Orlando, Monday, 1 September 2025.
Universal Destinations & Experiences is staging a coordinated, global Halloween merchandise rollout for fall 2025 that centralises licensing and pushes region-specific lines—most notably Japan-origin HamiKuma items—across parks including Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. For retail planners this signals a shift to scalable, locale-tailored SKU migration designed to lift per-capita spend during seasonal peaks while amplifying destination launches such as Epic Universe through synchronized broadcast and media support. The move, announced as part of broader expansion activity and tied to ongoing UK resort planning, highlights merchandise as both revenue driver and brand-consistency tool. Operators should expect increased central curation of IP-based assortments, tighter cross-park supply flows, and opportunities for higher-margin limited-edition drops during extended event periods like Halloween Horror Nights. Practical implications include revising SKU strategies, forecasting models, and store-level merchandising calendars to capture trans-market demand and leverage PR momentum from park openings and special events across the estate now.