Quantcast
Channel: Kiez » Holiday
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 6

Brewing Up A Wicked Halloween

0
0

WickedWitch_ed_smAlthough it takes a lot of work to keep the store fresh and fun, setting up for Halloween is one of my favorite jobs of the year.  Summer is over, Fall brings cooler weather and the promise of what a very dear friend calls, “The Harvest”.

We were closed this past Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to flip the store for Halloween.  The weekend we unveiled the change over, people we asking “How long does this take?’. “Months” I respond.  “We start shopping in January for Fall and Christmas.”  Frankly, after the rush of Christmas, shopping for the NEXT Halloween and Christmas is the last thing I want to do.  What I really want to do is check out for a couple of weeks, go on vacation, not get out of bed and sleep for a few weeks straight!  But after a few days of down time, the brain kicks back into gear and I start getting excited about the January wholesale markets in Dallas and New York.  After about 3 months of shopping, planning and putting together themes and budgets, we start writing orders.  I know, it seems early to do that, but most manufacturers need us to write orders that early to ensure we get what we need. Yes, in my head, it’s Halloween and Christmas all year round.  No that’s not dandruff, it’s witches, snowflakes and glitter leaking out of my brain.

Just one of the many pallets we received this year.

Just one of the many pallets we received this year.

The shipments start arriving in July and once we get them checked in the setup becomes a fun festive occasion.  We crank the music, (Nightmare Before Christmas of course), break open the boxes, brew the coffee, duties are assigned and everybody goes to work.  Around lunch we make sure a table is cleaned off so we can take a break and enjoy the Eggplant Parmesan Robert made for lunch.  Ideas or tossed around.  “Do we need more here?”  “Do we have too much there?”  It’s a crazy time that all comes together in the end.

Black Halloween Tree

Halloween Tree

After the second day, when most of the work has been completed, and everybody has gone home, I get to work on one of my favorite jobs of the year.  Decorating the Halloween tree.  This year, the theme is Witches. A new pot of coffee is made, the music goes even louder, (Sorry Dirt and Epiphany) and I lay everything out that I had planned to put on the tree.  All I have is a basic concept and color scheme.   The rest just flows. Don’t ask me how. I don’t know. And trying to find out would probably jinx it.  I used to do the same thing when I was decorating sets for theatre.

It wasn’t until later I figured out why I chose witches.  It’s because we all have a little magic in us if we are willing to let it out.  And I have to say this year, Erica, Lydia and Susan really let it out!  Check out more photo’s here.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 6

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images