CAMP HILL, Pa. - (Business Wire) Ever wonder what Batman, Hillary Clinton, Cinderella and a gaggle of uniformed school girls have in common? In just a few short weeks, they
’ll all be hitting the streets
– and the pumpkin party circuit
– with the hottest costume trends, available from Rite Aid. In fact, despite economic concerns in other sectors, the National Retail Federation (NRF) suggests good Halloween sales in 2008.
According to recent statistics released by the NRF, 64.5 percent of adults surveyed intend to celebrate Halloween in 2008, compared with 58.7 percent of respondents in 2007. The NRF statistics compare this holiday season to 2002’s, a time when there was also economic uncertainty and yet sales came in much stronger than expected.
“Since Halloween falls on a Friday, we are expecting customers will party this year,” said Steve Moss, Rite Aid seasonal category manager. “We think decorations especially will be a big hit.” Moss said he expects the past years’ trend of a late rush to Halloween sales to continue, which he credits to increasingly tight schedules – and tight wallets. With the financial stress of recent weeks, Moss said he believes many Americans will be dying to dress up, spend a night in someone else’s skin and have some fun.
Try these looks on for size – Some famous “skins” in Rite Aid’s trick or treat bag this year include latex masks of presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama, as well as former President Bill Clinton. The presidential election, after all, is the very next Tuesday. For something a bit more shocking, brave souls can sport everything from scary masks straight out of slasher flicks to – gasp! – mullet wigs. Additional creepy costumes include the ghost face from the “Scream” movies complete with pulsating blood; the Michael Myers mask; and classics such as full skeleton, witch, or devil costumes ($19.99). Last-minute planners, meanwhile, can make a statement with the “This is my Halloween costume!” T-shirt ($3.99) or just some nice accessories including: ladies’ devil horns ($1.99); four different swords ($2.99); black cloth rose ($1.99); glitter makeup ($1.99); or a voice changer with three scary settings ($9.99). Think Halloween’s gone to the dogs? Rite Aid’s got you covered there, too, with an expanded pet costume line including pirate, cheerleader, tuxedo or witch costumes.
Make your own house of horrors – Want to keep the tricksters away? Fill your yard with things that go bump – or boo – in the night, such as a motion-sensing latex head that drops from a porch or tree branch above, three packs of foam tombstones, foam zombies rising from the ground, a screaming doormat, or 60-LED strings of candy corn lights ($5.99). To complete the scene, don’t forget scary background music, color-changing light-up stones or 36-inch sound-activated, animated skeleton on motorcycle. Of course, anyone willing to brave such porch-front atrocities must really like candy, which should be as popular as ever this Halloween.
Did we mention there’s candy? – “According to the National Retail Federation, it’s the single largest selling period of all the seasons,” said Val Stansfield, Rite Aid category manager for candy. The average customer will spend $66.54 on Halloween, with 95.6 percent of respondents intending to buy candy, said Stansfield, still quoting NRF statistics. Hot items include large variety bags of prewrapped goodies such as Hershey’s 18-count bag of mixed bars or a 25-count bag of Mars candy – both exclusive among drugstores to Rite Aid. Trendsters looking for high-quality treats for their office will delight in Rite Aid’s gourmet line including assorted candies from Dove for $4.39, Ghirardelli for $3.49 and Lindt for $5.99. Also popular to hand out are chocolate alternatives, including 25-count bags of Fun Dip ($7.99), 75-count of Airheads ($5.99) and less sugary alternatives: Teddy Grahams, Rice Krispies Treats and Mini Oreos ($3.59). Looking for a treat you don’t eat? Stock up on 20 packs of Play-Doh containers, 10 packs of Velvet Treats art projects with color markers ($3.99) and stretchy spiders or spider rings ($1.49).
Fall decorations say festive without the fright – For those without a love for gore, Rite Aid carries a full line of seasonal decorations including packages of display-quality hay, autumn wreathes, stuffed scarecrows, porcelain garden signs, wicker pumpkins ($7.99) and seasonal candles including pumpkin spice, caramel apple and baked pear.
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with more than 4,900 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s Web site at http://www.riteaid.com.
Rite Aid Corporation
Eric Harkreader, 717-975-5713
