Packaging and the Peak Season, why you should begin planning now…
Q4 is never just another quarter. It is the most intense, most scrutinised, and most unforgiving period of the year. Margins tighten. Timelines shrink. Risk tolerance disappears.
Packaging may not always be the first thing discussed in meetings, but if it is not in place when volume spikes, your supply chain suffers. It holds products, protects margins, and underpins performance across every stage of the supply chain.
And yet year after year packaging strategy’s are left until late.
As you prepare for your busiest quarter, packaging should be more than a last-minute check. It needs your attention now.
The pressure is starting to build across the supply chain
From food and consumer goods to construction and manufacturing, the entire supply chain prepares for Q4 long before October. According to the British Packaging Federation, seasonal demand increases packaging volumes across the UK by around 30 percent in the final quarter alone.
In some sectors, that figure is significantly higher. For large ecommerce retailers, Black Friday week alone can generate volumes that are 70 percent above they yearly average. Logistics providers begin limiting capacity from mid-November. Carriers impose surcharges and booking deadlines. Lead times double. Material stock runs low. And once you are inside the bottleneck, there is little room to manoeuvre.
Your packaging order is not just a purchase. It is a piece of operational infrastructure. Without it, stock cannot be shipped, workflows come to a standstill, and costs begin to increase.
Lead times are longer than you think
Packaging suppliers may give an indicative lead time of one or two weeks in quieter months. But that changes quickly in Q4.
Once demand spikes, those same orders can take four to six weeks or longer, particularly if you require any of the following:
- Custom print or artwork
- Multi-format box sets
- Biodegradable or FSC-certified stock
- Oversized or none standard boxes
They require production slots, tooling checks, and transport planning. For many manufacturers close of for bespoke orders is mid October. And some require commitment even earlier.
When you leave packaging to the last moment, you are no longer buying what you want, you are buying what is left.
Emergency packaging creates cost
Late packaging orders do more than increase stress. They increase the cost of your entire operation.
When you are forced into reactive sourcing, you lose the power of negotiation, prices go up, volumes are inconsistent, and shipping costs increase. And worst of all, time is spent trying to fight challenges instead of focusing on performance.
Packaging related errors contribute to over £2 billion in annual waste across the UK supply chain (according to WRAP) much of which is avoidable. It stems from incorrect sizing, over-ordering, mislabelling, and damage in transit, and many of those issues trace back to rushed, last-minute decisions.
But early packaging planning allows for testing, refinement, training and alignment, these are activities that reduce waste, avoid rework, and free up time when you need it most.
Q4 no time for trial and error
Procurement teams that perform well in Q4 have one thing in common; They plan ahead, and know their packaging and products.
They know which box fits what product, they know how labels align with systems, they know what stock is available, what has been tested, and how long packaging takes to replenish.
Being this certain doesn’t come by chance, it happens when decisions are made early enough to be tested, communicated and applied across the entire operation.
Packaging has become part of your brand
Customers do not see your internal planning. They see the result of it, and they see what arrives. The condition of the product inside, the quality of the labelling, and the ease of the unpacking. And increasingly, the sustainability of the materials used.
According to Deloittes’s UK Consumer tracker, 57 percent of consumers say they are more likely to remain loyal to a brand that delivers orders in good condition, with appropriate, sustainable packaging. These expectations are not limited to B2C, in B2B markets, procurement teams and buyers are now assessing supplier professionalism through every physical touchpoint.
Sustainability is not something you shouldn’t consider
The shift towards sustainable packaging is not slowing down. But sustainable options often come with longer lead times, more complex supply chains, and additional certification requirements. Making early planning even more critical.
If your Q4 packaging needs to align with sustainability targets, now is the time to get ahead of that process. Whether you are looking at recycled content, plastic reduction, compostable materials, or carbon footprint tracking, your suppliers need time to support you. Rushed ordering limits your choices and makes it harder to meet your own ESG goals. By acting early, you protect both your supply chain and your environmental commitments.
The most effective teams are not just sourcing their packaging, they are integrating it into their wider Q4 strategy:
- Finalising forecasts and looking at volumes
- Reviewing specifications for fit and function
- Standardising any formats where they can
- Building back up stock or plans
- Securing branded and bespoke prints now
- Confirming that the packaging is aligned with meeting sustainability goals
The packaging you choose is not only their for protection, it’s about preparation, and for Q4 that should be today.
By organising your packaging early, it gives you the space to breathe, it reduces costs, removes last-minute risk, and improves performance and efficiency. Whether you are a manufacturer shipping parts, a distributor fulfilling contracts, or a retailer gearing up for your busiest months, your packaging needs to be in place before the pressure arrives. Not during it.
If you want support reviewing your packaging needs, simplifying your supply chain, or forecasting volume, contact us today.
