Top 5 Mistakes Stationery Designers Make During the Holiday Season — And How to Avoid Them

The holiday season is the busiest — and most profitable — time of year for stationery brands. But as a professional stationery printer, we’ve seen even the most seasoned designers run into avoidable mistakes that cause stress, missed opportunities, and production headaches.

Whether you’re launching your first holiday collection or prepping for your tenth, here are the top five mistakes we see stationery designers make — and how you can stay ahead this year.

Waiting Too Long to Send Files to Print

The mistake: Designers underestimate holiday timelines and place orders too late, missing key selling windows or paying rush fees.

Our insight: The earlier you submit your artwork, the smoother everything goes. Many designers assume they can “wait and see” how orders go before placing bulk print runs. But by then, you may have missed peak shopping season.

How to avoid it:

• Start designing in July (yes, really).
• Set internal deadlines that are at least 2–3 weeks earlier than you think you need.
• Ask your print partner for holiday cut-off dates as early as possible. We send ours out around the beginning of September, so be sure to check your inbox!
• Prepare for shipping delays. 

Pro tip from our press team: Mid-November to mid-December is our busiest time for holiday printing — don’t let that be when you start finalizing!

Overlooking Packaging & Presentation

The mistake: Focusing only on the card design but neglecting packaging details that elevate the product (and make you stand out in a crowded market).

Our insight: Customers remember how something is delivered. Holiday cards, gift tags, notepads, and greeting cards should arrive beautifully packaged, whether you're shipping directly to the buyer or drop-shipping for wholesale.

How to avoid it:

• Use branded belly bands, custom-printed envelopes, or sticker seals to enhance perceived value.
• If we’re shipping for you, take advantage of blind drop shipping and branded packaging — we make it look like it came from you.
• Add-on services like envelope lining, die-cut shapes, and foil printing are low-cost upgrades with high impact.
  

Underestimating Demand (or Overestimating It)

The mistake: Printing too little… or way too much.

Our insight: Forecasting demand is tricky, especially with new product launches. Some designers play it too safe, while others overcommit to large quantities and end up discounting excess inventory.

How to avoid it:

• Review last year’s data: what sold well, what didn’t.
• Test holiday products with smaller print runs in September, then reprint fast-moving items.
• Our minimum order quantities are low, so we can help you scale gradually without overextending.

Not Preparing for Custom Orders

The mistake: Launching a holiday collection without a plan (or margin) for customizations.

Our insight: Personalized cards, address printing, and custom photo layouts are in high demand during the holidays, but many designers forget to prepare workflows for them.

How to avoid it:

• Pre-design customizable templates that you can quickly edit.
• Offer return address printing (or stickers!) as a value-add (we offer this in-house to save you time).
• Build in extra production time to accommodate customer proofs and revisions.
  

Ignoring Operational Bottlenecks

The mistake: Having beautiful products, but no system for keeping up with orders.

Our insight: The holidays expose inefficiencies — from file organization to customer service to packaging.

How to avoid it:

• Outsource where you can — including to your printer. (We handle blind shipping, branded packaging, and fulfillment for thousands of designers.)
• Map out a calendar now: deadlines, sales windows, shipping cutoffs, and promo plans.

Ready to Make This Your Smoothest Holiday Season Yet?

At PrintsWell, we specialize in helping stationery designers scale during the holidays without burning out. From short-run printing to full-service fulfillment, we’re your behind-the-scenes partner in stress-free seasonal growth.

Let’s raise your standards — and your holiday sales.