For retailers, the pre-Christmas season means customers will be coming in droves, and your packaging needs to be ready to impress. So, when should you start designing your Christmas packaging?

The short answer: the sooner, the better.

Plan ahead for success

You may think that you have plenty of time to get your Christmas packaging sorted, but the truth is, the sooner you start, the better. Good design takes time and starting in October or November simply isn't enough time to create something exceptional.

Chances are that by the time you read this article, you’ll be starting to plan ahead for your packaging strategy for Christmas 2023.

Taking your time to determine the right festive packaging strategy gives you a better opportunity to wow your customers with a persona-optimised design, without going outside the budget or being hit by unexpected delays.

Remember, you need to develop a concept, create mock-ups, test them out and then make changes if required. All of this takes time, and you don't want to be rushed when it comes to your Christmas packaging.

Rushing the process can lead to substandard packaging or delivery delays, which could affect your Christmas fulfilment schedules. Your packaging is the first experience customers will have with your product, so you want to make sure it's a good one.

Give yourself time for changes

It's recommended that you provide Christmas packaging ideas at least four to six months in advance, and preferably eight to twelve. This way, if any changes need to be made at the design or production stage, there's plenty of time.

Trying to make last-minute changes is not only stressful, but it can also be expensive. And if you think changes won't be necessary, think again. A design is rarely perfect on the first try.

There's always room for improvement, and making changes early on is much easier (and cheaper) than trying to do so at the last minute. Also, make sure the product is ready at the same time, so you have time for testing alongside the packaging. You can avoid delays and last-minute scrambling if everything is ready to go well in advance.

Get a head start on the competition

Designing your Christmas packaging early also gives you a head start on the competition. If you wait until the last minute, you're more likely to end up with generic packaging that looks just like everyone else's.

But if you start early and put some thought into your design, you can create something unique that will stand out. Your customers will take notice, and that could lead to more sales.

Start designing your Christmas packaging today

Planning ahead is the key to success when it comes to Christmas packaging. The sooner you start, the better. This way, you can avoid rushing, make changes as needed, and get a head start on the competition.

If you're looking for bespoke packaging solutions for your Christmas products, get in touch with Kudos Giftwrap today. We can provide gift wraps, gift bags, and much more that will suit your branding and product needs. Contact us today to get started.

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