Back in July of 2020, we wrote a blog post related to potential shipping delays and when orders should be placed. Shipping methods we use, post-production operations, padding your order and holiday shipping are all topics that we cover.
Then, at the beginning of this year, we created an update to that post given the natural disasters, container shortages and ongoing global situations.
One thing that people are still unsure about with regards to shipping? What are the main holidays people create custom packaging for, and when would I have to place my order to get it in time?
There are many occasions that cause delays in custom orders in general – not just packaging! Orders can take anywhere from 1 month to 6 months depending on the time of the year, which is why it’s always important to plan ahead!
The LeKAC Pack has put together some schedules to help with your planning process – we cover when the specific holiday/festival/season is, when you need to start planning and what the cutoff times are!
Holiday & Festival Packaging
Minor holidays (for example, Canada Day) won’t set you back a significant amount of time. However, festivals such as Lunar New Year creates delays up to a month due to supplier locations.
As a business, it’s important to know about global events so that you can place your orders appropriately – even if you don’t celebrate it!
| Holiday/Festival | When is it? | You Should Start Planning in… | Your Order Should be Finalised by… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunar New Year | January/February | August | September |
| Valentine’s Day | February | September | October |
| St. Patrick’s Day | March | October | November |
| Easter | April | November | December |
| Mother’s Day | May | December | January |
| Father’s Day | June | January | February/March |
| Moon Festival | September | April | May |
| Halloween | October | May | June |
| Divali | October | May | June |
| Christmas | December | June | End of July |
Need some ideas on what products you can use for each festival/occasion? We’ve got you covered!
- Lunar New Year – red pockets, paper bags, gift boxes, pastry boxes
- Valentine’s Day – chocolate boxes, floral packaging (check out our suggestions!)
- St. Patrick’s Day – green mailer boxes, folding carton boxes
- Easter – chocolate boxes, ribbons, cake boxes, paper bags
- Mother’s Day – rigid boxes, bakery packaging, floral packaging, ribbons
- Father’s Day – rigid boxes, folding cartons, reusable bags, apparel boxes
- Moon Festival – mooncake boxes, white cardboard bags,
- Halloween – candy packaging, corrugated boxes
- Divali – sweet/pastry boxes, chocolate boxes, rigid boxes, paper bags
- Christmas – advent calendars, rigid boxes/tubes, wine bags, paper bags, apparel boxes
Seasonal Packaging
There’s a bit more leeway with seasonal packaging since you have a few months to play with. There isn’t a specific day you’re targeting, so some packaging can arrive a bit later and you’ll still be able to benefit from it!
It may seem odd to order summer packaging during winter, but it’s actually the ideal time to prepare! In order to avoid any delays, the earlier you order the better! We’ve identified the key seasons below for you.
| Season | When Does it Start? | You Should Start Planning in… | Your Order Should be Finalised by… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | March | October | November |
| Farm & Fruit Picking | June & July | January | February |
| Summer | July | January | February |
| Back to School | September | April | May |
| Fall/Autumn | September | April | May |
| Wine | September | April | May |
| Apple Picking | September | April | Beginning of May |
| Christmas Season | October | May | End of June |
| Winter | November | June | Enf of July |
In case you’re unsure of what type of packaging you may need for each season, check out our Industry Inspiration pages! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to our team to discuss your options.
You’re probably noticing that we have Christmas/holiday packaging in both tables – but why? There is a difference between Christmas Day and the Christmas season. If the purpose of your packaging is to celebrate the season, we suggest going with our Seasonal Packaging deadlines.
However, if your packaging is targeted as Christmas Day presents or for a sale, then you’ll probably want to follow our Holiday & Festival Packaging deadlines!
Times to Keep in Mind
Need a cheat sheet? Here are the most impactful time frames to remember:
- There can be delays up to 6 weeks during January and February due to Lunar New Year – many employees take time off to spend time with families, and some factories close for approximately 1 month!
- At the end of September, there is the Mid-Autumn Festival which means about a 1 week delay in production time
- Due to high production volumes by the end of the year, there can be delays up to 2 weeks in December of any given year – make sure you order early to meet your holiday deadlines!
- Christmas Day and the Christmas Season are different things and have different deadlines!
As a general rule of thumb, try to plan your packaging 6 months before you need it. This will ensure you have ample packaging in stock and any issues can be rectified without too much stress.
If you’re looking for inspiration, or just want to discuss deadlines further – check out our Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest pages!
