30+ Spooktacular Halloween Sales Promotion Ideas and Examples in 2024

Why should you launch Halloween-themed promotions? 

Seasonal promotions give shoppers that little extra nudge to check out your offerings or at least browse around. Holidays like Christmas and national events tend to put people in a more relaxed, festive mood, and that usually means they’re ready to shop. They’re on the lookout for themed goodies – think pumpkin-shaped mugs, pumpkin lattes, or spooky costumes.

Halloween is no exception. In fact, in 2023, Halloween spending hit a whopping $12.2 billion, according to the National Retail Federation, with this year expected to bring in around $11.6 billion. People have come to expect deals around holidays like Halloween, often searching for “Halloween sales” online. By positioning your promotions around these keywords or catching casual browsers with fun, spooky ads, you can grab a piece of that Halloween shopping frenzy.

Check out our guide to seasonal promotions to learn more about why seasonality works.

30+ ideas for Halloween promotions in 2024

Here is a list of over 30 real-life Halloween campaigns to give you some inspiration for this Halloween: 

1. Selected product BOGO sales

Trusted Health Products embraced the Halloween season with a playful BOGO sale on one of their top-selling products. Their promotional email kept things fun with Halloween-themed language while keeping the design simple – just one visual and a clean, easy-to-read layout. 

To further boost visibility, they added a festive banner and ribbon to their website, making sure the sale was front and center. The promotion, running from October 20th to October 31st, was a smart move – BOGO deals on flagship products are a proven way to attract customers, pique their interest, and encourage them to explore more of what you have to offer.

For more ideas on bundling and BOGO promotions, go here.

2. Promo codes with amount discounts

Swoon launched a Halloween promo campaign offering a publicly available SPOOKYSAVINGS discount code for -$5. Offering a standalone code is an easy, yet effective campaign idea. Due to high fraud risk with this kind of campaign, the discount value is relatively low. Note that if you intend to offer a higher discount, it might be a better idea to run a unique promo code campaign instead. You should also think of adding basic redemption limits, such as limiting promo code usage to once per customer.

3. Targeted percentage discounts

Total Diabetes Supply launched an automatic discount of 10% off on everything with an exception for some products listed at the bottom of the mail and promotion T&C. They have used an image of a pumpkin turned into a clock to highlight the urgency of the offer. Adding urgency is a great addition to any seasonal campaign. This campaign type can be run as a code-based or automatically applied campaign, with no promo code needed.

4. Halloween-themed giveaways

PupSocks launched a 15% discount with the code SPOOKY and a giveaway. To enter the giveaway, customers had to post their pets’ pictures in a Halloween costume on Instagram and tag @pupsocks. Then they were allowed to enter a giveaway where a blanket/socks set was offered as a prize. Adding elements of promotion gamification is a fantastic addition to your Halloween campaigns to increase user engagement and buzz around your brand, especially if you are going for a more funky and light-hearted brand perception.

5.Free shipping promotions

Pottery Barn ran a free shipping campaign for Halloween together with 20% off bathrobes and slippers (season-specific products) and 50% off selected Halloween items. They have sent an email campaign with the subject “🎃 Your Halloween Treat 🎃 FREE SHIPPING (ends tomorrow!)”. Running a seasonal campaign on seasonal products is the jackpot you should go for.

6. Mystery coupon discounts

PetFlow launched two unique discount coupons for each customer, not disclosing the amount of savings. To check what is the exact discount, customers would have to insert the code at the checkout. One of the discount codes was valid only for auto-ship (subscription-based) orders, the other for one-off orders. The maximum saving was limited to $35 and the minimum order value to use the discount codes on was $15. They used the subject line “Pick a Pet to Reveal Your Deal!”. This kind of campaign refers to the good old Halloween tradition of trick or treating – a catchy idea that will get you customers hooked.

7. Site-wide promotions

Dunkin’ Donuts launched a Halloween discount code promotion where customers could get 31% off the whole order with a code BOO in their Dunkin’ Shop. It's an effective promotion due to the discount value – but beware of your margins. Too big of a discount can very quickly burn your promotion budget and cause you a lot of trouble.

8. Product bundles for Halloween

M&M’s launched a Halloween product bundle of 25 small M&M’s packages, Halloween-themed, for $25. If your business can create new Halloween-themed product variations, you should definitely try it this season.

9. Free product promotions

Teami Blends offered a free tumbler for all orders above $34,99 with discount codes SCARYPURPLE or SCARYORANGE (depending on the color of the tumbler). They also gave an option to use discount codes instead: SPOOKY10 to get $10 off above $50 orders or SPOOKY20 to get $20 on above $75 orders. One customer could use only one of the four discount codes provided on one order but could use one of each kind of discount code on two separate orders (one order with a free tumbler, one order with a dollar discount).

If your promotion management system allows you to run several Halloween campaigns at the same time, you should definitely give it a try. But be careful not to overburden customers with too many options – the phenomenon of choice overload is real and you can effectively discourage customers from using your offer by offering too much variety.

10. Extra discount for customers wearing costumes

Puma launched a promotion of 20% off for customers wearing costumes on Halloween. It was limited to Puma’s brick and mortar stores. Clearance items excluded. The sales reps had to insert a discount code 183_HALLOWEEN to all qualifying orders based on visual check whether the customer wore a costume. It's a simple, yet a fun promotion idea which is closely connected to the spirit of Halloween.

11. Bonus loyalty points or rewards for Halloween purchases

A great example of using bonus points to engage customers is Sephora’s Halloween trivia promotion. They invited customers to test their Halloween knowledge with an in-app trivia game. The challenge? Answer four Halloween-themed questions correctly to be eligible for double (2X) points on their next purchase.

This promotion not only encouraged engagement with the brand's app but also added an element of fun and exclusivity by rewarding loyal customers with extra points – perfect for enhancing the shopping experience and driving additional purchases. Adding a playful twist like this boosts customer interaction while leveraging their loyalty program to enhance retention.

In short, my top Halloween sales ideas include: 

• BOGO sales.
• Halloween costume parties.
• Halloween giveaways.
• Photo contests. 
• Halloween-themed discount coupons. 
• Spin-to-win campaigns. 
• Mystery vouchers.
• Automatic discounts. 
• Discounts for customers wearing a costume.
• Scavenger hunts.
• Free shipping.
• Free products & samples.
• Special product bundles. 
• Halloween-special products.
• Bonus loyalty points or rewards.

To learn best practices of coupons, discounts and promotions UI & UX, go here.

Other Halloween-themed marketing ideas for 2024

As you could see from the real-life inspirations above, there are various ways in which you can participate in the Halloween craze in 2024.

In summary, Halloween marketing ideas include: 

• Decorating your brick-and-mortar stores and dressing up your staff. 
• Placing Halloween-themed banners on your website.
• Creating a Halloween landing page. 
• Launching a photo contest. 
• Launching a social media campaign.
• Crafting a spooky email campaign. 
• Running limited-time flash sales with eerie countdowns.
• Launching PPC campaign using Halloween promotion-related keywords. 
• Throwing a Halloween party. 
• Launching new, Halloween-themed products or exclusive merch for loyalty members. 
• Introducing Halloween-themed foods and drinks. 
• Participating in trick-or-treating (as a store). 
• Using Halloween-themed packaging.
• Shooting a Halloween-themed short ad or movie. 
• Hosting a "spookiest shopping cart" contest for creative purchases.
• Offering extra discounts for Halloween pre-orders or rewarding customers who shop in costume with special savings.

For instance, Starbucks Malaysia had a fantastic Halloween promotion where customers who visited their stores dressed in costumes on October 31st enjoyed 50% off any Venti-sized autumn beverage. The spooky selection included favorites like the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Brown Sugar Cocoa Oatmilk Latte. The promotion was exclusively available to those paying with a registered Starbucks Card or Mobile App, making it a clever way to drive both in-store engagement and loyalty program sign-ups. This mix of festive fun and strategic engagement made it a standout Halloween offer.

Halloween promotions tips and tricks in 2024

To make this year's trick-or-treating a bit easier, here are some updated Halloween promotion tips to help you maximize sales and engagement:

1. Make the promotion Halloween-themed

While this may sound obvious, it’s crucial to ensure your offers are fully Halloween-themed. Design cheesy, spooky banners, emails, and ads, and link your discount product range to the holiday. Consider using Halloween-inspired coupon codes like HALLOWEEN2024 or PUMPKIN20. For unique codes, you can still add a Halloween prefix, such as HALLOWEEN29401.

2. Launch Halloween campaign ahead of time

Even if your discounts are planned only for Halloween, start the buzz early. Decorate your store or website and send out teaser emails. The earlier you build excitement, the more anticipation you create, giving you a competitive edge.

One brand that started their Halloween campaign way early last year was Michaels, the arts and crafts retailer. They launched their "100 Days to Halloween" campaign on July 21, well ahead of the spooky season. This early start featured the release of exclusive Halloween décor collections both online and in-store, catering to every type of Halloween enthusiast – from the casual decorator to the hardcore fan. By doing so, Michaels capitalized on early shoppers and kept the Halloween excitement alive well before October.

3. Discount Halloween-themed products

Target last-minute shoppers by offering discounts on Halloween-specific items like decorations, costumes, and treats. This is your final push to sell these items before they become irrelevant after the holiday. A perfect example of this is Target, which consistently runs last-minute promotions each year. Last year, just days before Halloween, they offered up to 30% off on costumes and decorations to attract last-minute buyers. This strategy not only clears out remaining inventory but also capitalizes on impulse purchases from those looking for a deal right before the holiday.

4. Use multi-channel communications 

It is not enough to decorate nicely and advertise on one channel only. Nowadays, customers expect an omnichannel, immersive and smooth customer experience. Prepare your promotional banners in-store, on your e- and m-commerce as well as any social media channel and paid ads you are planning to use. Do not forget to ask your staff to dress up for Halloween, too.

A great example of a brand using multi-channel communications effectively for Halloween is Burger King with their #ScaryClownNight campaign in 2017. They blended digital and in-store experiences by promoting the event across various channels, including social media, their mobile app, in-store signage, and even video ads.

The campaign encouraged customers to come dressed as clowns to claim a free Whopper, tying in a playful jab at their competitor. They used omnichannel marketing to build awareness, driving engagement through social media posts, video content, in-app notifications, and in-store decorations that all reinforced the spooky, fun theme.

5. Halloween discounts do not need to cost you a fortune

Halloween is a relatively small holiday, also sales-wise. You do not need to launch gigantic discounts on that day. A simple “free candies with the order”, free shipping, extra refill of pumpkin latte, free toy-spiders at checkout or funny packaging for all orders expected to arrive the week of Halloween can do the trick. On the other hand, as not many businesses launch big discounts that day, you could get competitive advantage ahead of Black Friday if you launch bigger sales. 

6. Gamify your Halloween sales promotions 

People want to have fun on holidays, Halloween included. Making your campaign or promotion gamified can bring much higher participation rates. Some ideas include making a promotion code hunt on your website (hide the promo codes behind Halloween-themed banners), spin to win Halloween giveaway wheel or a contest for the best Halloween costume (you can then reward either the best costume or assign the rewards at random amongst all participants). You can also gratify all customers who come to your store in a costume (for example, by giving them a 10% off discount). If your store looks fancy and Halloween-ish thanks to all customers wearing fun costumes, you can attract more foot traffic. By making it fun, you will encourage more customers to participate.

A great real-life example of gamification is Fanta's spooky on-pack promotion. During the previous Halloween season, shoppers could scan QR codes on limited-edition Halloween-themed Fanta packs, taking them to the Coca-Cola app to play a Halloween game. Participants instantly found out if they’d won a prize from Fanta’s £70k prize pool, including cauldrons of cash, immersive horror experiences, and home entertainment systems.

7. Reward loyal customers with Halloween bonuses

This Halloween, make your loyalty program even more fun by offering special seasonal rewards. For example, you could introduce a “Trick or Treat” surprise where every purchase unlocks a mystery reward – whether it’s extra loyalty points, a discount on their next order, or a spooky-themed freebie. It adds a playful twist that keeps customers excited and coming back for more.

You could also try offering double points on all Halloween purchases for a limited time, giving your loyal customers a great reason to stock up on those themed products while feeling rewarded for their support. Adding these little seasonal perks not only keeps things festive but also shows your customers they’re appreciated.

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How to prepare for Halloween promotions in 2024? 

To ensure a successful Halloween campaign in 2024, it's not just about having a creative idea – you need to get all the operational details right. Here's a quick, updated checklist to help you prepare:

• Define your promotion goals and KPIs: Be clear on what you want to achieve – whether it’s boosting sales, increasing brand awareness, or growing customer engagement.
• Prepare Halloween-themed decorations and assets: Make your physical store look festive and ready for Halloween, and ensure your digital channels (website, emails, social media) have themed visuals.
• Craft spooky, engaging messages: Write creative, Halloween-themed content for each channel – whether it’s playful email subject lines or engaging social media posts.
• Select the right marketing channels: Choose where to advertise your promotions – email, social media, in-store, or paid ads – and ensure you have a cohesive strategy across all platforms.
• Set your promotion limits and audience: Define who you’re targeting and any rules or restrictions – ike limiting discounts to one per customer or targeting specific demographics.
• Track success with analytics: Implement tracking tools to monitor how your campaign is performing and adjust where needed. Make sure your analytics are set up in advance for seamless reporting.
• Schedule the promotion: Use your promotional tools (coupon discounts, giveaways, or gift cards) to automate the process across channels and make sure it runs smoothly on all platforms.
• Draft terms and conditions: Make sure your promotion's rules are clear, and consult with a legal advisor to avoid any issues.
• Schedule posts and messages: Plan out when your emails, social posts, and ads will go live. Make sure everything is scheduled in advance to run smoothly.
• Create and launch a teaser landing page: Build a landing page for your campaign before it goes live to gain some SEO traction. You can update the details as your promotion gets closer.
• Send teaser communications: Create excitement by sending pre-promotion emails or social posts to build anticipation for your Halloween deals.
• Send promotional communications: Once the promotion launches, send out emails and posts to announce it.
• Remind customers: If your promotion is nearing its end, send out reminder emails or messages to create urgency.
• Track and analyze: Review the campaign’s performance and take notes on what worked well and what could be improved for next year.

Summary 

Halloween is approaching fast, and now is the time to launch your campaign if you want to capture the holiday excitement. If you have a robust and flexible promotion management system, setting up your campaign should be quick and efficient. However, if your current promotion engine doesn’t offer that flexibility, consider switching to a solution like Voucherify to help you streamline the process and get your Halloween promotion up and running smoothly.

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