{
  "id": 11241102,
  "title": "I worked at Spirit Halloween for 3 years. Here are 9 mistakes I saw customers make when shopping for costumes and decor.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/i-worked-at-spirit-halloween-for-3-years-here-are-9-mistakes-i-saw",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-01T16:59:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/things-not-to-do-spirit-halloween-stores-from-employee-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "I worked at Spirit Halloween for three years and observed numerous mistakes customers made while shopping for costumes and decor. One of the most common errors was only visiting the store once per year, missing out on the weekly deliveries of new merchandise. I encouraged shoppers to explore the entire store for hidden accessories like chokers and earrings, located near the checkout line where they were always found. Instead of opting for low-cost costumes, customers should consider investing in higher-quality items from Spirit Halloween's Signature Collection, which could last multiple Halloween seasons. When using Halloween makeup, it's crucial to check for irritants and allergens by testing small amounts on the skin and using appropriate application and removal products. Additionally, customers should read product labels carefully, especially for animatronics, to ensure they are suitable for outdoor, covered use. Finally, many overlooked the fact that Spirit Halloween remained open after Halloween, offering substantial discounts on clearance items, making it worth returning for after-Halloween shopping.",
  "summary": "Spirit Halloween customers often buy makeup kits without proper application and removal products, and fail to check the ingredients for irritants.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}