Planning Christmas Mahjong Orders: A Factory’s Holiday Production Calendar

Christmas mahjong sells out of patience before it sells out of stock. Our production planning team explains the calendar that gets holiday sets delivered by November — worked backwards from the factory floor.

The Holiday Squeeze, Quantified

Christmas editions — red-and-green, snowflake and gold programs — are among our most-ordered custom builds and among the least forgiving on timing. Ocean freight to North America or Europe needs 4–6 weeks in Q4; production needs about a month; sampling needs two weeks. Count backwards and the comfortable start is early September.

September: Artwork, Samples, Deposits

The month for decisions: final artwork, Pantone locks, packaging dielines and order quantities. Holiday compounds (deep reds, greens) compete for line time with corporate-gifting darks, so sample approvals in September secure October production slots.

Buyers who batch their decisions — all colors, all accessories, all packaging in one review — save a full week versus piecemeal approvals.

October: Production Runs

Dedicated holiday lines run with the same QC gates as any program, plus one holiday-specific check: verification that festive engraving motifs and printed packaging match the approved sample — the details gift buyers notice first.

This is also the month to book freight. Space, not price, is the constraint in October.

November: Delivery and the Air-Fremium Window

Sea shipments land; air freight becomes the rescue option for late programs at a meaningful premium. Every year a few buyers who "decided in October" learn this arithmetic. If your season cannot slip, the decision date is in September.

Late November deliveries can still serve December events if distribution is prepped — another reason to involve your 3PL early.

Non-Holiday Buyers: Read This Too

The same calendar squeezes all Q4 capacity, including year-round programs. If your regular replenishment must ship in October or November, book it by August. Our planning team publishes slot availability to active buyers each quarter — ask for it.