Halloween is a major opportunity for convenience retailers to capture seasonal and impulse sales. From customers stocking up for trick-or-treaters to shoppers making a last-minute candy run, having the right Halloween candy assortment and making it easy to find can help turn October traffic into additional sales.
For convenience stores, the opportunity goes beyond simply adding a few seasonal bags to the candy aisle. The right mix of recognizable favorites, pack sizes and strategic placement can help retailers make the most of Halloween demand.
Stock the Halloween Favorites Customers Look For
A strong Halloween candy assortment starts with variety. Chocolate favorites remain an important part of the category, including bite-size chocolates, peanut butter cups, individually wrapped bars and assorted chocolate packs.
But don’t stop at chocolate. Gummies, chewy candy, lollipops, sour candy and fruity varieties can help create a broader selection and give shoppers more options when buying for trick-or-treaters.
Variety packs can be especially convenient for customers who want multiple candy types without purchasing several individual bags.
Offer Options for Different Shopping Missions
Not every Halloween shopper is buying the same way. Some customers may be preparing for dozens of trick-or-treaters and looking for larger bags or multipacks. Others may only need one additional bag, while some shoppers are simply picking up a seasonal treat for themselves.
Offering different package sizes and price points can help your store serve each of these shopping occasions.
As Halloween gets closer, keep larger trick-or-treat packs and recognizable favorites easy to locate for customers who want to get in, find what they need and check out quickly.
Make Halloween Candy Impossible to Miss
Seasonal candy shouldn’t rely exclusively on its regular shelf location.
Give Halloween products additional visibility in high-traffic areas of the store. A dedicated seasonal display can immediately remind customers that Halloween is approaching, even when candy wasn’t originally on their shopping list.
Merchandising Tips for Halloween Candy
1. Create a Halloween destination.
Group seasonal candy together in one highly visible area so customers can quickly shop the assortment.
2. Use your checkout area.
Place smaller Halloween treats and novelty candy near the register to encourage impulse purchases.
3. Give larger packs more visibility.
Use an endcap or prominent floor display for larger bags, multipacks and variety packs designed for trick-or-treating.
4. Merchandise for Halloween night.
Consider placing complementary items such as beverages, snacks and batteries nearby to make your store a convenient stop for Halloween night needs.
5. Adjust your display as Halloween approaches.
During the final week of October, move popular Halloween candy closer to the front of the store and consolidate remaining inventory into a strong, easy-to-shop display.
Capture the Last-Minute Halloween Shopper
Convenience stores have an important advantage when October 31 gets close: convenience.
A shopper may realize on the way home that they forgot candy. Another may run out after trick-or-treating has already started. Others may simply want to avoid a larger shopping trip. Make those purchases easy.
During the final days before Halloween, monitor inventory closely and keep your strongest-selling candy visible and accessible. A well-stocked display near the front of the store can help customers quickly find what they need while creating opportunities for additional impulse purchases.
Turn Halloween Traffic Into Additional Sales
Halloween candy may bring customers into the store, but retailers can use that traffic to generate additional purchases.
Think beyond the candy aisle and consider the complete Halloween occasion. Beverages, salty snacks and other grab-and-go products can complement parties and gatherings, while practical items such as batteries can meet last-minute needs for decorations, flashlights and Halloween activities.
The goal isn’t to fill the store with Halloween displays. A few strategic placements can make seasonal products easier to discover while encouraging customers to add another item to their basket.
Get Your Store Ready for Halloween
The Halloween selling window moves quickly. Retailers that maintain the right assortment, monitor inventory and give seasonal products strong visibility can be better positioned to capture demand throughout October and during the important final days before Halloween.
Cooper-Booth Wholesale offers candy, snacks, beverages and convenience store essentials to help retailers prepare for seasonal selling opportunities throughout the year.
Talk with your Cooper-Booth representative about Halloween candy and seasonal products available for your store.