# Halloween and seasonal > Costumes, decorations and props. A short selling season, so stock, list and post on a tight calendar. Halloween sells in a narrow window. Buyers start browsing in September, the rush peaks in the first three weeks of October, and demand drops on 1 November. Costumes and decor are bulky but light, so the size of the parcel sets your postage cost more than the weight. Children's costumes count as toys in law, so they need a safety mark and must meet the flammability standard. The same approach works for Christmas jumpers, Easter decorations and Bonfire Night kit. Plan stock around the date, list early, and clear what's left at a discount when the day passes. ## How to pack it - Fold costumes into a clear bag, then a mailing bag. - Box masks, hats and fragile decor with bubble wrap and paper fill. - Send tracked in late October and post the same day. Avoid: Latex masks in a bag. They crease and lose their shape. - **[Grey mailing bags, 10 x 14 in, 100 pack](https://sellersetups.com/product/grey-mailing-bags)** (£8 to £13): Self-seal poly bags add almost no weight, so a single garment posts as a small parcel. You can't see through the opaque grey film, and a label lies flat on it. - **[Small single-wall boxes, 25 pack](https://sellersetups.com/product/single-wall-boxes)** (£8 to £14): Use these for boxed toys and beauty sets that a padded bag would crush, when double-wall board costs more than you need. - **[Bubble wrap, 500 mm x 100 m](https://sellersetups.com/product/bubble-wrap-roll)** (£10 to £15): A long roll costs several times less per metre than the small packs sold in shops. - **[100 x 150 mm thermal labels, 500 fanfold](https://sellersetups.com/product/thermal-labels-fanfold)** (£12 to £18): Fanfold stacks feed flat behind the printer and hold more labels than a roll. 100 x 150 mm matches the label size UK couriers and marketplaces print. ## Postage per order - Royal Mail Tracked 48 Small Parcel: £3.75. Clothing and small boxed items up to 2 kg, with tracking for less than untracked 2nd Class. - InPost locker to locker, medium: £2.59. Shoe boxes, books and bags up to 19 cm deep, sent between lockers when the buyer picks a locker. - Royal Mail Tracked 48 Medium Parcel: £5.70 to £12.25. Trainers, homeware and electronics up to 20 kg, tracked and cheaper than untracked 2nd Class. ## Planning stock around the calendar Order wholesale stock by early August so it's photographed and listed before buyers start searching. Late stock arriving in mid October misses most of the season. Buy deep in a few popular costumes and sizes, and shallow in novelty lines. Leftover classic costumes sell again next year; this year's viral character may not. ## Safety rules for costumes and decorations Children's costumes sold new need a UKCA or CE mark, and most UK retailers add a keep away from fire warning on top. Ask your supplier for the test report if the label is missing, and don't stock costumes without one. Plug in light up decorations need a UK plug and a UKCA or CE mark. Any battery item sold as a toy, and anything with a button battery, should have a compartment that needs a screwdriver to open. ## Photographing costumes and props Show costumes worn, or on a mannequin, plus a flat lay of every piece in the set. Give chest, waist and length measurements, as costume sizing runs small. Shoot light up decor twice: once in daylight to show the item and once in a dark room so buyers can see the glow. ## Running a seasonal live show Whatnot and TikTok Shop buyers enjoy themed shows with decorations behind you and props on camera. Mystery bags of decor and sweets sell well in the last two weeks. Tell viewers the last order date for delivery before 31 October at the start of every show. It prompts late buyers and saves complaints. ## Packing costumes and fragile decor Fold costumes into a clear bag, then a mailing bag. Keep masks and hats in a box so they hold their shape. Wrap ceramic pumpkins, glass lanterns and resin skulls in bubble wrap and box them with paper fill on every side. Test light up items before sealing the box. ## Postage in the last week of October Switch to a faster tracked service for orders placed in the final week, and state the cut off date in every listing. A costume that arrives on 1 November usually turns into a refund request. Book a collection or drop off daily during the peak, so parcels don't pile up in the spare room. ## Common mistakes - Buying stock in October leaves you listing as demand peaks, so order by August. - Stocking children's costumes with no UKCA or CE mark breaks the toy safety rules, so check labels before you pay. - Selling coloured contact lenses as an add on is against UK law without an optician, so leave them out of bundles. - Posting a latex mask in a mailing bag crushes its shape, so box it. - Leaving the last order date out of listings means parcels land after the party, so put the cut off in the title or first line. ## Setups - [Halloween costume and decor rush from a garage](https://sellersetups.com/setups/halloween-costume-garage-rush): Pre-loved costumes, props and decorations sold on Vinted, eBay and Depop in a six-week October peak, then stored dry until next year. ## Guides - [Best time to sell on Whatnot, Vinted and eBay](https://sellersetups.com/guides/best-time-to-sell): When toys, school uniform, festival clothes and Halloween stock sell, plus Whatnot show times, Vinted Bumps and eBay auction end times. ## Questions ### When should I start listing Halloween stock? List from late August or early September. Buyers who order costumes for parties plan weeks ahead, and the last week of October brings late orders that need fast postage. ### Do children's costumes need a safety mark? Yes. Costumes for children are treated as toys, so new ones need a UKCA or CE mark and should meet the flammability standard for dressing up clothes. Check the label before you buy wholesale stock. ### Can I sell coloured contact lenses? No. In the UK, cosmetic contact lenses can only be sold under the supervision of a registered optician or doctor, even with no prescription power. ### Can I sell prop weapons with costumes? Soft foam props in bright colours are fine on most platforms. Realistic imitation firearms are restricted by law, and blades of any kind bring age checks, so leave them out. ### Should I sell used costumes? Used adult costumes sell well on Vinted and Depop if they're washed and complete. Photograph every piece of the set laid out together, since missing hats and gloves are the most common complaint. ### What do I do with stock left after Halloween? Run a clearance show or bundle sale in the first week of November, then store the rest dry and flat for next year. Decorations keep well; latex masks can perish.