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New Poll: Half Of American Households Will Participate In Halloween Festivities

Staff Report

Wednesday, October 4th, 2017

Half of all households will have at least one person wearing a Halloween costume this year, and 16 percent will have at least one pet in costume according to the 2017 Goodwill Halloween Poll.

Participants in this year's survey were asked a series of online questions about Halloween costumes and decorating habits. When asked about plans to purchase, reuse or create a costume this year, half of respondents indicated that at least one person in their household will wear a Halloween costume this year.

Among other survey results:

  • More than half of respondents (51 percent) are interested in wearing a Halloween costume this year. Ten percent of all respondents would most like to wear a funny costume, 8 percent would most like to wear a unique costume and 8 percent prefer a sexy costume.

  • The same types of costumes — unique, funny and sexy — are the best bets if you're looking to catch someone's eye at a Halloween party. When asked what type of costume worn by someone else would make the best impression, 27 percent said a one-of-a-kind costume, while funny or sexy costumes were picked by 20 percent each.

  • If you're not sure what type of costume to wear for Halloween, you might consider looking online. Two out of every three people surveyed who plan to wear a costume and prefer do-it-yourself costumes say they go to websites such as Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube for ideas.

  • Don't wait until it's too late to get your Halloween costumes and decorations! Four out of 10 people surveyed who plan to purchase, re-use or create costumes for themselves or others in their household say they plan to start shopping for Halloween gear in the first two weeks of October. And nearly 40 percent of this same group will have started their costume material shopping prior to October.                                                                                 

"Goodwill is your go-to store for all your Halloween gear," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "Whether you're looking for a costume that is fully designed and ready to wear or if you want to design one yourself, Goodwill will have just what you're looking for, at a great price."

In fact, 38 percent of those who wear Halloween costumes and prefer do-it-yourself costumes say they or other household members shop for DIY costume materials at a thrift store such as Goodwill.

Goodwill organizations support mission services through the sale of donated clothes and household items at more than 3,200 Goodwill stores and online through shopgoodwill.com®, the first nonprofit Internet auction site. In 2016, Goodwill's network of 162 autonomous local organizations collectively connected more than 313,000 people in the United States and Canada with jobs or earned employment through career services programs.