Spirit Halloween’s Memes: A Spooky Season Tradition That’s No Trick

Embracing Internet Humor: How Spirit Halloween’s Memes Have Become a Viral Tradition

When it’s time for Halloween, you can count on one thing almost as much as candy and costumes – memes about Spirit Halloween. These digitally altered jokes have become a cherished tradition that not-so-subtly promotes the chain of Halloween pop-up shops.

As the leaves change and pumpkins appear on doorsteps, the internet starts buzzing with memes dedicated to Spirit Halloween. These memes poke fun at the pop-up store’s uncanny knack for rapidly occupying abandoned retail spaces and lampooning some of the outrageous costumes you can find there. They typically start trickling online around mid-September and by mid-October, you’re almost drowning in them.

This year, Spirit is celebrating its 40th anniversary with over 1,500 locations sprouting up across the country. That means 40,000 seasonal jobs and a lifeline for landlords whose properties would otherwise be sitting empty. While many businesses might cringe at the thought of becoming internet fodder, Spirit Halloween has chosen a different path. They’ve embraced the memes, and surprisingly, it’s made their brand feel hip and culturally relevant.

Even though the memes might not always be flattering and occasionally dance on the line of good taste, they do keep Spirit Halloween in the spotlight. This is particularly beneficial given the surge in consumer spending on Halloween, estimated to reach a record-breaking $12.2 billion this year by the National Retail Federation.

Unlike some major retailers, Spirit Halloween doesn’t have a colossal marketing budget, so you won’t find too many television commercials featuring their products. Instead, they’ve let the internet do the heavy lifting, making their name synonymous with Halloween.

David A. Schweidel, a professor of marketing at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, aptly points out, “There’s virtually no downside for Spirit Halloween. With such a seasonal business, by the time consumers are tired of the memes, Halloween will be over, and we won’t see anything until next year, by which point we’ll have completely forgotten about the volume of content that people are pumping out right now. . . . Tie-ins with current events and pop culture will only help as far as standing out in the crowded digital landscape.”

Spirit has not only embraced the meme culture but has also actively engaged in it. Last year, they even featured a list of their favorite fake costumes on their website. Among them was a costume parodying pro football player Travis Kelce. The brand has found itself at the center of viral jokes, like when a Spirit Halloween banner adorned Trump Tower, capitalizing on rumors about the former president’s business status.

Memes have a habit of targeting stereotypes and whatever is trending in pop culture. They’re simple to create and don’t demand much time, which explains their popularity. Everyone from sandwich artists to Bernie Sanders and even celebrities like Sarah Michelle Gellar has joined in on the fun, sharing their own meme-worthy costume ideas.

The meme itself began in 2019 and has since evolved into a Halloween tradition. While it often pokes fun at celebrities and politicians, the focus remains on stereotypes and what’s currently hot in pop culture.

However, there’s a line, and Spirit Halloween has shown they’re not afraid to draw it. When a “Gay Guy” costume meme surfaced, some found it offensive. Spirit swiftly distanced itself from the meme, emphasizing that it wasn’t an officially licensed costume from their company. They also noted that photoshopping their packages seemed to be a trend and promised to review the situation.

In the world of memes and Halloween, Spirit Halloween has become an unlikely champion, proving that embracing online humor and a viral trend can do wonders for your branding. So as the spooky season approaches, don’t be surprised if you stumble upon a hilarious meme featuring a Spirit Halloween costume package. It’s all part of the fun, and Spirit Halloween is ready to celebrate its 40th anniversary with humor and style.

By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feedhttps://skybuzzfeed.com/category/us/