Nov 7

Holiday Production Timelines: What to Expect and How to Prepare

When ordering gifts during the holiday season, it is important to be aware that timelines may be longer than usual. This is due to the increased volume of orders that retailers and shipping carriers receive during this time of year.

 

Here is a look at how long it typically takes Whitestone to kit and order various custom, overseas, decorated, and domestic merchandise, using examples from our Whitestone Surf Club merch, along with a comparison of how long you can expect it to take during the holiday season:

FULLY CUSTOM OVERSEAS 

Custom Terrycloth Beach Bag Whitestone Surf Club 

 

Standard turnaround:
45 days (pre-pro + air shipping time, weekends included)

 

Holiday turnaround: 

65 days (pre-pro + air shipping time, weekends included)

BLANKS – DOMESTIC DECORATION

Micro Corduroy 6-Panel Hat

Whitestone Surf Club 

 

Standard turnaround:
10-12 business days

 

Holiday turnaround: 

20-25 business days

CUSTOM DOMESTIC BLANKS

Marine Layer Custom Dyed Tee Whitestone Surf Club 

 

Standard turnaround:
12-14 business days

 

Holiday turnaround: 

15-20 business days

BRAND NAME PRODUCT

Example: Yeti Tumbler 

 

Standard turnaround:
3-4 weeks after approval

 

Holiday turnaround: 

5-6 weeks after approval

KITTING 

 

Standard turnaround:

5 business days from receipt of all goods & distribution list

 

Holiday turnaround: 

10 business days from receipt of all goods & distribution list

As you can see, the holiday ordering timeline is typically 1-2 weeks longer than the typical ordering timeline. This is due to the increased volume of orders, as well as the fact that many retailers and shipping carriers offer extended holiday shipping deadlines.

 

To ensure that your gifts arrive on time, it is important to order as early as possible. Please note: These are just estimated timelines. Actual shipping times may vary depending on the product, retailer, and shipping carrier.

Tips & Tricks from Whitestone’s Production Team:

 

  • Inventory goes fast this time of year! It’s a good idea to have a few backups in the queue and to be flexible on product selection.

 

  • Shipping delays are inevitable! Even expedited methods that are typically guaranteed throughout most of the year cannot be relied on 100% during the holiday season. Plan ahead and add buffer days!

 

  • Ensure that all address information is accurate, especially contact names and phone numbers for international shipping.

 

  • Reminder: Chinese New Year is February 1–24, 2024. Although this may not directly impact projects that need to arrive before the holidays, we often have customers who order New Year’s gifts, which can coincide with Chinese New Year and impact turnaround times. Therefore, we recommend planning ahead.