Halloween HQ opens up 16 new themed pop-up shops in Ireland
The popularity of pop-up shops has increased rapidly in recent years. Also known as seasonal shops, these temporary outlets attract shoppers to retail centres and provide significant employment opportunities.
According to the Telegraph, a new study has claimed that nearly a third of the new businesses that will be launched over the next two years in the UK will begin their lives as pop-up shops.
Halloween
Halloween celebrations are more widespread in the UK and Ireland than ever before, due, some people believe, to American cultural imperialism. It is true that we have adopted many of the customs associated with Halloween in the US and that Halloween spending has increased dramatically, overtaking every celebration except Christmas in terms of high street sales.
Many people feel that this is at the expense of the traditional holiday of Guy Fawkes Day on 5th November, but the fact remains that Halloween has become very popular on this side of the Atlantic, with adults, children and even pets dressing up in costumes.
Halloween HQ
Halloween HQ started life in 2012 as a single store in Cork, growing to an organisation with two UK and nine Irish shops last year. This year there is even more growth with the opening of 16 outlets in Ireland alone, employing 100 part time and 100 full time staff.
In addition to supplying goods online, shopfitting in Dublin and other popular cities has ensured that Halloween HQ has outlets in Belfast, Dublin and many other towns and shopping centres throughout the country.
This year Halloween HQ has merged with Calendar Club, a seasonal retailer in the UK since 1998. This has created the most extensive chain of stores dedicated to Halloween outside the USA, and together the businesses intend to open as many as 60 Halloween HQ stores in the UK and Ireland.
Opening new stores involves shopfitting in Dublin through rmcdesignco.com and similar companies, who work towards creating pop-up shops in good time for the coming celebrations.
From a sector valued at around £12 million in Ireland and the UK in the year 2000, the Halloween market has undergone rapid growth and is now worth as much as £400 million. The growth in demand for Halloween costumes and accessories does not show any signs of slowing down any time soon.