How much is Halloween worth to retailers?

Tesco has declared Halloween to be the 3rd biggest retail opportunity after Xmas and Easter

It reckons that it will take £55 million in sales from Halloween products,

In comparison on Mother's Day it takes £37 million, Valentine's day  £28 million and Father's Day just £20 million.

The biggies are Christmas at £320 million event, and Easter £110 million (wow how many Easter Eggs!)

As a soft toy wholesaler we don't get in to seasonal products at all (unless you want to count our fairtrade crochet ice cream cornets!) but obviously to our competitors in the traditional soft toy and teddy market the seasonal events are very important. Potentially high risk but also possible huge profits

We just wonder if you looked at it from an independent retailers point of view which would be the biggest holiday? Obviously Xmas is always going to be the biggest but Halloween would appear to be mostly a supermarket affair

Consumers are looking for cheap goods for Halloween so sweets, branded Halloween cakes and biscuits and costumes will all sell well for the supermarkets. Presumably garden centres will also get a nice chunk of the money with pumpkins etc but the independent retail sector probably do little more than dress up their windows. Do any of our independent stores make significantly more money over Halloween?

When consumers are looking for more quality products to show their love and appreciation (Valentines and Mothers Day) the independent retailers excel in providing a range of gifts at all price points.

Which would you rather have on your special day - a gift from an independent store or something nice and cheap from Asda?