Nextdoor’s collaboration with Party City on AR content may inspire families to celebrate Halloween in a way that follows social distancing guidelines during the pandemic. About three quarters (73%) of Nextdoor users said they’re looking for alternatives to trick-or-treating this year, the app found in a nationwide poll. Handing out candy to kids who go door-to-door or hosting a crowded indoor costume party are among the higher-risk activities that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend people avoid this year.
Nextdoor responded to consumers’ changing desires this year by updating its treat map, which the company says is its most popular seasonal feature, to highlight activities like haunted décor, pumpkin-carved projects or a “costume wave parade” that lets kids dress up while practicing social distancing. The revamped mobile map can help app users plan Halloween activities that are fun for kids, even if the tradition of trick-or-treating is curtailed.
For Party City, the sponsorship of AR content in Nextdoor’s app will remind users that they can still celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes and hosting at-home activities that make the occasion enjoyable for kids. Because Party City’s locations are marked in Nextdoor’s treat map, the retailer can help to drive foot traffic to stores while urging people to check in with the app to see new AR content. The promotional effort comes as retailers are seeing softer demand for Halloween costumes, though sales of candy and decorations are forecast to be more stable, Bloomberg reported, citing data from the National Retail Federation (NRF).
Source: Mobile Marketer
Omni Talk is the retail blog for retailers, written by retailers. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga founded Omni Talk in 2017 and have quickly turned it into one of the fastest growing blogs in retail. 
