- Since its founding in 1983, Spirit Halloween has become the go-to destination for all things Halloween.
- Today the company has 1,450 locations in North America, primarily located in strip and traditional malls.
- In recent years, Spirit has become the source of countless internet memes, thanks to its ubiquity in shuttered retail spaces.
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With Halloween expected to reach pre-pandemic participation levels this year, Spirit Halloween is ready for a record-breaking year.
Since it's founding in 1983, the seasonal chain store has grown ubiquitous across the US, becoming a go-to destination for all things Halloween. Drive past any suburban strip mall during September and October and there's a high chance you'll spot a bright orange Spirit banner hanging from the facade of one the company's 1,400 seasonal pop-up stores.
Thanks to its penchant for inhabiting shuttered retail spaces formerly home to the like of brands like Toys R' Us or Circuit City, in recent years Spirit has become synonymous with the Retail Apocalypse and the inspiration for countless internet memes.
"I didn't invent temporary sales," Spirit Halloween founder Joseph Marver told The Seattle Times in October 2000. "But I feel like I invented temporary Halloween."
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And while Spirit doesn't disclose sales, parent company Spencer Gifts — the mall-brand known for its gag gifts ranging from lava lamps to sex toys — is estimated to bring in more than $400 million annually.
After four decades of dominating the Halloween market, Spirit Halloween shows no signs of stopping this year. The National Retail Federation predicts an increase in Halloween participation in 2022, with an estimated 69% of consumers indicating they plan to celebrate, up from 65% in 2021, contributing to estimated sales of $1o.7 billion.
We took a closer look at the rise of Spirit Halloween, and how it went from a small California costume shop to a bonafide holiday powerhouse.
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