How Early Should You Order Business Christmas Cards in the UK?

Is it too early to talk about Christmas? For savvy businesses in the UK, absolutely not! While the summer sun might be shining, proactive planning for the festive season is a hallmark of successful businesses. Among the many elements of Q4 strategy, ordering your business Christmas cards often gets overlooked until it's too late. But why is it so important to get a head start, and just how early should you really be ordering your business Christmas cards in the UK?

Here at Greetd, we believe that sending corporate Christmas cards is more than just a tradition; it's a powerful tool for client retention, building goodwill, and enhancing your brand image. Let's dive into why getting ahead of the curve is crucial and when you should be making your move.

Why The Early Birds Win: The Benefits of Proactive Planning

The idea of tackling Christmas in June (or even September!) might seem a little odd, but for your business's festive greetings, it's a strategic masterstroke. Here's why ordering your business Christmas cards early offers a significant advantage:

1. Avoid the Rush & Stress:

As December approaches, the pressure mounts. Suppliers get inundated, designers are booked solid, and you're juggling end-of-year reports, holiday leave, and last-minute client demands. Ordering your cards early eliminates this stressful bottleneck. You'll avoid the panic, hurried decisions, and the feeling of something essential slipping through the cracks. A calm, organised approach ensures a superior outcome.

2. Ample Time for Design, Proofing & Revisions:

The real time-saver comes in perfecting your card's customisation and message. Ordering early provides generous lead time for careful proof-reading by multiple team members, making necessary revisions, and ensuring final approvals. This ample time allows for more intricate customisation – whether it's a fully bespoke design, precise brand colour matching, or simply ensuring your logo looks perfect. A finer attention to detail ensures your cards are flawless, reflecting positively on your brand's commitment to quality. You won't have to settle for "good enough" when you've got time for "perfect."

3. Strategic Budgeting & Cost-Effectiveness:

Having your card order sorted early means you can allocate and finalise your budget for this specific marketing activity without unexpected last-minute expenses. This contributes to smarter financial planning for Q4, allowing you to focus resources where they're most needed as the year draws to a close.

4. Smoother Logistics & Reliable Delivery:

It goes without saying that the postal service in the UK (and globally) experiences an enormous surge in volume during November and December. Shipping times can become unpredictable, and even reliable couriers face delays. Whilst you can take advantage of the fast print turnaround times we offer (typically 1-3 working days!), ordering early still provides an essential buffer. This ensures your cards arrive well in advance of the postal rush, ready for addressing and dispatch without any nail-biting waits, especially if you're sending a large volume.

5. Integrate with Your Q4 Marketing Strategy:

Your business Christmas cards shouldn't be an isolated task; they're a vital component of your overall client communication and Q4 marketing strategy. Ordering early enables you to integrate card sending seamlessly. You can plan who receives them, what personalised message goes into each, and even coordinate their arrival with other year-end communications or corporate gifts, creating a more cohesive and impactful client experience.

6. Stand Out in the Inbox (and Mailbox):

Imagine your clients' mailboxes in mid-December – likely overflowing with festive greetings! By sending your cards slightly earlier, perhaps in late November or the first week of December, your card can stand out from the crowd. It demonstrates foresight and ensures your message is seen and appreciated before the massive influx of holiday mail takes over.

Your Christmas Card Timeline: When to Act

So, given all these benefits, when should you actually be placing your order?

Our general recommendation: start thinking in September, order by mid-October.

For most UK businesses, beginning the planning process in September and aiming to place your final order by mid-October is the sweet spot. This timeline provides enough buffer for design, printing, and delivery without feeling rushed.

Let's break it down further based on your business size and customisation needs:

• Small Businesses & SMEs (e.g., Sole Traders, Small Teams):

While you might have fewer approvals and a quicker decision-making process, the benefits of early ordering still apply. Aim to finalise your design and be ready to order by late October/early November. With our quick print turnaround, this allows for ample time to address and dispatch your cards before the peak postal rush.

• Larger Corporations & Businesses with Complex Structures:

If your business requires multiple layers of approval (marketing, legal, senior management), or you're planning a highly customised design, you need to start significantly earlier. Begin initial discussions and design briefs in late August/early September. Aim to have your design finalised and ready for print by mid-October. This extended lead time accounts for internal reviews, potential design iterations, and ensuring everyone is happy before your cards are sent to print.

Now, Consider Your Customisation Level:

• ‘Off-the-shelf’ design with logo/printed message:

With our fast turnaround times, you could place your order as late as early-December and still receive your Christmas cards quickly. However, we always recommend ordering earlier than this to avoid any undue stress should unexpected problems arise, and to allow ample time for addressing and posting your cards on.

• Fully bespoke design:

This is where lead times stretch out for the design and approval stages – we recommend you factor in 2-4 weeks for this before you're ready for print. Once the design is finalised, we can have your cards printed and delivered in just 1-3 working days. For bespoke cards, aim to have your design brief started by mid-September and final artwork ready for print by late October, ideally earlier.

What to Consider When Ordering: Practical Tips for a Smooth Process

Once you've committed to early ordering, here are the practical elements to consider:

1. Quantity Estimation:

Beyond your current client list, think about key suppliers, partners, prospects you'd like to impress, and of course, your own employees. It’s always better to order slightly more than you think you need than to run out.

2. Design & Branding:

How will your cards represent your brand? Will your logo be prominently displayed? What message will reinforce your company's values? Maintaining brand consistency is key, so this all needs careful consideration.

3. Personalisation Level:

Decide if you'll be adding printed signatures, personalised names, or if a generic, professional message will suffice. Hand-written additions can add a very personal touch, but are time-consuming, so it’s best to plan for this!

4. Internal Approval Process:

Map out who needs to approve the design, the messaging, and the budget. Get their suggestions and approval in early to avoid bottlenecks.

5. Mailing Logistics:

Will you be hand-delivering some cards? Sending others via post? Factor in postage costs and ensure you have an up-to-date address list for all recipients. To save time and simplify the entire process, consider our Send Direct service, where we can handle the addressing and posting for you.

6. Sustainable Options:

Many modern businesses value sustainability. When ordering your cards, choosing eco-friendly options is a great way to align with your brand's environmental commitments. At Greetd, we're proud to print exclusively on sustainably sourced papers, ensuring your festive greetings are as friendly to the planet as they are impressive to your clients!

7. Send Your Festive Greetings with Greetd:

This is where we shine! At Greetd, we offer a seamless solution for your business Christmas card needs. From a diverse range of card templates to bespoke design services and high-quality printing, we can guide you through the entire process and help you create Christmas cards that truly represent your brand. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid (And Why Early Ordering Prevents Them!)

• Leaving it until the last minute:

The most common and easily avoidable mistake. It leads to all the pitfalls mentioned above.

• Underestimating lead times for design and internal approvals:

While we can offer quick printing times, the time it takes to get your internal team to agree on the perfect design and message is often the biggest bottleneck.

• Forgetting to proof-read:

A tiny error can undermine the professionalism of your entire effort.

• Not factoring in shipping delays:

Especially in the UK's busy pre-Christmas postal period, things can go awry.

• Ordering too few cards:

Needing a small top-up order last minute can be disproportionately expensive and stressful.

Ready to Get Ahead of the Christmas Rush?

Don't let the festive season catch your business unprepared. By starting your business Christmas card planning now, you're not just ordering cards; you're investing in stronger client relationships, showcasing your brand's professionalism, and enjoying a stress-free lead-up to Christmas.

Explore our range of corporate Christmas cards or contact us today to discuss your bespoke design and printing needs.

Let's make this Christmas a truly memorable one for your clients and your business!