Coronavirus

Shoppers like spirit behind Spirit Halloween at the Meridian Mall

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A temporary store for a spooky season

The Spirit Halloween in Okemos takes over the empty Younkers department store in Meridian Mall from late August to early November, providing local residents like Robin Garrett and her family an opportunity to find costumes for her neighborhood’s socially-distanced trick-or-treating. Despite the curtailed Halloween plan, Garrett’s daughters were excited about the costumes they bought at Spirit Halloween. “I like it, the girls like it,” Garrett said. “We always go there, you’ll find us looking around.”

Spirit Halloween sets up in Meridian Mall as a temporary store each year. Photo by Kamryn Romano

In an article by the National Retail Federation, Spirit Halloween CEO Steven Silverstein said that even though Halloween looks different this year, a majority of the 1,300 stores nationwide are still open. 

Spirit Halloween has received criticism for its business model, and some wonder how they’ve survived this long.

apparel

Spartan Spirit Shop still spreads school spirit

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After reopening their doors in August, Spartan Spirit Shop saw a decline in the number of customers that walk through the door. Retail manager Stephene Benkert says she thinks this could have something to do with football being canceled. But now that its back, she expects things to pick back up a little. This time of the year isn’t just for sports apparel shopping. For seniors graduating in December, it’s also about ordering their cap and gown for winter graduation.

Article

COVID-19 is causing chaos in grocery stores

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It’s like the holiday rush, shoppers in a frenzy. 

COVID-19 has created chaos all over the world, including a place you might not expect: grocery stores. Shoppers have been scrambling to buy whatever is left, but there isn’t much. “I’m here ‘til like 10 and I don’t see it slowing down that much,” Meijer employee Dylan S. said. But the hot commodity isn’t a run on turkeys, it’s toilet paper. “Every store you go to, it seems like everyone’s bought toilet paper,” Jean Schlicklin said.  “They’re trying to restock them, but they can’t get them restocked quick enough.”

Toilet paper isn’t the only thing people have stocked up on.

Business & Economy

Holiday shopping season starts strong

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With the official kick-off of the holiday season happening last week on Black Friday, how is this year stacking up to 2011? With sales, markdowns and deals to be had eat every turn, retailers are pulling out all the stops this year to get shoppers through their doors. “Because it’s such a competitive industry, retailers are offering really sharp price point to get consumers into the store and also to get them online,” said Patricia Huddleston, MSU advertising and retail professor. This year, shoppers are already exceeding sales expectations with Black Friday sales up 13% and Cyber Monday sales up 25% from last year. Meridian Mall had more than 80 stores open at midnight on Black Friday.