Bakery Packaging for Gifting and Seasonal Peaks: Plan Ahead

For a bakery, a few weeks of the year can bring in a huge share of sales. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Eid, Easter and Christmas all mean gift orders, bigger boxes and queues at the counter. The bakeries that cope best have their packaging ready well before the rush starts.

Printed packaging takes time

Production and delivery typically take 30 to 35 days after you approve your sample and artwork. Add the time it takes to agree the design and test a sample, and you need to start planning well before the peak. For a December rush, that means starting in the autumn, not in November.

Read more about when to order packaging before opening, which applies to busy seasons as well.

Work out what you will sell

Look at last year's busiest weeks. How many gift boxes, cake boxes and bags did you go through? Plan for a little more than that. Running out of boxes in the busiest week is a lot more expensive than having a few extra.

Think in sets

Gift orders usually need more than one item:

• A box with a lid or drawer box for the gift itself
• A bag to carry it
• A sticker to seal the box
• Napkins or tissue for the finishing touch

Matching items make the gift feel considered, and customers share photos of them.

Keep a standard range, add seasonal touches

Many bakeries keep their standard packaging all year and add a seasonal sticker or a limited design for the peak. That way you are not tied to a date-specific design you cannot reuse.

Consider storage

A bakery counter and kitchen have little room. We can keep your stock in UK storage so you take what you need as the season builds. See how branded packaging storage works.

Start early

Tell us what you sell and when your busy periods are, and we will work back from there. Get in touch.