When do you start planning your holiday products?

Okay, so you want to create product and you want to design for holiday! Why wouldn't you? It is the busiest time of year for makers and small businesses. This is the time to aim for! When I say holiday- this covers all the holidays found at the end of the year.

When I first started out, I had no concept of having a timeline. I designed what I wanted, when I wanted and that felt good because at least I was creating, right? Well, it turns out that to be inspired to draw Christmas trees during Christmas is super common, but not helpful if you want to get those trees on products for the current season. However, if you draw your trees and then plan for next holiday you are setting yourself up for success!

As my business has grown, so has where I sell my product and there is a huge difference from selling wholesale to direct to customer (DTC).

Here is my current timeline for wholesale:

December/January: Draw and design all your holiday motifs, have them be ready to go.

January/February: Start to plan what and where you want to sell your products

February: Order product samples

March: Order product
April: Order all necessary packaging and shipping supplies to be ready for the Faire Summer market in July.

May: Double check everything and take photos

June: Upload all products and make sure listings are good to go

July: triple check inventory- nothing stinks more than overselling a product!

July-October: Ship your wholesale orders for holiday products.

Now, this is crazy right? July!? Yes, July. Shops are ready to buy products for holiday in July! This was news to me when I found that out.

Here is my current timeline for direct to customer: 

I use the same timeline through July. 

August: check inventory and re-order if needed to be ready for website launch

September: double check packaging, make sure you are ready to ship items

October: launch holiday products on my website. This date moves around, but buyers are ready to start seeing holiday after Halloween. 

November: keep sharing and shipping

December: set up a date to stop selling and shipping, in other words, close your shop for holiday. Take a break, eat a cookie, play with your kids and enjoy the season! (…and keep drawing holiday items for next season, lol)

This timeline has changed a lot in the past few years. It really depends on your goals and what you want to do in your business. Holiday sells! I hope this helps!