Plan ahead with The Trade Village before the Christmas break. Secure orders early to avoid delays, missed deliveries, and festive-season stress.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to stay ahead of festive factory shutdowns
- Why acting early avoids Christmas break delivery chaos
- How The Trade Village helps trade customers prepare
- Pro tips for turning panic season into profit season
(Estimated Reading Time: 3-4 Minutes)
Introduction
Every year, the same thing happens. One minute you’re finishing a summer install, and the next — everyone’s panicking about getting jobs done before the Christmas break.
At The Trade Village, we see it coming a mile off. The festive rush hits hard: homeowners want doors, windows, and roof systems fitted before the turkey’s in the oven, and every installer, supplier, and courier suddenly feels the pressure.
That’s why now — not December — is the time to act. Planning ahead means fewer delays, smoother deliveries, and happier customers. Because while Santa might have his elves, the rest of us rely on solid scheduling and early orders.
The Reality of the “Pre-Christmas Rush”
Let’s be honest — as soon as we hit mid-October, something changes in the trade. Homeowners who’ve been quiet for months suddenly come alive, realising they’ve only got a few weeks left to “get it sorted” before guests arrive.
And while that’s great for business, it creates an inevitable bottleneck. The volume of orders spikes, lead times extend, and everyone in the chain — from suppliers to couriers — is suddenly working flat out.
Factories start feeling the pinch. Production schedules get tighter. Quality control teams are stretched to their limits. And then, just to make things even more interesting, there’s the small matter of Christmas shutdowns — those unavoidable periods when manufacturers close for the holidays.
Add it all up, and it’s no surprise that getting an order made, shipped, and installed before Christmas can turn into a real challenge.
That’s why the smart trade customers — the ones who always stay ahead of the game — are the ones who start planning now.
“Thinking Ahead” Means Acting Early
Here’s the golden rule for the festive season: if you’re thinking about Christmas, you’re already late.
By the time the decorations go up in the supermarket, the factories are already mapping out their last production slots. Couriers start confirming final dispatch schedules. And for made-to-measure products — doors, windows, roof systems, you name it — every extra day of delay can make the difference between a happy customer and a Boxing Day phone call you’d rather not take.
So, what should you be doing right now?
1. Review Your Current Projects
Look at every customer order on your books and work backwards. What still needs confirming? What quotes are sitting in inboxes waiting for approval? Now’s the time to chase them up. Customers often don’t realise that factory lead times aren’t something we can magic away — it’s worth reminding them that “getting it ordered” today is what guarantees they’ll have it installed before Christmas.
2. Talk to Your Suppliers
If you haven’t already, check in with your suppliers to get a feel for their seasonal plans. Even if the official Christmas cutoff dates aren’t released yet, you’ll get a sense of where the pressure points will be.
At The Trade Village, we’ll be announcing our exact Christmas ordering deadlines in the next couple of weeks, but don’t wait for the memo. Start getting your pipeline organised now.
3. Manage Customer Expectations
This is the big one. Customers often assume “ordering” and “installation” are just a couple of days apart — but in reality, we all know that’s not how it works.
Be upfront. Be honest. Let them know that the earlier they commit, the better the chance of getting their products before Christmas. Framing it as a proactive move (“We’ll secure your delivery slot early”) always goes down better than panic later.
The Domino Effect of Late Ordering
Let’s paint a picture we’ve all seen before.
A customer comes to you in late November and says, “We’d really love to have the new bifolds in before Christmas dinner.” You make the call — but the factory’s already running on a four-week lead time, the courier’s got a backlog, and the installer diary is full.
Result? You’re stuck between a frustrated customer and a completely realistic supply chain that simply can’t make miracles happen.
And that’s not your fault. It’s just the reality of how the industry runs in December.
But the domino effect doesn’t stop there. Late orders can knock your own schedule out of balance — pushing jobs into the new year, affecting cash flow, and causing that classic January backlog hangover that everyone dreads.
The fix is simple: act early. Build your December diary now while there’s still room to move things around. That way, when the inevitable last-minute jobs come knocking, you’re already in control.
The Christmas Shutdown: It’s Not Optional
Every year, the trade calendar follows the same pattern. Production teams, delivery networks, and suppliers all begin their holiday shutdowns from mid to late December — and for good reason. It gives staff time to recharge before the new year, and it ensures quality control doesn’t dip when everyone’s exhausted.
But that means, once those factory doors close, nothing’s moving until January. No exceptions, no “just one more order.”
So, if you’re planning installations for late December, remember: materials don’t magically appear on-site. You need your stock in hand before those closure dates hit.
Even the best suppliers can’t change the calendar — and we’d rather help you plan now than let you down later.
How The Trade Village Is Helping You Stay Ahead
We know that this time of year is hectic, which is why our team at The Trade Village is already gearing up to support you.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be releasing official Christmas cutoff dates across all our partner brands and suppliers. These will include the final order and dispatch deadlines to ensure deliveries are made before the Christmas shutdown.
But more importantly — we’re here to help you get organised before those dates even land. Whether it’s checking stock availability, confirming manufacturing lead times, or helping you plan delivery schedules, we want to make sure you’re not left scrambling when everyone else starts panicking.
So don’t wait for the email with the cutoff list — give us a call, log into your account, and start locking in your orders now.
Turning Panic Season into Profit Season
The festive rush doesn’t have to be chaos. In fact, if you plan it right, it can be one of the most profitable and productive times of the year.
Think about it — customers are motivated, budgets are ready, and everyone wants to get things done before the holidays. The only catch is time.
By being the installer or trade professional who’s ahead of the curve, you position yourself as the reliable, go-to expert who gets the job done — not the one scrambling when everyone else is stuck waiting on deliveries.
Get your jobs booked. Secure your delivery slots. Communicate clearly with your customers. It’s the same formula every year, and it always pays off.
The Bottom Line
Christmas is coming — and so are the deadlines.
Don’t wait for the rush, because by then, it’s too late. Orders placed in October and early November are the ones that glide through without stress. Those left until the last minute? They’re the ones sitting in depots while everyone else is at home pulling crackers.
So, take this as your friendly — but firm — festive reminder:
It’s time to start thinking about Santa’s deliveries.
Plan now, order early, and make this December your smoothest yet.
Your customers will thank you, your schedule will thank you — and come Christmas Eve, you’ll be the one relaxing by the fire, not chasing tracking numbers.
✅ Open an account today and gain access to trade-beating pricing
✅ Explore our product ranges to see how we can support your business
✅ Bring your clients to our showroom and close more sales
This is why more fenestration companies are choosing The Trade Village
FAQs
1. When does The Trade Village close for the Christmas break?
Our official Christmas break dates will be announced soon, but factory shutdowns usually begin from mid to late December. Orders placed early are guaranteed delivery before the break.
2. How can I make sure my orders arrive before Christmas?
Plan ahead. Check your lead times, confirm quotes quickly, and order early through The Trade Village to secure your delivery slots before the seasonal rush.
3. Can I still order during the Christmas break?
Yes — you can place orders online at The Trade Village during the Christmas break, but dispatch and production will resume once factories reopen in January.
4. What’s the best time to order for pre-Christmas delivery?
We always recommend ordering by late October or early November. Once the Christmas break schedule hits, production slots fill fast — and even Santa can’t bend the courier deadlines.