Dive Brief:
- Uber has partnered with Spirit Halloween to offer on-demand delivery service to the retailer’s customers, per a news release.
- Uber Eats, Postmates and the Uber app are now all available to Spirit Halloween consumers across the U.S. and Canada looking for fast delivery. The Spirit Halloween catalog is available on Uber for the same price as in-store, per the release.
- The move follows a trend of retailers seeking to expand their delivery options and get products to customers faster. In addition to Spirit Halloween, Uber has existing partnerships with Big Lots, Lowe's, Michael's and Party City for on-demand delivery.
Dive Insight:
The partnership between Uber and Spirit Halloween comes after the specialty retailer opened over 1,500 temporary locations nationwide this season.
Uber One members can access free delivery and discounts of up to 5% on all Spirit Halloween orders of at least $35. For all consumers, the companies are offering up to 40% off their next order of at least $50 through Halloween.
"The holiday season officially kicks off this time of year, and households across the country are looking to on-demand delivery to get what's needed — now," Beryl Sanders, director of U.S. grocery and retail partnerships at Uber, said in a statement. "That's one of the reasons we're most excited to bring Spirit Halloween to Uber Eats and our other Uber apps to make costumes and other Halloween must-haves a cinch. As a working mom, I know how crucial that last-minute face paint or mask can be on the morning of the school parade or the hour before trick-or-treating starts, and I'm thrilled we'll be able to meet that demand at Uber."
Instacart is also offering same-day delivery service with several major retailers, including Kohl’s, Sally Beauty and Costco. And DoorDash in June announced a similar partnership with Academy Sports and Outdoors.
But same-day delivery might not be that important to consumers, according to a Forrester report from December. Three-quarters of U.S. online shoppers said free shipping was the most important factor to them, while just one-fifth listed same-day or next-day delivery as a key factor in choosing which retailer to purchase from.
The announcement for Spirit Halloween to expand its delivery options also comes after the retailer in June announced plans to hire 50,000 seasonal employees. Halloween spending for 2024 is expected to decline this season to $11.6 billion from a record $12.2 billion last year, according to the National Retail Federation.
