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TOTS in boo business
posted 10/17/00
It's becoming increasingly commercialized and promoted more and more every year. Signs of ghouls and their sweet treats are everywhere. No, not presidential candidate advertisements containing gooey promises, though some shudder like a snake on ice at the choices. No, I'm referring to Halloween, the ultimate kid's holiday.
The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $6.8 billion on Halloween this year. That will be a $1.8 billion bump from the previous year.
Although I abhor some trends in the booming Boo industry -- Would anyone really howl if they didn't receive a Halloween card? -- I see Fright Night and its traditions as a valuable educational holiday for our young. Here's some subjects they master:
Developing an Image.
Picking a costume for Halloween is one of the first steps in honing personal and business presentation. The more clever, or snappier dressed usually receive greater compensation.
Timing the Contact.
Attempting a purchase before the supplier is well-stocked can leave a trick-or-treater (TOT) empty-handed. If she arrives too late, the competition might make off with the top-quality product (Butterfingers, Reeses, Milky Ways).
Pitching Sales.
A few of the to-be-tricked ask to see the said trick of "trick-or-treat" before handing out a treat. The clever TOT soon learns the better the trick, the greater the commission. In this case she bags 100 percent of the profits.
Projecting Profits.
Early on a TOT begins tallying her take. This helps her compare present year profits to previous years'. That in turn helps her predict next year's income when she will be able to cover more ground and make more calls.
Negotiating Deals.
Halloween is Bartering 101. Even the greenest TOT -- usually from consuming profits without parental board consultation -- quickly learns the varying value of products. Peanut butter kisses are pennies compared to a grand-size Snickers.
Limiting Losses.
It may take a few years to comprehend, but the prudent TOT guards her profits (hides them in her bedroom) from hostile raiders (usually older siblings and occasionally a member of the parent company).
Diminishing Returns.
Some TOTs suffer embarrassment when their stock starts to fall. A preferred customer one year might humiliate them 12 months later by proclaiming: "Wow, you're the biggest one I've ever seen." This is often followed by a door being slammed on the deal.
Knowing Retire Time.
Elder TOTs eventually learn when to quit. Unfortunately, sometimes the parent company forces them into retirement: "You're too old to go this year." Seeking revenge, the ousted TOT might attempt revenge. Often she is found out and told: "Put those eggs and toilet paper back. And, NO, you can't take the car."
While all these skills help TOTs later in life, Knowing the Territory is the most important. Faster than a Goobers can be gobbled, TOTs learn to identify lucrative markets. They don't waste limited TOT-hours soliciting sparsely-populated regions.
On San Juan Island, the sweet spots are Evergreen area, Hunt Street, and Park Street. As more TOTs enter these zones, inventories are being wiped out. Please assist with our TOTs' education. Insure our TOTs scream to their full caloric potential by making a donation to Operation Candy Drive.
Bumper Sticker of the Week: Read My Lips... NO NEW TEXANS.
Does that refer to Lone Star State refugees longing to settle in the San Juan Islands or the White House?
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