Four Square Clive is not just a one-stop shop, but also a 100 percent community-spirited hub.
Since taking over Four Square Clive two years ago, owner-operator Tommy Han has wanted to bring some fun and community spirit and has set up the first in-store trick-or-treat event. Before that, Four Square Clive had never done anything for Halloween.
In the first year, the store had about 80 trick-or-treaters; last year, it had almost 300, and this year, he aimed to double it.
“The whole community gets involved, not just the kids, but adults too. Everyone dresses up, comes in for a laugh, and we all have an awesome time together,” said Han.
“Halloween is actually quite big in Clive, and it’s amazing to see how much joy and connection this little event has created. That’s what it’s all about for us: community, fun, and good vibes.”
Han mentioned that Halloween and Christmas displays are all set by Foodstuffs. However, the store team tried their best to decorate the shop, inside and out, a week in advance to get into the Halloween vibe, and customers absolutely loved it.
This year, Foodstuffs made sharp deals on Pascalls Lollie bags for NZD 1.99 ea, which generated strong sales during the Halloween season. Confectionery and bagged lollies are popular for Halloween, while chocolate is for Christmas.
“Halloween is truly on Clive’s calendar for a reason. This year, we had so many incredible costumes, so much laughter and fun and once again, we broke records.”
Han himself dressed up as a 2000s rapper and said the team and community supported his hip-hop style. However, the highlight of the night for him was seeing Eli, a child who had just been released from the Starship Hospital, but he still made the effort to attend Four Square Clive’s trick-or-treat, which meant a lot to the store team.
As the number of trick-or-treaters at the store almost doubled from last year, the store gave away thousands of free lollies, which the community absolutely loved. Han said that they would try to start earlier next year, probably two weeks before Halloween.
