8 Businesses That Boom On Easter

Easter is the time for eggs, bunnies, and pastels, and the moveable feast is also a huge keystone of the Christian calendar.The non-religious can enjoy it, too, especially if they're the entrepreneurial type. Businesspeople and lovers of sweets, spring flowers, and ironic party themes alike are sure to enjoy these eight businesses and industries that boom on Easter.

1. Peeps

   Which came first: the chicken or the egg? Looks like it was the chicken — the yellow, sugar dusted chicken. The marshmallow and crystallized sugar treats got their start in the 1920s, developed through the 1950s by Russian immigrant Sam Born. Originally, each Peep was hand created, and the entire process took nearly 30 hours per Peep. While Peeps now exist for almost every holiday, the original yellow chicken remains the top seller.

   Fun Fact: Every year, the Washington Post hosts a Peeps contest. The results are announced the week before Easter, and the cute and funny dioramas are always worth the winter wait.

2. Cadbury Creme Eggs

   And now to discuss the egg. Cadbury Creme Eggs are a best Easter seller in the U.S. and U.K., and have been since 1923 (though 1963 was the year that they came into their own as the chocolate and fondant creme eggs that we know today). Known for the Cadbury bunny and other fun ads, the chocolate purveyor only sells the eggs between New Year's Day and Easter. Better get your Cadbury's on quickly, folks — you don't want to have egg on your face!

   Fun Fact: In 2007, the American versions of the Cadbury's Egg were reduced from the standard size of 39 grams and 180 calories to a 34-gram, 150-calorie treat. The United Kingdom still sells the sweets at their original size.

3. Bunny Suits

   The influx of the wholly disturbing insertion of "Furries" into the cultural lexicon, and emo Gen-Xers still thinking that a Donnie Darko-themed Halloween costume is in any way relevant notwithstanding, the bunny suit industry wins the day on Easter. When Spring has sprung, and you likely have a day or two off of work or school, you'll start seeing these costumes everywhere. Easter Bunnies routinely pose for photos in shopping malls, and you may see them at children's community Easter egg hunts. There's another type of bunny suit, however, that you're probably aware of — and the skimpy version sells well year-round.

4. Anything Cross-Shaped

   As Easter is traditionally celebrated as a Christian holiday, commemorating Jesus Christ's execution and ascension into heaven, Bibles and anything cross-shaped (prime example: this strange mp3 player) sell well this time of year. For the non-religious, you may once again be annoyingly reminded that, like Christmas, "Jesus is the reason for the Season!" But rest assured in your skeptical heart of hearts that, actually, the original reason for the season was a pagan festival to celebrate fertility and Spring (with eggs, bunnies, and the like). No matter what you're celebrating, places like James Avery and your local Christian bookstore are celebrating the religiosity of Easter — all the way to the bank.

5. Giant Statues of Faces

   One business that should boom on Easter is (what we can only imagine to be) the multi-quadrillion dollar Statues of Large Faces industry. This idea works best for the non-religious. If you prefer cheeky theme parties to reverent communion, try having an Easter Island party to celebrate the holiday. Large statues of faces are available in many shapes, sizes, and materials, and the retro tiki style is always in fashion. If you're not feeling the spirit of spring, you can at least help out the natives.

   Fun Fact: Easter Island takes its name from its discovery on Easter Sunday in 1722. The native name for the island is Rapa Nui. Their written language, also called Rapa Nui, has never been deciphered. Kevin Reynolds and Kevin Costner wrote, directed, and produced a 1994 film called Rapa Nui that we bet you've never seen or heard of, as it was a giant flop. It's worth watching, however, at your Easter Island party. The entire film was shot on location.

6. Flowers

   Florists always have loads to do — and they stand to make lots of money — on major holidays. But there's something immensely special about the flora of the Easter season. It's the beginning of spring, and many of the world's most beloved flowers are only available this time of year. What would Easter (and, indeed, spring) be without dogwoods, lilies, and tulips? One word: autumn.

   Fun Flower Facts: While most flowers have had their own meanings since the Victorian era, Easter flowers are their own set of celebratory symbols. The Easter lily represents the purity of Jesus and the forgiveness of sin through Christ's death, while the narcissus (daffodil) symbolizes eternal life. Narcissus is a perennial flower, and re-sprouts and blooms each year — also representing eternal renewal of life through faith in Christ. The cup-shaped tulip represents rebirth as well, and Jesus' love to the world. The most delicate and beautiful of the Easter flowers, the dogwood, is ripe with Christian symbolism, and the flowering tree routinely blooms solely during the Easter season. The faint red in the middle of the sweet, cross-shaped white flowers symbolize Christ's blood, while the white of the petals symbolize purity and the Divine.

7. Baby Animals

   Cute baby animals, such as rabbits, chickens, and ducklings, are often given to children as gifts for Easter. But the CDC warns that these cute critters could carry calamity-causing bacteria, like Salmonella. If you're going to disregard the CDC (what do those guys know, anyway?), make sure that you have a plan for care of the animal as it becomes an adult. If you're a parent, make sure that you have the wherewithal to take care of an adult rabbit, chicken, or duck — or maybe just opt for a baby animal petting zoo trip instead.

8. Eggs

   There's no better time of year to sell the crap out of some eggs. Chicken eggs, plastic eggs, dinosaur eggs — well, maybe not dinosaur eggs. Easter egg dyeing, Easter egg hunting, and egg-themed treats abound during this season. And kids simply delight in finding things like jellybeans, small chocolates, and coins hidden inside brightly colored plastic eggs. If you go the traditional route, the Easter Bunny will be happy to hide your family's dyed and decorated eggs. (Just be sure to find all of them, or you'll have a sour smell on your hands before you can say "Good Friday.") Originally a pagan symbol of fertility for the spring celebration, the Easter egg also functions as a Christian symbol for spiritual renewal and rebirth. A word to the wise for parents: don't be like the adults in the video below. A Colorado town was forced to cancel their community Easter celebration because of the egg-ressive hunting tactics that ruined the fun for the children. Take a lesson from the kids, adults, and grow up. It's all in good fun; no need to trample your neighbors for pastels made of plastic. Happy hunting!

Taken From Business Insurance