How did your season end up?

[Todd Shumansky]

I'm curious about how business was for everyone this year. We were done about 6% compared to last year. It was still our second best year ever but it has me puzzled why we were down on some of the nights and up on others. I know that Friday the 13th in 2006 had a major impact on that weekend. The same Friday this year didn't even come close.

All in all it was a great year. Everything went pretty smooth with the exception of the usual PITA employees. We had zero injuries which made for a great year no matter what the attendance was. And to top it all off the prop we bought from Scare Factory made it in time for the last half of the month. (I had to get that jab in there.)

Our seasonal costume store's sales grew by about 40% compared to last year. This was the third year for the store and it is finally successful enough to justify the extra work, expense and inventory.

How did other pro haunts do for the 2007 season?

[Gravely]

This was our 15th season, and we did okay.
We were up about 6-7%

If I want to spin it really positve, I can at least say it was our best year since 2001 (9/11)

we had a price increase, but we also put in buy one get one free nights on sunday to combat the steeler football games. that worked as I thought, so the money per person was about the same average. our sundays were busier.
and we did sell more tickets for the season, not just make a little more because of the price increase.

Gravely

[Transfusion Tom]

All things considered, not too bad of a year, considering we moved locations and had only a few weeks for set-up and marketing. However, it would seem the economy, overall, has had a major impact on the bottom line, housing market crash, 'black' Friday for the stock market, and ever increasing gas prices.

The lines really didn't start popping until the end, which is both good and bad, good in the fact that you make your money, but bad in that you can loose some of the show.

My own two cents, certain markets can handle an entire month long run, but for the most part, high impact marketing, reduced time for operations (three weeks where you run Thursday to Sunday, and the last week run the entire week until Halloween), and proper crowd control is the best route to commercial haunt profitability.

Next year I'll most likely be implementing a lot of these ideas and see if they work, as always, everything's just theory till the first ticket is sold.

-T

[Jim Warfield]

We increased the ticket from $10 to $12 last Jan. 1st, this kept us "even"(although with the price increases in gas, electricity and other items we probably fell behind.)
The one really gratifying thing was the huge number of first time visitors this October, probably running at a solid 80% with advertising expense running at almost nothing! Same name, same location , open almost every night of the year for all these years might have have some influence?

[WeRnotSkitZo]

Not too bad considering...

This years season was marginal for us. Attendance was about the same as last year. I think we could have had better, but we opted to not open on Sundays and our marketing dollars were low this year. Coupled with Halloween coming on a Wed. this year, I think we did ok. Not great, but ok.

[HauntedWebby]

We were even. Only 5 ticket difference.

I guess we need to start advertising now

[tot13]

We do a fundraiser Trai of Terror, approximately 5/8 mile gided tour through the woods - this is our second year, staff of approximately 100 nightly.

2006, we were open ten nights: every Fri and Sat in Oct, then Mon and Tue, Oct 30 and 31. We had just over 2000 guests, averaging 200 per night.

2007, we were open six nights: every Sat in Oct, the last Fri (26), and Wed Oct 31. We had 1936 guests, averaging over 300 per night.

We changed the way got the groups ready: gathering, escorting them to the Trail entrance, and reading the rules. Increased our efficiency dramatically. We were very pleased that we maintained our overall volume with a 40% reduction in tour nights. Substantial repeat business not only from 2006, but repeat customers in 2007 (visited the Trail more than once in the 2007 season).

[drfrightner]

We ended up doing about 11,000 more between both attractions than last year.

Basically we went up about 15% for the year. When you consider we also gave aways fewer amounts on coupons, and limited days coupons could be used, and raised prices for children tickets, our revenue was up over 20% which means more than how many people came!

Larry

[Smiley]

Our 5th season was grand. With the extra advertising we had (many commercial spots, more posted flyers, and a costumed appearance at Valley View Grand Theatre during Rob Zombie's Halloween's opening night), we recived a 20%-30% increase in customers. November 3rd was our last night in the old lumber mill area for us. Around January, we will be re-locating to a bigger spot and already brain-storming ideas for next October.

[MMManiac]

We moved from 20 min out of a major city, to being in a major city (only 5 minutes down the road from the famous Terror on the Fox) and we did about a 20% increase in ticket sales. We advertised alot more then usual and being in the city helped. I think next year we should do even better now that people know where we are again.

Sean

[cooperfan]

We were up 25% over last year. Still wish i could find the magic way to bring people there earlier in the season. Most of our increase came late even with our coupons expiring after the second weekend.


Dean "The Nightmare Haunted House"
www.2scary.com