Happy, Crafty Halloween!
Have you given any thought to how your business will be celebrating Halloween this year? Will you limit it to throwing a few black paper cutouts of bats in the store window, or go all out by having a sale on everything orange? Why not try a fun-filled event, sure to have your customers clamoring to attend and, just as importantly in this digital age, posting comments and photos on social media!
Everyone loves to make something, as evidenced by the success of Paint Nite or Plant Nite, where people go to a venue, such as a restaurant, socialize with their friends and go home at the end of the night with their own newly created painting or terrarium. Your business can take advantage of these trends by holding your own Halloween craft night!
Here's how to get started:
First, check out some craft sites and look for something that would be fun to make. Pumpkin carving parties are fun—and a great idea if you have an outdoor space available, but not entirely unmanageable if you can only do it indoors. Here are some other ideas that may inspire you:
- 55+ of the BEST Halloween Crafts
- 60 Spooky and Creative Halloween Projects
- 45 of the Most Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas
- 27 Frightfully Easy No-Bake Halloween Treats
When choosing a project, keep in mind who you would like to attend your event. For example, if you think holding a kids event is the way to go, do you want the parents to be able to shop while the kids are occupied? Before you decide on a specific project, try your hand at making a few first and then see if you can instruct someone else in how to do it.
Next, it’s time to start shopping for supplies. While people love freebies, don’t worry about charging a small fee to cover supplies. There are many stores that specialize in craft supplies such as Michael’s and Hobby Lobby, but you can also find many seasonal items in Wal-Mart and Target. One of the best (and cheapest) places for craft supplies may be your local dollar store. Don't actually purchase your supplies until you have a headcount though!
Finally, advertise your event. Tell everyone! Email your list, post an announcement about your spooky night of fun on social media, and made sure to invite your friends and family. The more, the merrier—you'll have lots of pictures to post, and will have great memories of your event.
If you’re running a strictly online business, you can still make this work. Create a video with instructions, offer a supply kit for your customers, or even hold a family Halloween crafting party and blog about it. Use your imagination!
If your event is successful, review what went well and think about what could make it even more spectacular. You may even want to start taking tackling other holidays or possibly having more than one event per holiday season.
Have a safe (and crafty) Halloween!