If you’ve noticed Halloween gear creeping up in price this year, you’re not imagining it.
In a sweeping move, the U.S. government has expanded Section 301 tariffs on goods imported from China — including a wide swath of Halloween-related products. According to the Halloween & Costume Association (HIA), these tariffs impact everything from masks and costumes to props and party supplies, threatening price hikes of up to 25% on some items.
The Scary Part? Small Businesses Are Hurting
While big-box retailers may absorb some of these cost increases, independent haunters, artists, and small shops like ours feel the sting directly. Many of us rely on imported materials, blanks, or even finished goods that are now more expensive — and unfortunately, those costs trickle down to consumers.
But here’s the thing: Halloween has never just been about buying things. It’s always been about making things magical.
Here’s the Trick (and the Treat): Get Creative, Get Creepy
Higher prices don’t have to kill your spooky spirit. In fact, they might just be the push we all need to get a little weirder, a little thriftier, and a lot more original.
🪓 Try These DIY + Sustainable Haunt Hacks:
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Upcycle broken props with paint, lighting tweaks, or added gore — imperfections just add character.
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Repurpose old costumes into new hybrids (that zombie princess deserves a second act).
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Thrift and reimagine: A 99¢ ruffled shirt can become cult leader couture with the right collar and stains.
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Invest in key pieces that last — custom items, well-made coats, or costume separates that hold up year after year.
What We’re Doing at ResirWrecked
We’re continuing to create versatile, small-batch costume pieces that are made to mix, match, and evolve with you over time. Whether it’s a character-ready cape, a clowncore dress that haunts stylishly, or a theatrical coat built to survive October and beyond — we want your gear to feel like an investment in your character, not a one-night throwaway.
Final Thought: Halloween Isn’t Cancelled — It’s Evolving
Tariffs may change the price tags, but they can’t kill creativity. If anything, they remind us of what makes this community amazing in the first place: the ingenuity, the weirdness, the willingness to make monsters out of nothing.
So haunt smart. Shop small. Get creepy with what you already have. And when you’re ready to treat yourself — go for the pieces that will come back from the dead again and again.
🖤 Stay spooky,
ResirWrecked