When to Order Handmade Ceramic Christmas Figurines to Avoid Holiday Delays

For importers, wholesalers, and online sellers

 Introduction: Why Holiday Planning Starts Earlier Than You Think

When it comes to Christmas, timing is everything — especially if you’re importing handmade ceramic Christmas figurines or other ceramic holiday decorations. While end consumers begin shopping in November, importers and retailers must think months ahead.

handmade ceramic house

Late planning leads to out-of-stock items, missed shipping windows, and rushed decisions that hurt both profit and brand experience. This is particularly true for handcrafted seasonal items like ceramic figurines, which require longer lead times and more detailed production.

To avoid costly delays, you need a proactive Christmas inventory planning strategy — and this guide will walk you through it.

Understanding the Ceramic Production Timeline

Ceramic production is not a quick process — it involves multiple stages including moulding, drying, bisque firing, glazing, hand-painting (if applicable), and final firing. Add to this quality checks, careful packaging, and international shipping, and you’re easily looking at 3–4 months or more.

Here’s a typical ceramic production and shipping breakdown:

• Sample development (especially for custom items): 15–30 days

• Mass production: 30–45 days depending on complexity and quantity

  

  Handmade Ceramic Christmas Products

• Sea shipping: 30–45 days depending on destination

• Air shipping: 5–10 days (but expensive for bulk)

• Warehouse prep & fulfilment: 2+ weeks

This means your “Christmas season” doesn’t start in October — it starts nearly a year before.

 Christmas Inventory Planning: When Should You Order?

For ceramic Christmas products — which are handcrafted, seasonal, and require international shipping — timing isn’t just important, it’s everything. Unlike mass-produced plastic decor, ceramics involve careful craftsmanship, longer lead times, and more complex logistics. So if you want your shelves (or your online store) stocked in time for holiday sales, early planning is a must.

✅ Start Planning in December — of the Previous Year

It may seem early, but successful importers and wholesalers typically start planning their holiday inventory in December or even earlier of the year before. This is when design discussions begin, especially if you’re creating exclusive pieces or working on custom moulds or painting.

 Why You Need to Work Backward from Your November Sales Date

Let’s say you aim to launch sales in early November. That means:

• Your stock should be in your warehouse by September or October

• Shipments need to leave China by May–July, depending on sea or air freight

• Production must be completed by April or May

• Final orders and deposits should be placed by January–February

• And your design and sampling should start in December or earlier

Working backward like this helps you build in realistic buffers for quality checks, packing, shipping delays, and fulfilment prep.

 A Realistic Planning Timeline for Christmas Ceramic Orders

✨ Why Ordering Early Pays Off

Ordering early isn’t just about avoiding stress — it’s also smart business. You get:

• Better production schedules (priority before peak season hits)

• More time for revisions or design tweaks

• Access to customisation options (like hand-painting, gift packaging, logos)

• Smoother shipping with more affordable sea freight options

• Plenty of buffer time for customs clearance and warehouse setup

In short, early ordering equals fewer surprises and more profitable sales.

⚠️ Preordering vs. Last-Minute Buying: What You Risk

When it comes to ceramic Christmas decorations, preordering early isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a necessity. Many new importers underestimate how competitive and time-sensitive the Q3/Q4 production calendar can be, only to discover that “last-minute buying” comes with unexpected costs and compromises.

Here’s what you’re risking if you wait too long to place your order:

⏳ 1. Limited Factory Capacity

By August, most ceramic manufacturers are already operating at full capacity for Christmas production. If you place an order late, you may find:

• Longer lead times (or no available slot at all)

• Your order gets pushed behind larger clients with confirmed earlier bookings

• You’ll have to settle for stock designs instead of your custom ones

 2. Higher Production Costs

Late orders are typically squeezed into tight production schedules, which may result in:

• Rush production fees

• Higher labour costs due to overtime work

• No room for reworking or revising product details — what you get is what you get

Some suppliers may even increase prices for late-season orders due to resource constraints.

 3. Shipping Delays and Sky-High Freight Rates

Q3 and Q4 are peak global shipping seasons. If you don’t plan ahead:

• You may miss available container space for sea shipments

• You’ll face much higher air freight costs if you’re rushing to meet deadlines

• Customs congestion can delay your cargo even after it arrives at port

All this affects your ability to get products on shelves in time.

 4. Lost Sales Opportunities

Imagine spending months developing a beautiful product, only for it to arrive in late November — or worse, December — when most buyers have already done their holiday shopping.

Late deliveries mean:

• Missed wholesale opportunities

• Empty shelves or “out of stock” product listings

• Less time for marketing campaigns and seasonal promotions

In retail, timing can make or break your profit margin — and being late to the holiday season can be costly.

 5. Reduced Flexibility

Preordering allows you to:

• Adjust designs or packaging after receiving a sample

• Add branded elements (tags, stickers, QR cards, etc.)

• Plan partial shipments to split inventory for multiple markets

Late orders remove these options. What’s done is done — and you’ll need to make it work, even if it’s not ideal.

In short:
Ordering early gives you control, choice, and confidence. Ordering late limits your options and increases risk at every stage — production, shipping, and sales.

 Pro Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Preordering

• Work with suppliers who offer sample flexibility and clear timelines

• Confirm MOQ and lead times early — especially for custom designs

• Consider partial shipments if you sell in waves or by region

• Use inventory planning tools or simple spreadsheets to stay on track

• Always leave buffer time for unexpected hiccups

✅ Final Thoughts: Order Early, Sell More

Ceramic handmade Christmas decorations are seasonal, handmade, and time-sensitive — which makes early planning your best friend. By preordering in January or February and shipping by May or July, you ensure smooth arrivals, lower stress, and higher sales.

Don’t let delays steal your Christmas profits — start planning now, and stay ahead of the holiday rush!

 Ready to Get Ahead for the Holidays?

At Homey Ceramic, we specialise in helping importers, wholesalers, and online retailers stay ahead of the holiday rush with high-quality, custom ceramic Christmas decorations. Whether you need hand-painted figurines, festive mugs, or unique gift-ready pieces, our team can bring your vision to life — on time and with care.

 From idea to delivery, we offer:

• Flexible MOQs

• Sample development support

• Custom designs, decals & packaging

• Reliable production schedules

✅ Don’t wait until the last minute — now is the perfect time to start planning your 2026 Christmas collection.

Contact us today to discuss your custom ideas or request a quotation. We’d love to help you create something magical for the holiday season!