Last Minute Christmas Checklist

1. Double check your stock needs

Before placing your order, it’s worth taking a few minutes to do a quick stock review. Christmas demand can be unpredictable, so making sure you have the right quantities now can save you from last-minute stress later. Here are a few things to look at:

• Core packaging items:

Think about the essentials you use every year - gift boxes, gift trays, hampers, bags, and postal packaging. Are your most popular sizes full stocks? Do you need to switch to alternative colours or styles if certain lines run low?

• Seasonal bestsellers:

Christmas customers often look for festive finishes such as deep reds, vibrant greens (which you can achieve easily with ribbon) and more rustic materials such as natural wicker. If you offer themed gift sets of seasonal bundles, make sure you have enough packaging to meet the seasonal uplift.

• Finishing touches:

Ribbons, bows, shred, tissue paper and outer packaging may seem small, but they’re the details that take your presentation to the next level. These are also the items most frequently forgotten in last-minute orders, and the ones that run out the fastest.

• Packaging for specific products:

If you’re creating gift hampers, check whether you have the right tray or basket sizes to match your product range. For retail hampers, look at whether you have enough filler material and decorative elements to keep shelves looking full through December.

• Unexpected demand or last-minute gifting:

It's always helpful to keep a little extra stock for unplanned orders, corporate gifting requests, or a high-traffic weekend. Ordering a small buffer now can help you smoothly move through those busy final days before Christmas.

2. Allow time for delivery

With Christmas being the busiest time of the year for couriers, planning ahead for delivery is essential. Even if you’re placing a last-minute order, choosing the right delivery option can make all the difference to when you’re packaging arrives. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Understand your delivery options

We offer straightforward delivery to make it easy for you to get your stock quickly, efficiently and, perhaps most importantly, without any breakages.

• Express delivery (usually 2 working days)

Ideal for urgent orders when you’re running low on key packaging lines. If you need to turn around new stock quickly - especially in the final weeks before Christmas - express delivery is your most reliable option. It’s also perfect for replacing unexpectedly fast-selling items or responding to a sudden surge in demand. If you’re order is going to be palletised, then please allow extra time for this type of larger delivery.

• Free standard delivery

We offer free standard delivery on orders that are £150 ex VAT and over. This is great for stocking up hampers, presentation packaging, or bulk ribbon and filler before the big rush. Standard delivery is dependable, and we have a great relationship with our couriers but it’s always worth bearing in mind that couriers become busier over the December months.

• No minimum order value

Whether you’re ordering a full pallet of hampers or topping up with just a few rolls of ribbon, there’s no minimum spend. This flexibility means you can place multiple small orders if needed - but earlier ordering always offers more breathing room during the festive rush.

3. Ensure your delivery address is correct

In the run up to Christmas, it’s surprisingly easy for small administrative errors to cause big delays. A quick check of your delivery details can make a huge difference to how smoothly your order arrives.

• Verify the full address:

Make sure the building name or number, street, postcode, and any unit details are correct and up to date. If you’re recently moved premises or have multiple sits, double check which address your order should go to.

• Add a reliable contact number:

Couriers often need a phone number to clarify directions or arrange access. Providing a direct line helps avoid unnecessary delays.

• Include delivery instructions if needed:

If your business has loading bays, restricted access, or specific drop-off points, note these clearly. Instructions like ‘deliver to rear entrance’ or ‘use reception buzzer’ help the drivers find you faster and causes less delays to you getting your stock.

• Check seasonal opening hours:

If your business is closed on certain dates in December, choose a delivery option that avoids those days. This can help prevent orders being held or returned to us.

4. Check cut off dates for Christmas

As Christmas approaches, courier networks become busier, meaning delivery windows can tighten and delays become more common. Knowing when to place your order gives you the best chance of receiving everything on time. 

• Order earlier than you think:

Even though we’re here despatching orders up until midday on Tuesday 23rd December, you should definitely be placing your final pre-Christmas orders with us now. Come Christmas week we can’t guarantee orders placed that week would get to you before those important last shopping days.

• Consider your own deadlines:

If you’re fulfilling hampers, building gift sets, or preparing retail displays, work backwards from your completion date. This helps you determine the latest safe day to order your packaging.

• Don’t forget protective packaging

It’s always something that can easily get overlooked but transit packaging is key if you’re sending out hampers to customers. Our strong outer cartons are made to fit our wicker hampers and wooden bottle boxes. If you’re buying different sized cardboard gift boxes then take a look at what the best outer box would be to fit your hamper and ensure you pad it out with bubble wrap, tissue paper or shredded paper.

With a little planning and this last-minute checklist, you can make sure your gift packaging arrives on time for your hamper creation to go smoothly. Remember to double check your stock, choose the delivery option that suits your timeline, confirm your address, keep cut-off dates in mind, and add any finishing touches now.

Whether you’re planning to place a larger order to quality for free delivery or a smaller urgent order using express delivery, we've got you covered - with no minimum order value and reliable options to suit your needs. Don’t leave it to the last minute and, if you’re unsure on anything then give our sales team a call on 01278 437123 or email them at [email protected].