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Highlands Today

Shoppers Treating Themselves To Less Candy, Some Say

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: October 27, 2008

SEBRING - Maria Sheehan won't be serving Snickers or Twix bars to 30 guests at an upcoming Halloween party.

The Lake Placid resident opted instead to go the healthy route with veggies, fruits and cheeses, rather than the Halloween staple - candy.

Sheehan was shopping at CVS Pharmacy in Sebring Sunday morning, where clerk Jenny Keaveny noted that candy purchases were down from this time last year, but in most cases, it wasn't for health reasons.

"It's up in price," said Keaveny. "People aren't buying until they can find a good deal."

CVS continues to offer weekly sales on Halloween staples.

"They're shopping the sales and they're using a lot more coupons than usual," said Keaveny.

Sheehan, meanwhile, will continue to buy chocolates for herself, though her party guests will be long gone.

"After Halloween I always buy at the 75-percent-off sales," said Sheehan, with a smile. "I like to stretch a dollar and maximize my buying power."
Bob Hendricks has been watching candy buyers at Hendricks Corner, in Avon Park, for a quarter of a century.

He said most candy sales occur within three days of the holiday and most early sales are for a single bag at a time.

He said the classics continue to be the big sellers: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey's bars and bags of assorted Hershey's Miniatures.

Hendricks noticed a trend by candy buyers.

"They're buying smaller packages and smaller bars, with smaller sales," said Hendricks.

Cindy Shaw, at Family Dollar on U.S. 27 South, also said customers favored smaller packages. Bags with 10 pieces for a dollar were favored. The larger bags of candy were not selling.

Shaw speculated that local churches and malls sponsoring Halloween activities were attracting more kids in a county where door-to-door trick-or-treating was never really popular.

One local merchant where business was up was at Michaels, The Arts & Crafts Store.

Tammy Mueller, assistant manager, said sales were as projected by store management before the season started.

Most of the Halloween and fall seasonal goods at Michaels were already replaced on the store racks and shelves with Christmas merchandise.

Most Halloween goods on Sunday were already on sale at 50 to 70 percent off list price.

Mueller figured that more residents were staying home because of gas prices.

"People aren't going out as much," said Mueller. "They're staying at home and decorating their own homes more."

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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