Concerns about price increases due to tariffs won’t stop consumers from celebrating Halloween this year. Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $13.1 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The figure is up from $11.6 billion last year and tops the previous $12.2 billion record set in 2023. Per-person spending has reached a record high of $114.45. That's nearly $11 more than last year and up from the previous record of $108.24 in 2023. Most Halloween shoppers (79%) anticipate prices will be higher this year specifically because of tariffs, the survey found. Despite reservations, nearly three-quarters of consumers (73%) plan to celebrate the holiday, in line with last year’s 72%.  Candy continues to be the most popular purchase, with total spending expected to reach $3.9 billion. Across other categories, 71% plan to purchase costumes and spending is expected to reach $4.3 billion.

Well, it’s (finally) 2021. As we crawl carefully, still masked, out of the shadows of 2020, there is still much unknown. One trend I’m trying to understand is which way the external agency vs. in-house agency pendulum will swing. Some suggest that the multilayered crisis that was 2020 now has in-house teams shrinking due to the economic implications. The answer to this is to outsource marketing and creative to agencies, and save employee salaries, while giving companies the ability to flex the work – and the budget – up or down as needed. Things being what they are these days, the ability to quickly pivot your dollars and your direction is critical. But, I’d argue that there are compelling reasons and opportunities to work with an outside agency beyond the fiscal remedy. Even companies that continue to maintain an in-house team can benefit greatly from working with an outside agency: to support an overloaded team, deliver a shot of creative adrenaline or stir up habitual thinking with a new perspective. Learn more at: https://www.jschmid.com/blog/3-hidden-truths-of-hiring-an-outside-agency/

The upcoming Amazon Prime Day annual sales extravaganza is expected to produce impressive results. Amazon is hosting Amazon Prime Day June 23-26, marking the second time the event will take place in June and third time it will occur outside of July. For the second year in a row, Prime Day will span four days, and as always numerous other U.S. retailers are holding competing online discount promotions. U.S. retailers are expected to drive a record $26.3 billion in online spend from June 23 to 26, representing 9% growth from $24.2 billion in 2025. This would be more than what consumers spent on Cyber Monday and Black Friday 2025 combined, which drove $14.25 billion and $11.8 billion, respectively ($26.05 billion total).