Prepare for Your Holiday Product Launch with Heat Transfers
The holidays are right around the corner (we know, Halloween hasn’t even passed yet—sorry!) and it's the perfect time to start thinking ahead. Whether you’re a seasoned apparel decorator or just starting to expand your offerings, preparing early is key to managing the seasonal rush without the stress. Below, we’ve laid out a few essential steps to help you get organized and ready for an exciting, profitable holiday season.
1. Get Your Timeline Sorted and Start Thinking About Preorders
One of the best ways to set yourself up for success is by planning your timeline in advance. Having a roadmap will help you understand how much time you have, what needs to be done, and when to do it—whether that’s designing, ordering, promoting, or fulfilling orders.
A great way to manage inventory without overstocking is by offering preorders. Preorders allow you to gauge interest before you spend money on blanks and transfers. Start by working on your designs—whether you outsource, purchase pre-made graphics, or create them in Adobe or Canva, give yourself 2-3 days to put together the concepts you want to launch. The sooner you have designs ready, the sooner you can start sharing and building excitement.
2. Tease Your Designs on Social Media and Email
Once your products are ready, start teasing them on social media and through email marketing. Use short, engaging content like Reels or email spotlights to show off specific designs, and always let people know when the preorders will officially open so they can mark their calendars. When you’re ready to open preorders, share a big announcement to create buzz and encourage customers to take action. Continue promoting these designs throughout the preorder period, sharing details about the product and giving updates on when to place an order for holiday delivery.
3. Order Everything You Need
Once preorders are flowing in, it’s time to order everything you need—transfers, blanks, packaging supplies, and more. By using the data from your preorders, you can better estimate how much stock to keep on hand. It’s always a good idea to order extra blanks and transfers to stay ahead of any last-minute orders that may come in. Keep in mind that suppliers can get busy as the holidays approach, so having extra stock could save you a headache later. If you’re not sure where to start with blanks, consider some of our favorite tees and hoodie styles for a professional look.
For transfers, remember that we have turnaround options that range from same-day to a few business days, so we’ve got your back—even with those last-minute rush orders! Our Direct to Film (DTF) transfers, for example, ship out the same day if you place your order before noon EST. It’s also one of our go-to choices for tagless labels—an easy way to add a professional touch to your blanks.
4. Offer Personalization Options with DTF
Adding personalization is a great way to offer something extra during the gifting season, and screen printed heat transfers make it easy to do just that. Whether it’s adding someone’s name to a wrist cuff or putting a custom message on a hoodie, personalization makes each gift feel special. You can charge an additional fee for these customizations, which helps increase your profit margin. Make it easy for your customers by using drop-down menus for personalization options—like specifying where the name should go—and a text box for customers to enter their chosen text.
Once you have the personalization details, you can group these into a gang sheet and have them all printed at once. This makes the production process more efficient and helps you keep everything organized.
5. Pack Up Your Items for Gifting
When it comes to gifting, presentation matters. Some customers may choose to have their orders shipped directly to the recipient, so offering gift wrap is a great way to add a personal touch. You could use DTF transfers to add custom designs to the outside of the gift box or even a small logo on the inside flap for an extra element of surprise. Don’t underestimate the impact of a thoughtful presentation—adding some tissue paper, a logo, or a message from the sender can elevate the experience and encourage customers to share their photos on social media, which is great for your marketing!
You could also include a custom note from the gifter, using DTF transfers to create custom stationery. It’s easy: add a design to your gang sheet, press it onto your card stock for a few seconds, and hot peel. These little extras can really make your products stand out.
Ready to Start Planning?
We know there’s a lot to keep in mind when preparing for the holiday rush, so we’ve created a launch planning guide to help you stay on track. You can download it here, and it’s fully adjustable to fit your holiday drops or any upcoming preorder campaigns. Plus, we’ve included content ideas for teasing your designs—perfect for building that excitement before your launch!
The holidays are coming fast, but with some early planning, you can expand your offerings, manage the rush, and maximize your success—all without the stress. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comments. And if you use any of these tips, we’d love to see your creations!
Follow us for more tips, tricks, and inspiration to help level up your business. Ready to learn more about custom transfers or get started with your holiday orders? Reach out to us—we’re here to help!
