October 6, 2025
Halloween isn’t just for costumes, candy, and haunted houses — it’s also a golden opportunity for small businesses to get creative, drive more traffic, and boost sales. Americans spend billions each year on costumes, candy, parties, and seasonal fun, and that spending energy spills into all kinds of businesses, from retail and restaurants to service providers and online shops.
While some Halloween marketing tips may seem obvious, there are plenty of unique strategies that many businesses overlook — and those can make all the difference. With a little planning, a dash of festive spirit, and the right strategy, you can attract new customers, strengthen relationships with your existing ones, and set your business up for a strong finish to the year.
Here are some tricks (and treats!) to help your small business make the most of this spooky season.
Dress Up Your Space (and Your Brand)
First impressions matter. Transforming your storefront, office, or even your website into a Halloween-ready space shows customers that your business is fun, engaged, and part of the community. Decorations don’t have to be elaborate — pumpkins by the door, themed window clings, or cobwebs across a display can all create a festive vibe.
Online businesses can do the same by updating banners, adding seasonal colors, or creating a Halloween-themed landing page. Consider sharing a “before and after” transformation on social media to spark conversation, encourage customer engagement, and invite people to stop by in person.
Pro Tip: Run a contest encouraging customers to post photos of your decorated space or their own Halloween décor with a branded hashtag. It’s free advertising, builds a sense of connection, and gives your business extra online exposure.
Offer Limited-Time Halloween Specials
Scarcity sells. When something is only available for a short time, people feel compelled to act quickly. Halloween promotions are a perfect way to build urgency. Ideas include:
- A “Spooky Savings” discount for a set number of days.
- A free Halloween treat (candy, cookie, or small gift) with every purchase.
- Bundled products or services with a festive name, like a “Pumpkin Patch Package” or “Monster Mash Deal.”
Even if you don’t sell physical products, you can still get creative. For example, a service-based business could run a “Don’t Get Spooked by Delays” fast-track promotion, offer a Halloween-themed consultation gift, or provide a free trial with spooky branding to attract new clients.
Cast a Spell on Social Media
Your marketing efforts won’t get far if people don’t see them. Social media is the fastest way to share your Halloween spirit and connect with both local and online audiences. Ideas for content include:
- Behind-the-scenes videos of your team decorating or preparing promotions.
- Costume reveal posts from your staff or office pets.
- Short videos showcasing Halloween specials or limited-time deals.
- Polls and quizzes (e.g., “Which candy are you?” or “Best scary movie?”) to encourage engagement.
Don’t forget seasonal hashtags like #SpookySeason, #TrickOrTreat, #HalloweenDeals, and #ShopSmall to extend your reach. You can also consider paid promotions to ensure your offers reach a larger audience in your local area.
Host or Sponsor a Community Event
Halloween thrives on community. Participating in or creating a local event can generate goodwill, increase foot traffic, and raise your business’s profile. Ideas include:
- Hosting a pumpkin carving or costume contest at your business.
- Partnering with nearby shops for a trick-or-treat walk.
- Offering your location as a safe stop for kids on Halloween night.
- Sponsoring a fall fair, haunted hayride, or charity fundraiser.
If you’re primarily online, try a virtual twist: a digital costume contest, a Halloween trivia night, or a themed giveaway. Community events show that your business is more than a place to buy something — it’s a neighbor that adds value to the local experience and builds long-term customer loyalty.
Partner With Complementary Businesses for Cross-Promotion
Most businesses focus on in-store promotions or social media campaigns, but one of the most effective yet overlooked ways to attract customers during Halloween is cross-promotion with complementary businesses.
For example:
- A coffee shop could team up with a bakery to offer a “Spooky Snack Bundle” — a coffee and themed pastry deal that brings traffic to both locations.
- A costume shop could partner with a local haunted house or escape room to offer a discount for customers who visit both.
- A gym could collaborate with a smoothie bar to provide a “Post-Trick-or-Treat Detox” deal.
These partnerships allow you to tap into each other’s audiences without the heavy cost of advertising. Plus, it creates a unique experience that customers remember — and encourages them to explore more than one local business during the Halloween season.
Pro Tip: Make the collaboration social-media-friendly. Encourage followers to tag both businesses in photos, and run a joint giveaway to maximize engagement.
Use Mystery or Surprise Experiences to Draw Customers
One of the most powerful yet underutilized ways to attract attention during Halloween is creating an element of surprise or mystery. People love being curious and discovering something unexpected, it makes your business memorable and shareable.
Ideas include:
- Mystery Bags or Boxes: Offer a limited number of “mystery treat” bags with purchases. Customers won’t know what’s inside, and the excitement encourages them to come back or tell friends.
- Hidden Discounts: Place secret discounts around your store or website — like a “find the hidden pumpkin” game — that customers can redeem for a prize.
- Pop-Up Experiences: A surprise pop-up within your shop or at a local event (like a mini haunted corner or themed photo booth) can create buzz and social media shares.
- Reverse Trick-or-Treating: Deliver small, unexpected treats or samples to nearby businesses or neighborhoods, giving people a fun surprise and drawing them back to your store.
These tactics tap into curiosity and fun — two things people associate with Halloween — and make customers feel like they’re part of something exclusive.
Pro Tip: Encourage customers to share their discoveries online using a hashtag, turning their surprise into free promotion for your business.
Power Your Seasonal Growth with Funding
All the strategies in this blog — from decorating your space and offering specials to hosting events, partnering with other businesses, creating surprise experiences — they all require resources. Funding can provide the flexibility to turn these ideas into action without stretching your day-to-day budget.
With alternative lenders like Viewridge, you could have the capital you need in as little as a day, making it easier to stock inventory, launch promotions, or host events at the perfect time.
By planning ahead and using funding strategically, you can maximize every Halloween opportunity. It ensures your creativity and efforts aren’t limited by budget constraints, allowing you to grow your customer base, engage your community, and strengthen existing relationships throughout the season and beyond.
Keep the Momentum Going into the Holidays
Halloween is the gateway to the busiest shopping season of the year. Use this holiday to kick off campaigns that build excitement for November and December. Collect emails during Halloween promotions, encourage customers to follow your business online, and tease upcoming holiday offers.
You can also repurpose Halloween content to promote holiday specials or create a “sneak peek” of seasonal products. Track which promotions or products generate the most interest during Halloween to guide your holiday strategy. By planning ahead, you turn Halloween buzz into long-term growth and set your business up for events like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and the holiday shopping rush.
Final Treat
Halloween gives small businesses a chance to connect with their community, showcase creativity, and increase sales. With thoughtful planning and the right resources, your business can make this Halloween not just fun, but profitable — turning seasonal excitement into long-term growth opportunities. Need that boost to bring your ideas to life? ViewRidge Funding can provide flexible capital to help with inventory, marketing, events, and more — so your business is ready to make the most of the season and beyond. We’re just a click away!