Halloween is right around the corner, and for e-commerce apps, it’s an opportunity to boost your user acquisition and sales to the next level. With Halloween spending reaching record highs, your e-commerce website can benefit from this seasonal surge. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps to prepare your e-commerce app for a successful Halloween season and look into the annual survey of The National Retail Federation (NRF) conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics to understand the upcoming season better.
1. Optimize for Speed and Performance
As Halloween shoppers flock to your app, you need to ensure that it is fast and responsive. Streamline checkout processes, optimize loading times, and perform thorough performance testing to handle increased traffic.
2. Showcase Halloween-Themed Products
Make your Halloween inventory stand out. Create a section dedicated to Halloween-themed products, so users can easily find costumes, decorations, candy, and other items. Entice shoppers with high-quality images and detailed product descriptions.
3. Offer Exclusive Deals and Discounts
Discounts and promotions for Halloween will attract customers. To encourage early shopping, consider bundling related products at a discount, offering free shipping, or offering early-bird specials.
4. Leverage Social Media
Halloween is a great time to use social media. You can promote your products by sharing user-generated content, hosting Halloween-themed contests, and collaborating with influencers. Increase your visibility and reach by using relevant hashtags.
5. Implement Email Marketing Campaigns
Target different customer groups with Halloween-themed emails. Engage recipients with exclusive offers, product recommendations, and compelling visuals.
6. Enhance Customer Support
The Halloween rush will increase customer inquiries. Ensure your customer support team is well-prepared to respond promptly and efficiently to inquiries. Real-time support can be provided through live chat.
7. Ensure Seamless Checkout
It is crucial to have a smooth and secure checkout process. To cater to all customers, offer one-click ordering and various payment options. Transparency should be maintained regarding shipping times and return policies.
8. Monitor Analytics
Keep an eye on the app analytics to identify user trends and make data-driven decisions. Adjust your strategies based on the insights you gather throughout the season.
9. Prepare for Last-Minute Shoppers
There are some people who do not shop for Halloween weeks in advance. Last-minute shoppers can be accommodated by offering expedited shipping options and promoting last-minute sales.
10. Boost Your User Acquisition Efforts
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Now that you have some significant tips on how to get your app ready for the spooky season, let’s get into the annual survey of The National Retail Federation to examine statistics that’ll help you make data-driven decisions.
Record-Breaking Halloween Spending
2023 Halloween spending is projected to reach unprecedented levels, surpassing $10.6 billion from last year. This surge in spending is driven by an impressive 73% of Americans who are eager to join in the Halloween festivities, a notable increase from the 69% participation rate in 2022.
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Increased Per-Person Spending
The increase in per-person spending is even more enticing for e-commerce apps. The average consumer will spend $108.24, exceeding the previous $102.74 set in 2021. It means that users are prepared for a memorable Halloween for themselves and their loved ones.
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Costume Craze
As always, costumes are a cornerstone of Halloween celebrations. It is estimated that 69% of Halloween celebrants will purchase costumes, a significant increase over last year. During this season, costume shoppers are expected to spend a record $4.1 billion on costumes.
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Decorations Are Still a Hit
Over three-quarters (77%) of Halloween celebrants plan to purchase decorations this year. The total spending on Halloween decorations is expected to reach $3.9 billion, demonstrating the importance of offering a wide range of Halloween-themed decorations on e-commerce sites and apps.
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Candy and Greeting Cards
With an estimated $3.6 billion in spending, candy remains a Halloween favorite. A further $500 million is estimated to be spent on Halloween greeting cards. E-commerce apps can offer various candy and greeting card options to capture the Halloween spirit.
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Early Start to Shopping
Consumers plan to begin Halloween shopping as early as possible, with 45% planning to start before October.Apps that promote Halloween-themed products well ahead of time can capitalize on this trend, capturing early-bird shoppers.
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Social Media Influence
Younger consumers are particularly eager to begin their Halloween shopping early, seeking inspiration from social media platforms like Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram. These platforms can be leveraged by e-commerce apps for advertising and influencer partnerships, reaching their target audience where they spend most of their time.
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Shopping Destinations
It is crucial to understand where consumers prefer to shop for Halloween items. Halloween shopping continues to be dominated by discount stores (40%) followed by specialty stores/costume shops (39%) and online shopping (32%). This demand can be met by e-commerce apps that offer user-friendly, seamless shopping experiences.
Final Thoughts
Halloween presents a unique opportunity for e-commerce apps to increase user acquisition and sales. Optimize performance, showcase Halloween-themed products, offer exclusive deals, leverage social media, and implement email marketing to create a successful shopping experience.
A seamless checkout process and enhanced customer service ensure a positive user experience while monitoring analytics allows you to adapt your strategies on the fly. Be sure to boost user acquisition during this holiday season by catering to last-minute shoppers.
Your e-commerce app can thrive during Halloween and beyond by combining these strategies with NRF’s annual survey insights. Get ready to cast a spell on your success!
