Saying hello to October and a warm welcome to one of our most adored months, where our Halloween and spooky season begins. Shoppings take a turn to the new season, and everything that is yet to come from new designs, to new products launched before Christmas and New Year's celebrations are getting ready to arrive.
October 2024 is truly a magical invitation for a whole new season. This year is said to be a little bit different for one very specific reason, as last year particularly in the UK, our sales reached the billion-pound mark only in October alone, thanks just to Halloween. This impressive boost changed everything. For a month that's prior to few months before Christmas and Holiday season, perhaps now more than ever we believe is one of the most crucial months for e-commerce preparations. And for this year sales are expected to rise once more, to reach even new higher marks. So this year, is indeed one of the most exciting times for sales that we ever seen before for a very long time, both in the UK and beyond our own borders. The spark of excitement and creativity started months ago, online and on the high street, with preparations and stocks for the new season at all times high. Halloween has become a significant event but also a turning point, as the influx of sales changed our market landscape, not only because of its own festive spirit and purpose but because of its impact on the market driven by buyers of many different ages and purposes, and what drives them more than ever is visualisations, the online video making and advertising, made by social media entrepreneurs, young or old, especially focused on product display and e-commerce sales are at all times high as well as sales.
The origins of Halloween celebrations are traced back to ancient times and traditions, originally known as "All Hallows' Eve", our Halloween has its roots in Celtic harvest festivals, where people gathered together, lightning up bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off roaming spirits. This tradition eventually merged with Christian practices, evolving into the modern-day Halloween we celebrate Today, wearing costumes and make-ups. Blending together cultural influences over the years. From spooky decorations to elaborate costumes, Halloween has evolved to dinner gathering preparations, private parties, social meetings, consecutively driving the business industry into a commercial phenomenon that are guiding consumers throughout this season into a spending frenzy as popular as Christmas, throughout the holiday season, boosting market sales to new record levels never seen before. Halloween in the UK became a billion pound industry, literally, and this year we are expecting a higher sales revenue compared to last year sales.
"Rising market Sales and super shopping spree during Halloween Season is not news. What is new is the way we interact, specially online, the way we are driven to buy and use the internet as our most powerful tool. Apps are making it easy to shop and spend Today, and on many different currencies, with great offers and monthly deals from subscriptions of all sorts of products and services like never seen before. We are in definitely, and quite literally, submerged on this consumers world, and it is for one single reason: pleasure."
Halloween shopping and pre-Christmas shoppings literally took over October from many years ago, and in the past years sales reached at all times high, like never seen before, also thanks to apps such as instagram, facebook and TikTok, we are having a real life update and insights into other people's lives, and let's say: some people are not only good into preparations and organisation, they too put an incredible effort on their social media, organising parties and home decorations, they too are the embodiment and the display of the festive season, and that alone became extremely impossible to miss. There are many different levels of e-commerce, but only one type of consumer that are driven more than any other, the visual. Sellers know that, including on the influencer level, from Amazon store fronts to small and big businesses, their preparations are a visual spectacle, and with preparations on stocks, windows, marketings, households, offices, and e-commerce online. Visuals became the welcome door to all we need or didn't even imagined to want to buy. If a picture could speak a thousand words, and guess what? For too many different consumers around the world it does. 'All for the gram' is a real thing. And impossible to be missed.
Halloween will be for many who are experiencing for the first time, and to those who already know, already is a big deal this year and for many years ahead.
This Halloween is expected again to be one of the most booming seasons of the year, soon to be crowned as popular as Christmas, specially in the UK. How, scary indeed, that we are driving Halloween to take almost over Christmas in shopping sales and celebrations. In many countries a great portion of the population do not celebrate Christmas as much as others festivities. A great example is USA, a country that exceeds on celebrating Halloween as much as Christmas and sometimes surpassing on its festive approach. Another example is Mexico, with The Day of the Dead, also celebrated near Halloween, where the entire country unites to celebrate the life of those who passed, a national celebration as impactful as Christmas, on some years seen the celebrations even surpassing Christmas festivities. So, this season does make a splash like no other.
During the year of 2023 for example, Halloween in the UK, witnessed a significant surge in sales, surpassing the one billion mark for the first time ever. What a year in sales it was last year. Highlighting the remarkable growing in popularity of the holidays period as well. Halloween transformed commerce and e-commerce the way we know it forever. From a month of celebrations to a season of marketing and extraordinary sales. For those preparing for Christmas, this was the chosen month to shop. This trend shows no signs of slowing down, with projections for this year estimating sales reaching the mark of £1.2 billions, driven by increased consumer spending alone, but also sales and discounts offered by stores.
Shopping for this season arrived not only with millennials and young families using more social media and consuming more, but social media marketing influencing e-commerce online receiving a boost from big brands and physical businesses. If internet was created to put us closer to one another, money wise it also influenced us to spend more on each other and at home. Decorations became an all time high, ideas to receive guests and to display on social media boosted even more sales. A party for one, never been so popular, and if no one mind us saying, overcrowded. Leaving the irony behind, latest years especially since instagram was created and sales associated with influencers started taking a boost, we saw sales online plummeting to new heights.
For those celebrating not only their beautiful homes but birthdays during this festive season, apart from our traditional Halloween season products and offers, there’s a trend speaking louder and louder every year: sustainability. Sustainability is at the core of our own researches for new designs and products. We do not only focus on practicality and economy or even durability alone, but also on sustainability. Thoughtful gifts capturing consumers needs and eco-friendly options are one of ours biggest focus for this new year. Our products are more than tailored to individual and special needs, our products are embracing designs that works to easy living, clean living and also tailored to economical living, and sustainability, where we are taking an amplifying tone to turn things around in favour of preserving the right to way to consume. Where new products are arriving from renewed resources that are not depleting our own natural resources, as well as sustainable ways of living and incorporating new ideas, designs and products that are following our own brand vision for many years ahead of us. Our future matters and our children matters.
With new designs arriving every month but especially on holiday seasons and Halloween, with this very special booming season ahead just around the corner, we couldn't wait to share with you some of our curated themed list before you open your wallet elsewhere, and for this new season, we are packed with gifts ideas, for many different costumers, with products displaying lovely new colours, designs that brings us inspirations. Our products are timeless and are stellar products researched for costumer needs from all over the world specially for this season. As we all know sustainability is timeless, as it is present on our own daily habits as well as our own shopping choices. Our lovely research is the display of what's best and new launched out there, not only in matters of heart, but in matters of necessity and need. We offer a variety of new designs and styles for many unique different needs, with practicality and luxury new designs based also in comfort and uniqueness, for our most special customers, those that really know quality and durability very well, and just ahead of any new trends. We gathered all the best just for you. Our listings are the Crème de la crème of our researches and product launch.
Here it is for you, our Halloween 2024 curated list, from our expertise in product research, we selected all the best products, with timeless designs and functionalities for this new season. Our prices, offers and new selected designs are arriving later this month, on October 16th, and we will keep you updated to give you a lovely insight of all the new ideas, for gifts and presents to friends and loved ones, as also to keep you updated with our links. Hope you enjoy our besties as much as we did in researching it for you:
Carrier Thermal Heated Quencher Mug for hot drinks - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Stainless Steel set of retractable straws with pouch - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Gold Plated Gift Set of Earrings - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Bartender, Drinkware maker Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Hot Water Bottle with Sheep Skin Cover - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Stainless Steel Stackable Food Containers - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Bamboo Toothbrush eco Set Medium to Firm - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Stainless Steel Cutlery set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Set of Luxury Design celebratory glasses - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Tote Shopper Fur Bag - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Ear bone conducted headphones - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Aromatherapy diffuser - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Cooking Spices Rack Collection 12 Seasonings - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Afternoon Tea Hamper - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Cheese and Wine Hamper - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Sakura Box Japanese candy and snacks Hamper Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Burt's Bees Gift Set Collection - Link: Arrives on 16th October
The best of L'Occitane Collection Gift Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Neom Wellbeing Discovery Collection Gift Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Kérastase Genesis Hair Mini Gift Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Olaplex Strong Hair Kit Gift Set Repair and Style Collection - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Toni&Guy Ultimate Hair Care Gift Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
L'Oréal Paris Beauty Like a Boss Gift Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Bialetti Italian Stainless Still Coffee Maker - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Sakura Skincare Gift Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Pink Water Bottle Stainless Still Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Personalised Stainless Steel Thermal Bottle Set - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Mini Leather Card Wallet slot and purse - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Rechargeable Remote Control Flameless Candles - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Autumn Halloween Themed Wreaths - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Here it is also the general list of the top-selling products in the UK last year this season:
Halloween Costumes
Home Decorations
Pumpkin Carving Kits
Candy and Treats
Stationary products and books of related Halloween Theme
Movies and music related themes for Halloween and parties
Party Foods and drinks and customised products, food and beverages
Accessories, such as earrings, hats and party-like decor for offices and home Halloween Themed products
Pumpkins and Farm Harvesting Tickets
Led Candles and Lanterns used on decoration
Halloween outside the silver screen and inspirations for this year event, be at home or outdoors:
We all know it's easier to buy the sweeties and hop on the sofa with a hot chocolate in hand to drink for a night in or a marathon weekend of horror movies with our favourite ones instead of decorating the house, getting dressed for the occasion or offering treats to the neighbourhood at every five minutes in a roll. As Halloween continues to grow in popularity so it is its cultural significance, and regardless of our own believes and wishes it's good to be prepared. The market will continue to witness an influx of innovative products and creative offerings to meet the diverse needs of consumers and we too are changing our ways of seeing and doing things as well as shopping. From traditional symbols to modern trends, the evolution of Halloween caught us up, as celebrations and market sales showcases the adaptability and creativity of businesses in catering to the festive spirit of the season and our own interests, from young to old costumers alike, we are getting more prepared like never before.
Instead of the usual Ghostbusters movies and drinks, let's get ready to communicate and to share our own experiences even if only online, we are indeed showcasing our most remote and unique styles like never before. From make-up artists from around the world showing up their skills, to individuals hosting game parties and the traditional trick-or-treat culture on our own community, regardless of how we celebrate, we are showcasing it to the world. We are hosting parties, even if for one, like never seen before, and the way this is possible it could be put it in one word alone: internet. We are online for Halloween, and believe it or not, because of this habit alone, it means sales.
In conclusion, Halloween traditions not only brings joy and excitement to people, but also pushes us to celebrate, and in doing so we are eventually significantly boosting market sales. By motivating ourselves in showcasing parties and our own skills as hosts and party individuals we are buying more, particularly in the UK. As we anticipate the next Halloween season, let's revel in the spirit of creativity, innovation, and celebration that this Autumn holiday brings.
With an array of top-selling products catering to every aspect of Halloween festivities, the market continues to thrive during this season, adding vibrancy and enthusiasm to the consumer experience. Let's embrace the magic of Halloween and indulge in the spirit of the season, as we await another year of ghoulish delights and festive fun. Remember to immerse yourself in the spirit of Halloween this season and explore new and sustainable designs that enhance our own lives and celebrations. Whether you're in for a spooky costume and movie night, decorating your home for friends and family during the season, or indulging in sweet treats and party gatherings, Halloween brings a unique joy and opportunity to embrace creativity and fun to us all. Let the festivities begin this month, embracing happiness and gratitude.
We would love to share with you our most adored list of 'Horror Movies' for many different viewers, from minis to biggies, here are our most classic scariest screens for this season, but be aware, some a really, really, scary, others not so much and little ones are invited.
From light to heavy:
BIG (with Tom Hanks)
Beetlejuice (with Michael Keaton)
Ghostbusters movie franchise
Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities
Hide and Seek (with Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning)
Them (a 2006 horror movie Directed by David Moreau)
Pet Sematary (1989 Horror Movie)
Sleepy Hollow (1999 movie with Johnny Depp movie)
Season of the Witch (with Nicolas Cage)
Dracula Untold (with Luke Evans and Charles Dance)
Interview with the Vampire (with Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst and Brad Pitt)
Bram Stocker's Dracula (with Gary Oldman , Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder)
Halloween 2024 Cover
Here are some of our most adored items for indoors celebrations at all times, from warm cashmere pieces to lovely accessories that makes our lives easier:
Cross Over Faux Fur Slippers - Here to Shop
Commemorative Cotton Sweatshirts - Here to Shop
3 Pairs Cashmere Winter Socks - Link: Arrives on 16th October
5 Pairs Wool Blended Cashmere Socks - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Pure Cashmere fingerless gloves - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Black eco-Leather hat - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Alpaca Wool Blanket Scarf - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Wool Chunky Cable Hand Woven Body Blankie - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Faux Fur Waterproof Winter Boots - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Self Heating ceramic mug - Link: Arrives on 16th October
Thermal Tumbler Set with Straw and cleaner brush - Link: Arrives on 16th October
The "Return of the Board Games for a Pause from the Mac"
For families wishing to take a break from gadgets and internet games this season, board games always been a winner, offering a rich a vast variety of activities to enhance cognitive functions, brain development, and overall child development as also adult interactions with children and friends, especially during critical children's development years. Parents can start introducing games to their children on their first five years and add more challenging games accordingly with their own development. Numerous scientific studies speak about the importance of board games, as monitoring children's development while playing them. The most popular games are our most common games such as :
1. Chess
Knots and Crosses
Backgammon
Draughts
Who’s Who
Domino
Foosball
Monopoly
Memory Games
Scrabble
And other interactive activities, which stimulate brain regions involved in memory, decision-making, problem-solving, and social interaction. Board games not only provide developmental benefits far beyond what can be gained from passive screen time on the internet, but it helps with communication and interactivity.
Specific Cognitive Benefits of Board Games
Board games are structured in ways that naturally promote cognitive growth. Take chess, for instance. This game involves strategic thinking, planning ahead, and adapting to an opponent’s moves, which exercises the prefrontal cortex—the brain’s centre for executive function. Neuroscientist Dr. Arthur Kramer from the University of Illinois has found that strategic games like chess help to enhance cognitive flexibility, improve working memory, and bolster problem-solving skills in children. The internet and social media for example are doing the opposite. In children for example in development years the internet is proven to obstruct development and cognition, harbouring mental illness and slowing down development, in other others it affects a child development and brain connections, including learning and IQ.
Games such as Knots and Crosses (Tic-Tac-Toe), although simpler, serves as a stepping stone for young children to develop pattern recognition and basic strategy skills, laying the foundation for more complex cognitive tasks. In years of development, a parent wants to enchant this abilities on their children. The internet robs them of that, by damaging to the extreme many brain pathways for development and cognition in young children. iPads Connected to the internet, social media and some apps and games should be categorised as weapons to small children and any vulnerable person, especially those in years of development, because it has the power to destroy a child pathways for the rest of their lives, causing brain damage without anyone noticing, specially their own carers. It's a silent enemy. Children not only should be monitored using computers and iPads, but banned. A simple iPad math game provided from their own schools, can harbour addiction and damage cognition, especially on development years. The difference between iPads and a book, a pencil and reasoning to answer paper and pen equations are that iPads doesn't help children to formulate and create formulas without constantly highly stimulating the reward system on their brains, it overstimulates, harbouring high addictive behaviours, specially if the children also uses social media or other gadgets overstimulating pathways on their brains, constantly, and the constant stimulation also can cause addiction later in life as also serious mental illness. Not to mention, children and vulnerable people also form a connection with the machine, stimulating comfort, harbouring also isolation and lack of simple social skills.
A good example of a health stimulation game is Chess, for example, chess, backgammon and draughts, also known as checkers, those are games of probability and strategy, where each are capable of training children to calculate risks and make informed decisions, think further while further enhancing their logical reasoning and mathematical abilities, without overstimulating artificially their brains, but naturally training for preparation and strategies. It's a win/win on years of development.
What scientists have to say about Brain Development:
Scientific research also shows that interactive games directly influence brain development. According to a study by the University of California, Berkeley, engaging in mentally stimulating activities, specially board games, which increases the formation of new neural connections in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus (responsible for memory) and the frontal lobe (responsible for planning and decision-making).
Games like Who’s Who, which require players to ask questions to deduce which character their opponent has, strengthen a child’s deductive reasoning and logical thinking. Such games also enhance a child’s ability to process visual information, promoting brain plasticity, which is crucial during developmental years.
About Social and Emotional Growth:
Beyond cognitive benefits, board games offer significant social and emotional advantages. Foosball (table football) not only promotes hand-eye coordination and fast thinking but also teaches children about healthy competition, teamwork, and communication. And one of the most important things in life, losing. Teaching children to manage defeat gracefully, teaching emotional resilience which strengthens the fight against mental illness, which is combated as a 'disease' Today. The internet and social media is doing the opposite Today, so the latest your child start handling virtual media, but instead learn to curb fundamental life skills by handling emotional turbulences while playing a board game with the family, the stronger they will be later on in life to deal with social media. Children who learn to play and specially to lose on their first stages are the biggest thinkers and the most emotionally stable too.
Monopoly is another game that teaches negotiation and financial management skills, helping children understand complex ideas like budgeting and property management while fostering their social and emotional intelligence, some children start learning the game as young as five.
Interactive board games build emotional resilience, one of the most important skills for children. A study by Dr. Ellen Winner at Boston College shows that children who regularly play board games develop better emotional regulation and patience, as they learn to deal with setbacks, follow rules, and collaborate with others. Games like Memory, which challenge short-term recall, help children strengthen focus and perseverance, skills that are crucial for academic and life success.
Here is the Tip: Why Limiting Screen Time is so Crucial
While the internet offers a vast array of educational resources, it lacks the interpersonal and interactive elements that board games and playing with real family and friends provide. According to Dr. Dimitri Christakis from the University of Washington, excessive screen time in early childhood can lead to attentional problems, reduced executive function, and decreased socialisation, harbouring mental illness and insecurity, as damaging development. On the other hand, face-to-face interactions, like those fostered during board games, enhance children’s social development, communication skills, and emotional intelligence.
Playing board games with parents and siblings builds stronger family bonds. These shared moments create opportunities for meaningful conversations, problem-solving as a team, and learning to navigate winning and losing gracefully. In contrast, solitary internet use can isolate children and diminish the opportunity for these critical social experiences.A Scrabble board game for example can enhances vocabulary, spelling, and word recognition, supporting language acquisition and literacy development. Then one might ask, why can't I allow my child to use an iPad to play Scrabble or Chess for example. It's because an iPad it's not safe and can any moment be hacked, there are other distractions as marketing and other interactive pop ups that some game developers do not specify and the possibility of an stranger start interacting with your children without anyone ever noticing. On real interactive board games, the child are observing real interactions between family members and other people, which is what helps them to develop critical thinking and other valuable skills such as cooperation and observing how people deal with their own emotions, right or wrong, on the internet none of that is possible, everything is much more virtual and motionless, which is very damaging for children in development years.
Board games provide a more balanced, holistic approach to child development compared to passive digital activities. Instead of harbouring mental illness it helps you to manage strong emotions and to administrate possibilities of winning by changing strategies and observing others, specially those who are winning. They engage multiple brain regions, foster real-time social interaction, and teach life skills, all of which are essential for cognitive and emotional development during critical early years of life and for the rest of their lives.
Other great way to help family members, single or parents of children on development years, are books. Timeless gifts that can be passed on for many generations ahead. To us the right books are more important than reading many books or spending trying to get the right book while trying to go on the right direction. We put it together our expertise and research, as we also read all these books. This is the amount of love we poured into it, that we decided to share this season with you. And here it is one of our most timeless gift's list of all times, our most important book's list for gifting someone on this day and age. Which we consider one of the most important books to read this season and for our generation. We definitely could do that every month. Couldn't we? And here it is, what some would say, the greatest gem of our October Magazine, The Report, article:
Ai Architects of Intelligence by Martin Ford
The End of Mental Illness by Daniel G. Amen (This Author Doctor and most of his books are recommended)
Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson
The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall (and all his collections)
Feel Better Fast and Make it Last by Daniel G. Amen
Raising Mentally Strong Kids, by Daniel G. Amen
Hooked by Michael Moss
Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss (This Author Doctor and most of his books are recommended)
The Myth of Normal by Gabor Matè (This Author Doctor and most of his books are recommended)
Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte
When the Body says No by Gabor Matè
Hold on to your kids by Gabor Matè
The Whole-Brain Child by Doctor Tina Payne Bryson
No Drama Discipline by Doctor Tina Payne Bryson
Happy Autumn and Happy Halloween if you choose to celebrate with a bag of popcorn, chocolates and teas in a cosy indoors setting vibe, we hope this list finds you in a happy moment in your life, and that it will have you covered for whatever you wish for to do on this Halloween.
We at Hays and Gill Studio believe Home is where your heart feels safe and settle, we hope your Autumn to winter transition be warm and lovely, wishing you all a wonderful festive Halloween season, with lovely gifts ideas for those we adore, and many more years of celebrations to come to us all and our families. Happy Halloween everyone!
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