{
  "id": 11899474,
  "title": "Americans’ love of oversized Halloween skeletons is still going strong",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/americans-love-of-oversized-halloween-skeletons-is-still-going-strong",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-04T09:53:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/american-oversized-halloween-skeletons-still-going-strong-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Since its launch in 2020, the 12-foot Skelly decoration from Home Depot has captured a massive following. The jumbo Halloween skeleton trend continues to thrive, with Walmart-owned Sam's Club stating that sales of their 11-foot Reaper have surpassed expectations since its June release. Sam's Club reported a 67% increase in online visits to its Halloween decor product listings in July compared to the previous year. The oversized skeletons, often accompanied by friends, have become a prominent summer tradition in the US, with some setups lasting year-round. Phil Michalski, living near Philadelphia, owns multiple Skelly and Reaper models, with many kept up all year due to weather damage. Engineer Nelson Bairos, based near Boston, began a side hustle creating repair parts for the original Skelly to ensure its durability through storms and usage. While competitors like Lowe's offer jumbo spooky decorations, none have matched the enduring popularity of the original Skelly. Sam's Club aims to create exclusivity and durability with their Reaper, sold exclusively for one season.",
  "summary": "Six years after the original 12-foot Skelly first went viral, the trend of jumbo Halloween yard decorations seems as strong as ever.",
  "key_points": [
    "12-foot Skelly from Home Depot has gained massive following since 2020",
    "Sam's Club's 11-foot Reaper sales surpassed expectations since June release",
    "Oversized skeletons become US summer tradition, some setups year-round"
  ],
  "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."
}