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MMM, Scary: Despite frightful economy, folks will still scare up dollars for Oct. 31
Journal Photo by Tim Clodfelter
Zombie Baby ($35) may or may not fill a paternal need.
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Published: October 9, 2009
Halloween is on a Saturday this year, which may cause more people to party. But the weak economy may cause them to party less -- or, at least, to be more discriminating in their Halloween shopping.
A survey by the National Retail Federation found that consumers will spend an average of $56.31 on Halloween this year, down from 2008's average of $66.54. Of those surveyed, 35.4 percent said that they would use last year's decorations rather than buy new ones, which is news that many retailers may find scary.
But if you do plan to buy some new decorations to haunt your place, there are plenty of options, from the ultra-cheap ($1 for a "Ghoul Log" DVD, which puts a flaming jack o'-lantern on your TV screen) to the frighteningly expensive ($250 for a life-size, collapsible mannequin of Michael Myers as seen in Rob Zombie's new Halloween movies).
Here are some of the fun and fearsome decorations I ran across while haunting local Halloween & More, Spirit Halloween Store and Party City locations:
□ Tombstone Fog Machine Cover ($30): This plastic tombstone, with a skull design, fits over fog machines, letting the fog billow out from the skull's eyes and mouth. Also available as a gargoyle.
□ Novelty Bottle Labels ($4 for a pack of four large or eight small): Turn beer or soda bottles or 2-liter containers into Halloween-appropriate liquids by applying these peel-and-stick labels such as Zombie Virus, Embalming Juice, Spider Venom and more.
□ Zombie Baby ($35): This creepy little monster just sits there and stares at you with a sort of "Hey, your braaaain smells goooood" smirk.
I first ran into him at Party City, but Spirit has a whole nursery of monster babies, including zombies, vampires, circus freaks and demon children, for prices that range from $30 to $60.
They are produced by Seasonal Visions International, a California company that specializes in holiday products. Annalee Mintz, the director of marketing services, said that the company introduced the zombie babies last year, but the line has expanded this year. "It's more for an adult party or haunted house than for putting out on your front porch, depending on who's going to come trick or treating," she said.
□ Haunted Hedge ($20): Hide this pair of glowing eyes in a plant or shrub and they growl and shake when people walk by.
□ Marie Antoinette Head ($30): Decapitated heads are a common, effectively gruesome Halloween decoration. But you can add a touch of class with this 18th-century, aristocratic variation, complete with powdered wig.
□ Skull Mister ($30): Pour tap water into this lit-up skull and mist flows out, adding a touch of atmosphere without special chemicals. The lights change colors, too.
□ Hanging Puppets ($13): These horror figurines include cartoonish renditions of the Terminator robot and Jason from the Friday the 13th films.
tclodfelter@wsjournal.com.
727-7371
Deck the halls
The holidays are coming, though we can hardly believe it. Are you someone who starts planning in August to deck the halls?
We're looking for people who have made their own decorations -- this year or in the past.
Tell us about it for our annual section, Enjoying the Holidays. Call or e-mail Winston-Salem Journal reporter Laura Giovanelli by Oct. 31 at 727-7302 or lgiovanelli@wsjournal.com.
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