Ghosties, Black Cats and a Balloon Boom: Wild Cat Gift + Party Does Halloween the Handmade Way

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Franklin County

COLUMBUS — There is no plastic Halloween aisle at Wild Cat Gift + Party. The Clintonville shop, the former Wholly Craft, stocks work from more than 200 handmade makers, and when October comes, the spooky stuff on its shelves was made by somebody, much of it right here in Ohio.

“We love the spooky themed creativity that comes out this time of year,” said owner Olivera Bratich. Ghosties, the shop’s word for its little ghost pieces, are popular as always, and black cat Halloween decor fills the shelves. Her Ohio-made favorites this season: collage prints from Wonder Doug, fall scented candles from Olive Roots, candy bucket earrings from The Foxy Hipster, and Spooky Movie Bingo from And Here We Are.

Curating 200-plus makers comes down to a point of view. “We love makers with a unique vision and a bold, distinct style,” Bratich said. “Color, fun, and humor resonate really well with our customers.” The shelves are stocked for book lovers, pop culture fans, crafters, cryptid followers, and, her phrase, sticker enthusiasts.

The surprise of the season is balloons. “Our Halloween balloons have never been more popular,” she said. “Balloons really make it a party, and we are seeing more people incorporating balloons into their Halloween events and decor.” Nostalgia is the other surge: Snoopy and vintage illustrations are back, and the Beistle Halloween decor the shop has carried for a decade went viral online this year, sending Clintonville neighbors in looking for it by name.

The shop’s Halloween preview party happens in early September, so the next dates on the calendar are holiday ones: a Holiday Open House on November 11 and an Ornament Show of local artist-made ornaments opening November 20. Halloween first, though. The ghosties are waiting.

Wild Cat Gift + Party is in Clintonville, Columbus.

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