Savers® Survey Reveals Whats Hip for Halloween: Famous Characters, Scary Ensembles and George W. Bush

Thrift stores cater to customers with inexpensive, creative costume ideas

Seattle WA,(PRWEB) October 16, 2004 -- An online survey* conducted by international thrift store chain Savers, Inc. reveals this Halloween will focus on fame, fright, and a near-deadlocked decision when it comes to political posers. With nearly 40% of survey participants naming being someone else" as their favorite part of Octobers festive holiday -- followed by parties" and candy" (24% each), Savers/Value Village thrift stores are prepared to help consumers conjure up cool costumes on the cheap -- including 2004s most popular picks.

Theres a return to gore this year, a category that has been quiet since Sept. 11," said Michelle Dutkewych, buyer for Seattle-based Savers, Inc. Costumes based on pop-culture movies like Shrek, Harry Potter, and Spiderman are also top sellers. Specific to men, ninjas are big along with the pirate craze, which is carrying over from last year. For females, classic princess and witch outfits are in high demand."

The survey, which polled residents of the United States and Canada, also revealed the following:

•Political Picks: Mirroring Americas presidential race, the vote was an even split when it came to honoring political figures through Halloween costumes. US respondents selected current President, George W. Bush, as the politician theyd most like to dress as (25.43%), but contender John Kerry was close behind grabbing 22.74% of the vote. Falling in between the two, past Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton nabbed 24.69% and 22.98% of respondents respectively.

•Genre-Specific: When asked about specific 2004 costume intentions, ensembles based on famous characters and/or people proved the most popular genre (27%), followed closely by fright-themed costumes (25%) and those based on current occupations or social roles, such as a plumber, girl scout or nerd (15%). Fantasy-based characters like fairies and wizards took 12% of the vote, while era-specific outfits and non-human creations came in at 12% and 8% respectively.

•Classic Creations: The most frequently cited costumes by survey respondents included classics like fairy/princess-themed costumes, witches, vampires, pirates and cheerleaders.

•Cheaper Than Plastic Surgery: What price will people pay to become someone else? About $20-30 when it comes to Halloween costumes according to 40 percent of respondents. Another group estimated spending less than $20 (24%), while some people splurge in the $30-40 range (20%).

As costumes are clearly on consumers conscious, Savers/Value Village thrift stores are stocked with used merchandise and new accessories that combine to create original outfits on a budget. In all of Savers nearly 200 stores throughout the US and Canada, expert Costume Coordinators are on hand to help the nearly three out of four people who purchase a new Halloween ensemble each year. While roughly half of shoppers pick-out their costume one week to one month in advance, Savers also has tips for a plethora of quick creative costumes that are easy-to-make in a pinch with new and used accessories -- including many elements which people typically have on hand:

Kids Costumes

•Sweet Angel (approximately $25): used girls white satin dress; used white satin gloves; new halo & wings set; used white shoes; new silver spray-on hair glitter; used plastic pumpkin covered with pillow stuffing to create a trick-or-treat cloud" bucket

•Little Devil (approximately $10): used red jumpsuit or red sweatpants; used red turtleneck; new black tights; new glitter horns, pitchfork & tail set

Adult Costumes

•Sailor in Port (approximately $25): used navy blue lightweight pants; used white turtleneck slit down the front to create sailor collar; used navy blue tie or fabric strip as necktie; used black shoes; used costume sailor hat; used glass bottle filled with tea to look like whiskey; new temporary tattoo; new fake chest hair; lipstick kisses on face

•Sexy Librarian (approximately $30): used skirt with slit; used lacy camisole; used disheveled blouse; used high heel shoes; used pearl necklaces; used librarian" glasses; stack of used books; new costume lace-up fishnet stockings; new black wig tied in bun with pencil behind ear

For more Halloween information and a wealth of costume ideas and Halloween activities, consumers can visit www.halloweenhq.com or one of Savers nearly 200 retail outlets including Value Village stores in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

About Savers, Inc.

Savers, Inc. operates 200 Savers, Value Village and Village des Valeurs stores. Savers, Inc. stores employ more than 7,000 people in 25 states, 10 Canadian provinces and Australia. Visit www.savers.com for more information, including a list of store locations.

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*The Savers 2004 Halloween Survey was conducted online, by Savers, Inc., from Sept. 22 to Oct. 5 and included participation from 968 respondents throughout the United States and Canada.

Editors Note: Additional costume ideas and high res images are available by contacting Amanda Foley at 206.223.1606 or amanda.foley@edelman.com.