'Squid Game' boom puts Montreal Halloween shops in global battle for exhausted stock
Halloween costume sellers in Montreal have found themselves tied up in an international scramble for "Squid Game" costumes, with worldwide demand already exhausting Chinese factories in the midst of a coal shortage.
With just days to go before the horror holiday, Montreal shop owners are having to shell out on high shipment costs for the costumes, hoping local interest is strong enough to make their money back.
Squid Game, which became a global sensation and the No.1 program on Netflix this fall, shows hundreds of cash-strapped players competing in hyperviolent games under the watch of military-style guards. Characters sport jumpsuit uniforms and fencer-style masks.
Faten Hodroge owns Oya Costumes, one of the largest costume retailers in Montreal. She says she’s been getting dozens of calls every day for Squid Game costumes.
“It's a huge challenge,” she said, because “it was a late starter.”
Hodroge says it’s common for costume retailers to order their costumes early in the year. At her store, she says she made most of her orders all the way back in January.
But Squid Game exploded in popularity through October, leaving shops around the world rushing to stock their shelves at the same time.
While the timing of the show’s boom was enough to cause a stir in global costume markets alone, it was a widespread coal shortage in China that tipped the scales towards a Halloween crisis.
“Logistics have been an absolute nightmare,” said Hodroge.
READ MORE: Supply shortage woes have Halloween retailers scrambling for stock
Hodroge says the factory responsible for manufacturing Squid Game costumes for her shop is working at reduced capacity because of an energy shortage in China.
A late-pandemic construction boom in China has pushed coal demand up. However, Beijing has recently called on coal mines to reduce production, a move aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
Weeks of power outages across the country forced the government to impose energy rationing during peak hours, and some factories have had to suspend production.
The capital has now increased electricity costs and ordered mines to increase production, and Hodroge is expecting to receive her costumes by Oct. 26.
That would leave just five days for people to pick up a costume before the big night – and no matter where they shop, they’ll probably end up paying more at checkout, according to Hodroge.
“The air shipment is costing more than the actual costume,” she said.
“Sometimes, you pay two or three times the price of the costume in shipping costs, just because time is so important and there is such a backlog.”
SQUID GAME TOP HALLOWEEN SEARCH TERM IN CANADA
A recent study by Father Mag found Squid Game is the most common Halloween costume search across Canada right now, beating out holiday mainstays like “princess,” “witch,” and even “Harry Potter.”
Dinosaur and fairy were reportedly tied for fifth place.
But there were a few exceptions to the Squid Game-mania. In Alberta, residents were more interested in Disney’s “Cruella” character, and in Newfoundland and Labrador, Harley Quinn was all the rage.
Nova-Scotia is sticking to tradition with a high volume of “witch” searches.
The territories were not included in the survey.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
New Canadian study could be a lifesaver for thousands suffering from CTE
A first-of-its-kind Canadian research study is working towards a major medical breakthrough for a brain disorder, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries, that can only be detected after death.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.