October is here, which means spooky season and the sprint to year-end. Between haunted deadlines and seasonal campaigns, it’s a busy month. We’ve rounded up a few reads and resources to help you keep things moving — with a little fall flavor along the way.
In this issue:
How to avoid frightful postage costs
Fall office traditions that build connection
A look at seasonal branding done right
Why deadlines feel so scary (and how to handle them)
The real nightmare: losing loyal customers (and how to keep them)
1.
Seasonal Branding Done Right
Pumpkin spice everything, haunted packaging, spooky pop-ups — October is when brands go all in. This JRR Marketing article examines why we shouldn't overlook the $528 million Halloween effect when considering seasonal marketing.
Postage hikes don’t have to spook your fall plans. A free audit from the Aradius Group team can uncover smarter formats, consolidation tricks, and more efficient strategies before the holiday rush. Plus, with more planned increases in 2026, now is the smart time to audit.
Featured Blog:
💌 How to Offset Postage Increases with Smarter Format Choices
Discover how small format changes can lead to significant savings — without sacrificing impact. 👉 Read More
3.
The Chili Cook-Off Effect
Our annual Chili Cook-off is more than a lunch—it’s a ritual that keeps us connected when the calendar heats up. If you’re shaping a low-lift fall tradition, here’s a list to spark ideas (and keep it inclusive):
💻 Hybrid-friendly activities (mystery games, decorating, storytelling) to include remote folks without extra overhead. Read More.
🎃 Halloween Team-Building Ideas. Check out the full list here.
✅ Bonus: Venue accessibility checklist for any on-site event. Read More.
4.
Why Deadlines Can Haunt (And How to Handle Them)
When crunch hits, procrastination isn’t just about willpower. This IdeaCast episode from Harvard Business Review distills three levers you can pull right away:
Habits: make starts automatic (tiny “first moves,” consistent cues) so the effort required to begin drops.
Emotions: notice/soothe the anxiety under avoidance (self-talk, normalize “incubation” for hard creative work).
Thought patterns: design “systems for the novel stuff” (your own repeatable checklist when a task feels new and intimidating).
It’s one thing to face haunted deadlines — but the real fright is when hard-won customers disappear. Loyalty marketing helps keep your audience connected, engaged, and coming back long after the first touch.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
Why retention is often more cost-effective than acquisition
Examples of brands that turn seasonal buyers into long-term fans
Practical steps to make loyalty part of your everyday strategy
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