Hobby Lobby founder David Green walked away from millions of dollars in Halloween merchandise sales over his Christian beliefs, according to a Newsmax report featuring the businessman’s explanation of his priorities. The report put the sales he gave up at more than $22 million. Green acknowledged that decisions driven by his faith have carried financial costs. Asked whether he would compromise his Christianity or integrity for more money, he answered, “I would not.”
The exchange came in an interview with The School of Hard Knocks that Newsmax included in its coverage of Hobby Lobby’s decision to stop selling Halloween merchandise. Correspondent Heather Myers reported from San Diego, where she visited a store to check its seasonal selection. The segment also featured shoppers questioning the missing products on TikTok. Their videos showed customers searching for Halloween decorations and finding merchandise for other seasons and holidays instead.
One shopper described the trip as “Halloween hunting at Hobby Lobby,” before changing that description to “fall hunting because apparently they don’t do Halloween there.” Another complained, “There is no Halloween. There is Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is no Halloween. I’m so confused.” A further shopper demanded an explanation from the retailer: “Every year I go to Hobby Lobby, and I’m highly disappointed when there’s no Halloween.”
In the Newsmax report, Myers described what she found when she checked the store herself. “I went over to a Hobby Lobby store here in San Diego and confirmed that there is not one Halloween item on the shelves,” she said. The location still offered seasonal decorations for customers preparing for autumn. “Instead, you will find all fall-themed items like pumpkins, scarecrows, and leaves.”
Myers addressed Green’s religious objections to the Halloween selection. She reported that, in interviews, he had described Halloween as a dark holiday and a celebration of death that did not honor God, pointing to merchandise featuring blood and gore. The segment’s opening also attributed his decision to his belief that God was calling him to stop selling those decorations. Newsmax connected the reported $22 million in forgone sales specifically to Halloween merchandise.
Watch Green explain why he would not compromise his faith for more money here:
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The report played Green’s response to the question about compromising his faith or integrity for financial gain. “I would not. And there’s a lot of things that we’ve done not selling Halloween,” he said. Green went on to acknowledge that the company had previously carried those products. “We used to sell Halloween, and every one of them that I can think of has cost us money in the short term, but in the long term, God has blessed our company.”
Myers also reported that Halloween was not the only holiday removed from the retailer’s seasonal lineup in recent years. Hobby Lobby had discontinued Hanukkah and Mardi Gras merchandise as well, she said. For those changes, the report cited previous statements to media outlets about making room for stronger product categories. The company’s earlier explanation also cited the need for space for newer categories.
The clip closed with another business decision tied to the founder’s faith: Hobby Lobby’s Sunday closures. Myers said the policy applied to all of the chain’s stores, which the segment numbered at 1,100. Those locations remain closed every Sunday. Explaining Green’s reason for that policy, she said he “wanted to give his employees the opportunity to go to church.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.