When Should You Order Your Company’s Holiday Apparel? A Business Owner’s Timeline
The holidays may still feel a long way off, but for businesses ordering custom apparel, waiting until November or December can make things much more difficult.
If you're planning employee gifts, a company holiday party, client appreciation gifts, team apparel, or branded merchandise for a year-end event, it's smart to start planning before the holiday rush arrives.
Custom apparel takes more than simply choosing a shirt and adding a logo. You may need to select garments, confirm sizes, approve artwork, determine quantities, and allow time for production.
The good news is that you don't need to have everything figured out months in advance.
You just need a reasonable timeline.
August: Start Thinking About What You Need
August is a good time to start identifying your holiday apparel needs.
Ask yourself:
Are we giving employees holiday gifts this year?
Do we have a company holiday party?
Are we planning a team event?
Do we want branded gifts for clients or customers?
Will we need new apparel for employees before the end of the year?
Are we planning a holiday promotion?
Do we need apparel for a December event or fundraiser?
You don't necessarily need to place the order in August.
The goal is to identify what you may need so you're not trying to solve everything at the last minute.
September: Choose the Apparel and Set Your Budget
Once you know what you're planning, September is a good time to narrow down your options.
For employee apparel, that might mean embroidered:
Hats
Hoodies
Crewnecks
Jackets
Polos
Work shirts
T-shirts
For client or employee gifts, you may want something that feels a little more personal or premium.
Think about the purpose of the gift before choosing the product.
For example, a branded hoodie may be a great employee appreciation gift because it's something people can actually wear. An embroidered hat may work well for a company with an active or outdoor team. A branded jacket can be a more substantial year-end gift while also providing useful company apparel.
The right choice depends on your employees, your brand, and your budget.
October: Finalize Your Order
October is when your holiday apparel plan should start becoming a real order.
By this point, you should ideally have:
Your product selections
Approximate quantities
Employee sizes
Logo artwork
Decoration method
Preferred colors
Budget
Desired delivery date
This is also a good time to think about whether you need different products for different groups.
For example, you might order embroidered polos for management, hats for field employees, and hoodies for the entire team.
You don't have to give everyone exactly the same item to maintain a consistent company look.
November: Don't Leave It Until the Last Minute
November is when holiday ordering becomes much more time-sensitive.
If you wait until the second half of November to start planning a custom apparel order for a December event, you have less room for unexpected issues.
You may need additional time if:
An employee's size needs to be changed
Artwork needs to be adjusted
You add more items to the order
A particular garment isn't available
You need multiple decoration methods
Your event date changes
Giving yourself some breathing room makes the process considerably easier.
It's also worth remembering that the holiday season isn't only about December 25.
Businesses may have:
Company parties
Client events
End-of-year celebrations
Holiday markets
Fundraisers
Employee appreciation events
Community events
New Year's events
Your actual deadline may be much earlier than you think.
December: Enjoy the Finished Product
Ideally, December should be the month when your team receives or uses the apparel—not the month when you're still trying to figure out what to order.
Whether you're handing employees a branded hoodie at a holiday party, giving clients a thoughtful company gift, or outfitting your team for a year-end event, the goal is for the apparel to arrive ready to use.
Planning earlier also gives you time to focus on the rest of your holiday responsibilities instead of chasing an apparel order at the last minute.
What Holiday Apparel Works Best for Businesses?
There's no single answer because different businesses have different needs.
For Employee Gifts
Consider products employees will actually use:
Embroidered hoodies
Crewnecks
Jackets
Hats
Premium T-shirts
For Company Holiday Parties
Matching or coordinated apparel can create a fun team look without requiring a formal uniform.
T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, or other branded pieces can work well depending on the event.
For Client Gifts
Consider something useful and understated rather than simply putting a giant logo on an item.
An embroidered hat, quality apparel item, or branded accessory can keep your company top-of-mind without feeling like a traditional advertisement.
For Year-End Events
If you're participating in a fundraiser, community event, trade show, or company celebration, apparel can help your team look coordinated and make it easier for customers or attendees to identify your staff.
How Early Should You Really Order?
There isn't one universal deadline because production time depends on the products, quantities, decoration method, artwork, and current availability.
That's why the safest approach is simple:
Start the conversation early.
Even if you aren't ready to place the order, getting your options and timeline figured out gives you more flexibility.
If your event is in December, waiting until December to start planning isn't really planning—it's reacting.
Starting in August, September, or October gives you time to make decisions without unnecessary pressure.
Planning Holiday Apparel for Your Business?
If you're thinking about employee gifts, client appreciation, holiday events, or year-end team apparel, Coast Embroidery can help you choose products that fit your business, budget, and timeline.
We provide custom embroidery and apparel for businesses throughout Fullerton and Orange County, including embroidered hats, shirts, polos, jackets, hoodies, and other branded apparel.
Planning something for the holidays? Start the conversation early.
Request a Quote and tell us what you're planning, how many people you're ordering for, and when you need the apparel. We'll help you determine the best options for your order.
Ready to Elevate Your BUSINESS?
Whether you need custom embroidered uniforms, branded hats, company polos, safety apparel, spirit wear, or promotional products, Coast Embroidery is here to help.
We proudly serve businesses, schools, teams, and organizations throughout Fullerton and Orange County with high-quality custom apparel and personalized service.
From choosing the right garments to making sure your logo looks clean and professional, our goal is to make the ordering process simple from start to finish.
Ready to get started?
Request a Free Quote Today and let our team help bring your project to life.
Why Choose Coast Embroidery?
Over 10 years of embroidery experience
Commercial Tajima embroidery machines
In-house production and quality control
Professional embroidery digitizing
Quality apparel from trusted brands
Friendly, personalized customer service
Local Fullerton embroidery shop serving Orange County
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