Halloween decoration shopping has shifted from the traditional specialty stores

Halloween has created an annual tradition where residents compete to have the spookiest home on the block.

Just like folks have become used to seeing colorful lights, blow-up Snoopy Santas or other decorations scattered across a neighbor’s yard at Christmas, they’ve also become accustomed to fake murder scenes, jump-scare animatronics and 12-foot skeletons.

A Halloween specialty store can be a source for these frightful scenes. But that’s not the only option

Somewhat improbably, hardware stores have become a favorite for Halloween enthusiasts

Skeletons, zombie pirates, and demonic figures now share display space with tools, lighting fixtures and landscaping equipment.

The horror continues online.

Home Depot’s website, for instance, suggests Halloween themes like “Graves & Bones” or “Fears through the Years.”

“Create a frightful scene and scary vibes with classic spooky characters like Chucky and the Headless Horseman,” it suggests on a page that also offers Halloween inflatables, glowing pumpkins and fog machines.

Similarly, Lowes offers a 12-foot lighted animatronic scarecrow, complete with a nasty-looking scythe and a $399 price tag.

At Moorestown Hardware, owners Pete and Julie Bender start attending trade shows in January to find Halloween items.

“We mainly look to purchase unique items and some common items that our customers want,” said Pete Bender, who noted the couple’s Halloween-shopping trips take them as far as Atlanta.

“We try to get anything that will not over-price our customers,” he said.

Hardware stores also put a big push behind their macabre merchandise.

Home Depot, for instance, unveiled its 2024 line-up in mid-June for online sales starting July 18.

Its announcement touted a 12-foot animated levitating reaper, a 7-foot skeleton dog and a 5½-foot animated Fear Valley Wolf to menace your lawn.

“This year we increased our realism, created some impressive, licensed characters and even brought back some fan favorites,” said Lance Allen, a company representative.

Social media groups have been formed surrounding Home Depot and other hardware stores for people to connect, discuss and show off their newest toys.

“I was just at a couple HD today buying work materials and luckily found and purchased 2 gargoyle I’ve been wanted,” posted Michael Mosteller, a member of Home Depot Halloween Haunters Club, a Facebook group.

“I saw Murderous maples, etc at these 2 stores,” added Mosteller, who declined to identify the stores in order to prevent people from buying them for resale to others.

Another group member, Erin Seiden, posted a photo of six skeletons sitting at a dinner table.

“I’m only keeping one but having some fun before doling them out to friends who enabled me to buy the 6 pack,” she wrote. “What has everyone named these guys?”

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/uD1JqSSGrswB6j2S/

Home Depot has been selling Halloween items since 2013, noted Allen.

The company’s 12-foot, $379 skeleton, Skelly is “always a fan favorite,” said Allen.

“But we are seeing a few standouts this year with our collection and products,” he continued.

In that category, Allen pointed to Knight Dullahan, an 8½-foot animated and skeletal horse and rider, as well as “our ultra-poseable skeletons.”

Staff writer Jim Walsh contributed to this report.

Nick Butler is an impact reporter for the Courier Post, the Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times covering community news in South Jersey. Have any tips or stories? Reach out to NButler@Gannett.com. Subscribe to stay in the loop.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Selling Halloween decorations is a new norm for Hardware stores