As October creeps in and the air turns crisp, Halloween brings a chance to transform your store into a hub of excitement and fun. It’s the season to wow your customers with creative promotions and memorable experiences.
Fill your space with Halloween magic—costumes, candy, and a thrilling aura of spookiness. This is your moment to scare your customers (not literally!) and boost your sales. Dive into these spine-tingling Halloween marketing ideas that will draw in crowds, keep them engaged, and turn October into your most successful month yet.
1. Creepy cocktail competition
Make your bar or restaurant a Halloween hotspot with a creepy cocktail competition–such as the Macabre Mix-Off featured in our new Marketing Toolkit. Our toolkit includes a complete plan and everything you need to run the promotion from design templates to email copy and social media captions.
Work with your bartenders to create a fun menu of spooky cocktails. Each week, pick two special drinks and let your customers decide which one is wicked enough to stay. The winning drink will stay on your seasonal menu, and the losing one will be retired. This keeps things exciting as customers will want to come back and see which drink wins next.
Spread the word about this fun competition by using Halloween social media posts from PosterMyWall. Share them online, asking customers to vote and try the new drinks. You could even post photos of the cocktails and announce winners online. This approach gets people talking about your bar or restaurant, attracting more customers who want to taste, vote, and enjoy the spooky vibes. To stay on top of things, use the PosterMyWall Content Planner to schedule your posts and keep the excitement going all season long.
2. Spooktacular share and scare
Another way to boost your Halloween small business marketing is with a spooktacular share and scare campaign. Encourage your customers to share their Halloween experiences with your products or services on social media. For example, if you run a clothing store, customers could share photos of their Halloween costumes purchased from you, encouraging others to visit your shop.
You can also offer a discount or small prize for those who tag your store and use a designated hashtag such as:
- #SpookyStyleShare
- #HauntedOutfits
- #BooYourLook
- #FrightfulFashion
Highlight their posts on your own social media channels to spread the word about your business. This also acts as a social proof and draws more attention to your store.
Need help writing captions or text for your campaign graphics? Use PosterMyWall’s AI Writer to quickly generate creative, engaging copy for your flyers, social posts, or digital signage. It saves time and helps you stay consistent with your Halloween theme across every design.
3. Ghoulish girls’ gala
Host a ghoulish girls’ gala to create a fun night for women in your community. Fill your venue with Halloween decorations, spooky cocktails, and special activities just for women.
For example, if you own a salon, you can offer Halloween-themed makeovers or spooky nail art. Set up a photo booth with eerie props so your guests can capture their festive looks. You could even hold a costume contest with killer prizes for the best-dressed witches and ghouls.
For a clothing store, throw a spooky sip-and-style party where guests can sip on Halloween-themed drinks while they shop ’til they drop (dead, of course). Set up a style station where customers can get frightfully fabulous styling tips or mini makeovers from your fashion experts.
You can promote the event by reaching out to local women’s groups, advertising on social media, and creating eye-catching Halloween party flyers using PosterMyWall. Share sneak peeks of the event setup and special offers to build anticipation.
4. Haunting sale
Run a haunting sale to add excitement to your store and boost sales during Halloween. We’ve designed a Spooktacular Sale Marketing Toolkit to help you with everything from planning to designing templates.
For a restaurant, you might offer a special menu with spooky-themed dishes at discounted prices e.g. a “Witch’s Brew Soup” or “Monster Burger” that catches customers’ attention and makes dining out fun.
If you own a bar, you could promote a “Fright Night Happy Hour” with Halloween-themed cocktails and special discounts.
For a clothing store, feature Halloween costumes and accessories on sale, or create a “Spooky Styles” section with festive discounts.
To make your haunting sale even more engaging, use eye-catching signage both inside and outside your store. Bright, spooky graphics and Halloween decorations will draw in customers. Promote these fun Halloween promotions on social media with attention-grabbing posts and images of your special offers. Collaborate with local influencers or community groups to spread the word and attract more visitors.
5. Frightful open mic
If your small business has open mic nights, give it a terrifying twist with an open fright night! Invite participants to perform spooky stories or dark poetry, adding a thrilling twist to your regular programming.
If you own a coffee shop or bar, this event will engage your customers and encourage them to share their own creepy tales. Offer a drink or small prize to performers who give the best frightful performance. This interactive event draws a crowd eager to enjoy and participate in Halloween-themed entertainment!
6. gRAVEyard party
Host a gRAVEyard party to bring a spine-chilling atmosphere to your bar or adult-only venue. Transform your space into a haunted graveyard with eerie decorations and spooky music.
Offer Halloween-inspired drinks and snacks to enhance the theme. This event creates a unique and immersive experience for your guests, making it a standout Halloween celebration. Promote the party through local events listings and social media to attract a crowd looking for a thrilling night out.
7. Murder mystery challenge
Engage your restaurant guests with a murder mystery challenge. Create special menus where each dish or drink includes clues related to a fictional murder mystery. For example, one week, diners might find a clue about the murderer’s identity in their appetizer, and the next week, the clue could be about the crime scene hidden in their main course.
Here’s an example:
- Appetizer: “Bloodsucker’s Bruschetta” – Contains a clue about the location of the vampire’s last known sighting.
- Main Course: “Frightful Filet” – Offers a clue about the motive behind the disappearance.
- Dessert: “Witch’s Delight” – Includes a hint about the possible suspect.
Encourage your guests to solve the mystery by offering a reward, such as a free dessert or a discount, to those who figure out the solution. This interactive dining experience adds an extra layer of excitement to their meal. Plus, as you introduce new clues each week, customers will want to return to uncover the next piece of the puzzle. It’s a great way to boost engagement and keep your restaurant full throughout Halloween.
8. Fright fest obstacle challenge
Set up a fright fest obstacle challenge at your gym to mix fitness with Halloween excitement. Design a spooky obstacle course with creepy decorations and physical challenges. You could include activities like a strongman lifting contest, a limbo challenge, and a costume competition where participants dress up in their favorite Halloween outfits.
This event will be both fun and engaging, drawing in fitness fans and Halloween enthusiasts who want to test their skills and enjoy. Promote the challenge using your social media channels and local fitness groups. Share posts with details about the obstacle course, the different challenges, and the chance to win prizes for the best costumes. Encourage people to sign up in advance and spread the word among their friends.
9. Trick or treat extravaganza
Organize a trick-or-treat extravaganza if you’re in a high-traffic area or shopping center. Team up with other businesses and set specific hours when you’ll give out free candy and offer special Halloween deals. Decorate your store to create a spooky atmosphere that gets everyone excited. Plan a fun costume contest for kids, and give out prizes like gift cards to make your Halloween small business marketing even more exciting.
Promote the event by reaching out to local schools and sharing information on social media. Let families know about the free candy, Halloween deals, and exciting costume contests. This will draw more people to your store and make it the go-to place for Halloween fun. With all the treats and activities, it’s sure to be a hit!
Get ready for a frightful October
October is almost here, and it’s time to get creative and make your store the place everyone wants to visit. These Halloween small business marketing ideas are sure to grab attention and send your sales soaring. Dive into the spooky season with fun and engaging promotions and turn your space into a Halloween hotspot.
Need something eye-catching and fun to boost your sales? PosterMyWall has awesome templates that will help bring your Halloween magic to life. Let’s make this spooky season one to remember!
