Every October, spooky season takes over. Pumpkin spice everything, skeletons in Target aisles, and endless Halloween puns on Instagram. At Studio West Design Co, we didn’t just want to watch it happen—we wanted to ride right into it. That’s how our Spooky Merch collection was born.

Our First Attempt (AKA: The Flop)

Here’s the honest truth: we actually launched Spooky Merch last year, but… we didn’t give it the time it deserved. We threw it together with about two weeks of lead time, and the results showed. No runway, no strategy, no buildup… just a quick drop into the world.

And guess what? It flopped.

But here’s the kicker: it flopped for the exact same reason we tell our clients not to rush their launches. A campaign without proper lead time and a clear launch strategy is like showing up to a Halloween party without a costume- awkward and forgettable.

What We Preach (And Practice)

At SWDC, we’re always talking about the importance of:

• Building anticipation (your audience needs time to get excited)
• Planning a full funnel (emails, socials, ads—not just one post)
• Giving your offer breathing room (so it doesn’t feel slapped together)
  

Last year, we ignored our own advice. This year? We’re doing it right.

The 2025 Approach

This season’s Spooky Merch is more than just a sweatshirt drop. It’s a marketing case study—our way of showing small businesses what happens when you pair creativity with strategy. We’re treating it like we would any client project: teasing early, designing with intention, and making sure the launch has legs.

Because when you give your campaign a proper runway, it doesn’t just launch, it flies.