lot of potential to boost holiday sales, simply because parents are going to be more focused on making this a memorable experience for the whole family. Help them out by offering Disney-inspired classics, as well as some more modern twists on outfits that draw from whatever mom and dad are wearing. Maybe a whole family of mafia mobsters? A family theme could be the ticket to success, as you build a bigger sale by offering a one-stop solution to your buyers that they can’t refuse!

Pets are people too, remember? At least they can look like people, if you choose one of these crazy pet costumes that mimic little legs and feet, creating an illusion of a dog-faced munchkin with funny clothes on. Yeah, I know… I wouldn’t do it to my pet, either. However, there are more than a few people out there who would! Don’t let them go elsewhere for their pet’s get-up.

Babies can add to the fun if you don’t mind leaving the party early… or maybe your customers want to leave the party early? There’s no better excuse than telling the host that they need to put the baby to bed, and this could be a strong selling point when people are scratching their heads over what to do if they can’t find a babysitter.

Plus size woman’s costumes are bigger and better! Choices are extremely diverse, as the manufacturers are gearing up to supply everybody with their Halloween faves. Plus-size costumes have steadily been increasing their market share over the years, and those shapely girls want to have fun with cute and sexy outfits just like anyone else. Make sure you keep a good variety on your display, and be the go-to supplier for outfits that flatter and show off the best parts of a plus-size woman’s curves!

For those who just want to be scary, the horror genre has been cranking out a lot of good material to work with. Besides the usual spinoffs of movies, there will be a great opportunity to give your customers some pointers about horrifying everyone with the standard issue stage blood, face paints, and creative designs that are hitting the shelves.

Pop culture icons are the big theme of the year! I’m not even going to try to list off all the celebs and people of fame – and infamy – that can be added to this collection, but I’ll give you a hint: Michael Jackson will be the undisputable king of the Posthumous World Tour this year, as will Patrick Swayze, and other loved celebs that get another night in the spotlight as their fans commemorate them.

As usual, political figures are caught in the cross hairs! I’m not even talking about when they open their mouths and say something stupid, I’m talking about the opportunity for your customers to be the hit of the party by lampooning any one of our fearless leaders. This could be the scariest Halloween ever, with Obama, Bernanke, Greenspan, and most likely truly frightful resurrections of George Bush Jr coming up In the form of face masks and outfits that simulate high-end business suits without the taxpayer-supported price tag…

Accessories are a must, and they will boost your overall sales with a great add-on and up-sell feature that could mean the difference between numbers… and great stats for the year end. Impulse buys are seriously high during this holiday, so make sure you are offering the right goods towards the end of the sale.

Make sure you’ve got the goods when your customers are browsing your store or site, and you definitely want to make sure you’re not the one to let an easy sale slip past you this Halloween! The only ones who will win this year are those who offer the choices people are demanding, and the ones who don’t have the costumes and accessories on hand… may end up losing the shirts off their own backs!