Halloween sales a challenge in 2023
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) - We are only about a week away from Halloween and local stores have been taking advantage of the holiday.
Many of the businesses in Historic Downtown Pocatello have halloween displays and merchandise.
We spoke to Kristi Payne, Co-Owner of Goodbye Hello Crafts and Boutique and Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce CEO Matt Hunter.
Both say Halloween is important for business in the gate city, but they also say it has been difficult to keep up due to the economy and online shopping.
"Halloween's always fun around here," Payne said. "Our vendors make unique items and so they are one of a kind which does draw people in to get those one of a kind, fun Halloween things. We do have people that want to go shop at the big box stores, but we always prefer for them to come with us and shop local."
"It's always got its ups and downs, but we have tried to really build with the local community and so they've been really supportive, but it definitely has its trying times," Payne said.
"There's a lot of stuff going on with Halloween this year," Hunter said. "I mean, lots of events and lots of great stuff that will hopefully drive people to shop local. Retail has struggled for a long time here really since COVID as the communities learned to buy everything online instead of buying in their local community. So I'd like to encourage folks to do that."
To cap off the Halloween season, Historic Downtown Pocatello will be holding their annual trick or treat event on Halloween day from 3-5:30 p.m. along the streets in downtown.
