College students provide a huge consumer market spending around $417 billion a year on schools based products such as textbooks, rent, and tuition.  However, Holiday season is upon us, and these next three months will have a huge monetary impact on niche businesses such as costume stores, haunted houses, as well as other specialized shops. Halloween is arguably the most celebrated student holiday of the year. The National Retail Federation reported that 69.4% of 18 to 24 year olds dressed up, 55.4% either threw or attended a party, and 38.6% visited a haunted house in 2010. From 2009 to 2010 adults averaged spending $10 more on costumes making the total amount spent on Halloween $5.8 billion.

Holiday season is a pivotal time for businesses to rack in the dough; here is a list of some ideas for Halloween or any seasonal marketing campaigns geared towards college students.

• Bars/ Restaurants
• Start a month before Halloween and market Halloween pub crawls, DJs, and special drinks. Social Media will be a great medium for this.
• Costume contests in which the winner receives a prize will drive students to the bar for a chance to win. The prize should have to be redeemed another night bringing them back to the bar with friends. This method will bring more money into the establishment by ensuring that they will come back another night. Getting contact information is also key for later use.
• Shops
• Costume contests for Halloween stores are also beneficial. Create a social media contest encouraging consumers to post their costumers purchased from the store. In order for them to submit a photo, they must like your Facebook page creating more traffic on your page as well as your store.
• The prize; winner gets a gift card valid through next Halloween ensuring returning customers. We all know Halloween shopping is a group event, so the likelihood of the winner returning with a group of friends is high.

OnCampus Advertising can help you execute the perfect seasonal campaign through social media, postering, IP, billboards, and many more mediums. Take advantage of this Holiday Season to rake in the dough!