Ideally, order your corporate Christmas gifts so they arrive in the first two weeks of December, with bespoke projects, larger orders and anything going abroad briefed now. Short on time? Simple branded gifts on smaller orders can still be ready around 7 days after sign-off.
Most teams wind down by mid December, so the date to plan around is the last stretch of the working year, when people are still at their desks, or at home on their laptops, to open a gift and say thank you. That gives your order a fixed point. Everything else is working back from it.
Why does the arrival date matter most?
Every gifting timetable runs backwards: from delivery, to packing, to branding, to sourcing, to sign-off. Tell us when your gifts need to arrive and we'll work back from that date, so you know early on what is and isn't possible.
The date that matters isn't Christmas Day. It's the last week your recipients are around to open their gift.
How much notice does each kind of corporate gift need?
The same lead times apply at Christmas as through the rest of the year. As a guide:
- Simple branded gifts or packaging, and branded off-the-shelf products: 7 days or more from sign-off is comfortable for smaller orders
- Fully bespoke projects and larger orders: longer, as there's more to source, pack and deliver
- Gifts for thousands of people: best briefed in the autumn
- International deliveries: longer lead times, and possibly import duties and customs charges. We tell you at the start which charges are likely to apply. As a guide only, allow 20 to 30% of the combined value of the goods and shipping, but for some countries this may be considerably higher or lower
Branding adds its own steps. Where possible we send a digital proof of every branded item for approval before production. Physical samples are available on request, but they need extra time for sign-off, so build those days in if you want to hold a sample in your hands first.
What's the corporate Christmas gift deadline?
Ideally, sign off by mid November for arrival in the first week of December. That leaves time for proofs and samples, and a full choice of products and packaging. Anything bespoke, anything going abroad and anything for a large team wants briefing now.
If that's already passed, rush jobs are possible too, and simple branded gifts on smaller orders can be ready around 7 days after sign-off. Popular products and packaging go fast in Q4, so booking in early keeps the full range open.
Is it too late to order corporate Christmas gifts?
Talk to us anyway. Simple gifts can sometimes be ready in a matter of days, and last minute corporate gifting is often still possible. Some of our best work has started with a phone call that began 'I know it's short notice...'
Common questions
When should we order corporate Christmas gifts?
Generally, corporate Christmas gifts should be ordered in the autumn, so they arrive in the first two weeks of December before most teams wind down. Bespoke projects, larger orders and international deliveries need the most notice, while simple branded gifts on smaller orders can be ready around 7 days after sign-off.
What's the last order date for corporate Christmas gifts?
The last order date for corporate Christmas gifts depends on what you're sending and how much customisation it needs. Tell us when your gifts need to arrive and we'll work back from that date, so you know early on what is and isn't possible.
How long do branded corporate gifts take?
As a guide, branded corporate gifts take 7 days or more from sign-off on smaller orders. That covers simple branded gifts, branded packaging and branded off-the-shelf products. Bespoke projects take longer, and physical samples need extra time for sign-off.
Can you still send corporate Christmas gifts at short notice?
Yes, corporate Christmas gifts can often still be sent at short notice. Depending on what you want to send and how much customisation it needs, Navy Goose can turn some gifts round within a few days.
