{"id":766300,"date":"2025-10-02T12:19:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T16:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/?p=766139"},"modified":"2026-05-11T15:02:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:02:16","slug":"thrift-stores-fuel-diy-halloween-trends-among-budget-conscious-shoppers","status":"publish","type":"press-releases","link":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/press-releases\/thrift-stores-fuel-diy-halloween-trends-among-budget-conscious-shoppers\/","title":{"rendered":"Thrift Stores Fuel DIY Halloween Trends Among Budget-Conscious Shoppers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The annual Goodwill Halloween Survey reveals shoppers want creative, sustainable costumes at affordable prices.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>October 2, 2025<\/strong> \u2014 Halloween is making a full comeback as more Americans embrace costumes more than in the recent past. According to a new survey from Goodwill Industries International (GII), almost nine in 10 Americans (87%) plan to celebrate the holiday this year, an increase from 80% in 2024. And as affordability remains a top concern for consumers, thrift stores are fueling Halloween creativity. Among those celebrating this year, over six in 10 adults (62%) who prefer DIY costumes, shop at thrift stores, a notable increase over 2024 (53%). Among Gen Z specifically, 63% choose thrift stores for DIY costume materials.<\/p>\n<p>Goodwill remains the favorite shopping destination (84%) for DIY costume enthusiasts who turn to thrift stores for materials to create one-of-a-kind Halloween looks this season. Goodwill\u2019s commitment to sustainability also continues to resonate with DIY Halloween shoppers, with 76% of adults saying it influences their decision to shop at Goodwill, with higher figures among Gen Z (84%) and Millennials (81%).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHalloween shoppers, particularly Gen Z, are redefining Halloween style with a powerful blend of creativity, affordability and purpose,\u201d said Onney Crawley, chief marketing officer for GII. \u201cTheir passion for sustainable fashion is fueling a thrifting movement like never before. At Goodwill, shoppers aren\u2019t just crafting one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly costumes; they\u2019re also uplifting communities by supporting vital career services and local programs with every purchase.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For shoppers planning to wear costumes, nearly 70% are also prioritizing savings, making secondhand shopping the smart choice for the season. Among Gen Z, 65% say they won\u2019t spend a lot of money on costumes or costume materials this year.<\/p>\n<p>The Goodwill Halloween Survey also found that nearly two in three households (65%) will have a member dressing up this year, a notable jump from 58% in 2024. From pop culture icons to classic witches and werewolves, costume creativity is thriving, especially among younger generations. Close to four in 10 adults (38%) plan to wear costumes themselves, with Gen Z (48%) and Millennials (52%) leading the charge. Even pets are getting in on the fun, with 12% of respondents planning to dress up their furry companions.<\/p>\n<p>Among those dressing up, 29% favor costumes inspired by movies, TV shows, video games, or books, while 28% opt for iconic Halloween staples like ghosts and zombies. The remaining (22%) are going all-in on unique, one-of-a-kind looks.<\/p>\n<p>For curating costumes, social media remains a major source of inspiration, with Pinterest (34%), YouTube (32%) and TikTok (24%) leading the way, especially among Gen Z with over half turning to these platforms for ideas.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond costumes, 23% of consumers reported shopping at thrift stores for Halloween d\u00e9cor, with Gen Z and Millennials (26%) most likely to do so. In-store shopping dominates, with 70% preferring to browse in person for DIY costume materials.<\/p>\n<p>DIY enthusiasts and sustainability-minded shoppers looking for unique and affordable costume and home d\u00e9cor ideas should visit the Goodwill Halloween microsite for inspiration, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A planner featuring ideas for groups, children, pop culture and classic costumes that can be easily assembled using items found at thrift stores.<\/li>\n<li>A costume generator featuring quick and affordable ideas for last-minute dressing up.<br \/>\nFor more information, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/halloween\/\">500d-goodwill-mainwebsite.mystagingwebsite.com\/halloween\/<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Halloween is making a full comeback as more Americans embrace costumes more than in the recent past. According to a new survey from Goodwill Industries International (GII), almost nine in 10 Americans (87%) plan to celebrate the holiday this year, an increase from 80% in 2024. And as affordability remains a top concern for consumers, thrift stores are fueling Halloween creativity. Among those celebrating this year, over six in 10 adults (62%) who prefer DIY costumes, shop at thrift stores, a notable increase over 2024 (53%). Among Gen Z specifically, 63% choose thrift stores for DIY costume materials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":782721,"template":"","class_list":["post-766300","press-releases","type-press-releases","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-releases\/766300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-releases"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-releases"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/782721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodwill.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=766300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}