https://blogs.ubc.ca/olivemylove/2010/10/30/what-the-buck/
I was reading one of the blog post by Olivia on Halloween here. I am an exchange student to UBC from Singapore. In Singapore, Halloween is not as big there and most of the event is partying in clubs. There is not a culture of treat or trick and collecting candies for the kids. It is mainly a reason for people to dress quirky to go to party.
Just like Olivia, I am not someone who is willing to pay $80 just to get a costume for Halloween. It is not valued as much to me due to the fact that it is not a well-celebrated event in Singapore. However I felt that in Canada, it is very common to see people spending a lot of effort for their Halloween costume.
“The spirit of Halloween” is very clever to be targeting this market here in Canada because every teenager and young adults party during that day! Costume ARE NEEDED. It is a NEED and not a want by the people here. There are countless party on Halloween and even Halloween’s eve. You will be deemed a loser for not having a costume and attending the party. “The Spirit of Halloween” have its main revenue from this holiday itself and therefore have the need to jack up the price in order to have a profit.
Quality is surely not in the mind of the shop. What they need is fresh crazy ideas that will interest the consumer. That customers find of interest and value. Giant penguin, bananas, Barney, Marios. They have to come up with all the designs to suit different consumers during Halloween. No longer is the days where people just want to be a pirate or bunny.( Alright there are still lots of bunnies during Halloween but is too common) They want to be something SPECIAL, and “Spirit of Halloween” target just these kind of people.
I don’t feel is strange for people to value these costume due to the culture here. I have seen during the last day how many people are in the UBC Village dollar shop searching for suitable last minute accessories and costume for the Halloween night. I admit I am one of them cause I am not prepared for it. Haha.
If the shop is to open in Singapore, I don’t think it will be able to sustain as that segment of the market just does not value the costume as much as young adults in Canada who is having hell lot of fun on Halloween. Too bad for the Singaporeans back at my hometown that missed all these action here. 🙂