Navigating Public Holidays: Plan Ahead for Smooth Ordering
Public holidays! You love them, we love them! They’re a time to celebrate, reconnect with family and friends, and take a break from work. But when you’re eagerly waiting on an order, public holidays can quickly become frustrating.
To help you navigate these challenges, here’s a breakdown of the most inconvenient public holidays for order processing and how to plan ahead to avoid delays.
Christmas and New Year
The holiday season is the most significant downtime for businesses in the Western world. With all the prep, celebrations, and recovery involved, most workplaces wind down from the weekend before Christmas to the Monday after New Year’s Day.
How This Impacts Your Orders
- Extended closures: Many teams take two weeks off, which can push your order into the new year.
- Shipping delays: Holiday gift-giving overloads the postal system, increasing the likelihood of delays for local and international deliveries.
Planning Tip
Get your Christmas merchandise and corporate gifts sorted before September or October. While it might seem early, this ensures your products are processed and delivered on time.
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Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the biggest holiday in the Chinese calendar. In 2025, it runs from January 29 to February 16, but the impact can last for weeks.
Holiday Overview
- Factories shut down completely for 15 days or more.
- Many businesses suspend operations as people travel home for family reunions and celebrations.
How This Impacts Your Orders
- Factory closures: Manufacturing may halt for up to a month.
- Shipping backlogs: Orders processed late in the year may face delays until after February.
Planning Tip
If your products are sourced from China, place orders before November to guarantee dispatch before the holidays.
State and Local Public Holidays
Melbourne Cup Day
- A public holiday in Victoria, this day impacts processing and shipping from Melbourne-based factories and warehouses.
- While the rest of Australia enjoys a quick race break, Victorians get a full day off, causing slight delays.
Show Days
- Almost every town or city in Australia has a public holiday for their annual show.
- These typically cause minor one-day disruptions, which are manageable with prior planning.
When to Order to Avoid Public Holiday Delays
To ensure smooth processing and delivery:
- Christmas Merchandise: Order in September or October.
- Spring Merchandise: Place your order before Christmas to avoid Chinese New Year delays.
- General Orders: Aim for a three-month lead time to account for holidays and unexpected delays.
As always, early planning helps navigate public holidays and unforeseen circumstances.
Need Help?
If you’re unsure what promotional products best represent your brand, try our Merch Matcher™. We’re here to make your ordering process seamless and stress-free, no matter the season.
Plan ahead, and let us help you avoid the pitfalls of public holiday delays!