Managing the demand for tricks & treats!

The jack-o-lanterns are carved, the ghosts and goblins are looming, the witches are stewing their brew and the kids are busy finalizing their costume and hunting down the biggest pillow case for their candy. And the parents? Well, I know my mom is probably excitedly shopping at the local store for the coolest stock of Halloween candy to give out - only to be disappointed when all of 5 kids will show up at the door screaming "Trick or Treat!!"

It never ceases to amaze me, how excited my neighborhood still gets for Halloween. Neighbors that saw me grow up continue to decorate and get into the Halloween spirit, which in my opinion is fine, but they also continue to have extremely large stocks of candy to distribute - despite the fact that hardly any kids come to trick or treat in the area anymore. "Well you never know when a bunch of children might just show up, its always good to be prepared." says Mom. (Prepared for "how things always have been" or "how things are changing?")

Let's examine the trends.

Of course I know! 15 years ago, this neighborhood was relatively new; plenty of kids and young families.  The average family spends about 10 years in their home, before either they move into smaller dwellings or their kids grow up and move on to universities. This neighborhood has simply aged. The children have grown up and out of the trick or treating phase.   There is simply no demand left for the treats. Yet we expend our time and resources on Halloween extravaganzas, buying loads of candies only to have a personal collection of candy leftover - resulting in your own higher blood sugar and extra indulgences. 

Didn't anybody notice that things have changed?!

I guess if we indulge in Halloween treats, it shouldn't come as a surprise when we indulge on our resources within our organizations.  We continuously fail to understand true business demand and define proactive behavior by purchasing extra disk space or extra PC's just because "we never know when a bunch of requirements might just show up." Also, by the way, resulting in higher blood sugar and plenty of unnecessary indulgences. Happy Trick or Treat'n!