Selling Halloween decorations is a new norm for hardware stores

An annual tradition has emerged on Halloween where residents compete to have the scariest house on the block.

Just as people have become accustomed to seeing colorful lights, inflatable Snoopy Santas, or other decorations in their neighbor’s yard at Christmas, they have also become accustomed to fake murder scenes, jump-scare animatronics, and twelve-foot-tall skeletons.

A Halloween specialty store can be a source for these spooky scenes. But that is not the only option

Somewhat unlikely, hardware stores have become a favorite for Halloween fans

Skeletons, zombie pirates and demonic figures now share the exhibition space with tools, lighting fixtures and garden equipment.

The horror continues online.

For example, Home Depot’s website suggests Halloween themes like “Graves & Bones” or “Fears Throughout the Years.”

“Create a spooky scene and spooky atmosphere with classic horror characters like Chucky and the Headless Horseman,” says a site that also offers inflatable Halloween figures, glowing pumpkins and fog machines.

Likewise, Lowes offers a 12-foot-tall, lighted animatronic scarecrow, complete with a mean-looking scythe and a $399 price tag.

At Moorestown Hardware, owners Pete and Julie Bender start visiting trade shows in January to find Halloween items.

“We try to buy mostly unique items and some common items that our customers want,” said Pete Bender, who noted that the couple’s Halloween shopping trips take them as far as Atlanta.

“We try to get everything that doesn’t cost our customers too much,” he said.

Hardware stores are also putting a lot of pressure on us with their macabre goods.

Home Depot, for example, introduced its 2024 product line in mid-June, which will be sold online starting July 18.

The announcement touted a 12-foot-tall floating animated Grim Reaper, a 7-foot-tall skeleton dog and a 5½-foot-tall animated Fear Valley wolf threatening your lawn.

“This year we increased our realism, created some impressive licensed characters and even brought back some fan favorites,” said Lance Allen, a company representative.

Social media groups have sprung up around Home Depot and other home improvement stores where people can network, discuss, and show off their latest toys.

“I was just at a few HDs today to buy supplies and luckily found and purchased two gargoyles that I’ve wanted for a long time,” posted Michael Mosteller, a member of the Home Depot Halloween Haunters Club, a Facebook group.

“I’ve seen killer maple, etc., in both of these stores,” added Mosteller, who declined to name the stores to prevent people from buying the plants to resell them to others.

Another group member, Erin Seiden, posted a photo of six skeletons sitting at a dining table.

“I’m only keeping one, but I’m having a little fun with them before I give them out to friends who made it possible for me to buy the 6-pack,” she wrote. “What have people been calling these guys?”

Home Depot has been selling Halloween items since 2013, Allen noted.

The company’s 12-foot-tall, $379 Skelly skeleton is “always a fan favorite,” Allen said.

“But we are seeing some outstanding pieces in our collection and our products this year,” he continued.

In this category, Allen pointed to Knight Dullahan, a 9-foot-tall animated horse with rider and skeleton, as well as “our ultra-posable skeletons.”

Staff writer Jim Walsh contributed to this report.

Nick Butler is an impact reporter for the Courier Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering local news in South Jersey. Have tips or stories? Contact us at [email protected]. Subscribe to stay up to date.

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