Preparing for increased packaging demand in the golden quarter

The busiest time of the year is almost upon us. 

As the holiday season approaches, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers alike experience increasing demand for their goods and services. Sales skyrocket as consumers stock up on gifts and essentials for festive celebrations..

This ‘golden quarter’ for trading, which spans from September to December, is marked by major shopping events like Halloween, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas. Each year, these bring record-breaking spikes in online sales and 2025 is no different, with a projected increase of 40%, with some even predicting a 50% rise. 

In line with this, the need for packaging also increases as businesses race to prepare themselves for the festive season rush. And so, a key date for packaging suppliers emerges: Peak Packaging Monday.

On this day, many secure their packaging materials to ensure they can meet heightened holiday demands without disruption.

To navigate this bustling season effectively, early planning is essential to maintain seamless operations and capitalise on the busiest shopping period of the year. 

What is Peak Packaging Monday?

Kite Packaging Managing Director, Gavin Ashe, first coined the term Peak Packaging Monday in 2014 and it has since become widely recognised in the packaging world. 

Peak Packaging Monday is otherwise unheard of outside of the industry. 

The date marks the start of a crucial period for B2B markets, particularly for packaging businesses and retailers as it coincides with the peak demand season. During this time, packaging companies experience significant increases in orders due to amplified online retail activity and seasonal surges. 

Understanding how to prepare for and navigate this busy time is vital for a successful period of trading in the golden quarter.  

In this blog, we'll explore problems that can arise from a lack of preparation as well as strategies to ensure your packaging needs are met smoothly, so you can thrive this festive shopping season and be prepared for any unexpected challenges.

When is Peak Packaging Monday?

Peak Packaging Monday falls on 24th November in 2025, a few days before Black Friday (28th November) and one week before Cyber Monday (1st December). 

Restocking on or before this date will set you up well for these prime marketing opportunities and times of massive growth potential, and the golden quarter overall.

The importance of Peak Packaging Monday

Shoppers' preference towards e-commerce shows no sign of slowing down. 

Online orders now make up a significant 27.2% of all retail sales, up from 26.8% in 2023, says the Office for National Statistics, reflecting an increasing preference for e-commerce.

Insights from Adobe reveal UK shoppers spent £25.8 billion online during the 2024 holiday period – a 5.9% increase from the previous year. Black Friday alone accounted for £1.12 billion of this spend, marking a 7.2% rise from the previous year, while the British Retail Consortium reported a 2.5% drop in footfall during the golden quarter. 

UK shoppers spent £14.5 billion on their smartphones, making up 56% of all online purchases during the holiday season. Mobile commerce continues to dominate with consumers opting for the more convenient way to shop. Experian even highlights a boom in social commerce spending, which increased in 2024 by 32%. Advances in tech mean consumers can now shop directly from retailers without ever leaving their social feeds. 

What does this mean for retailers and packaging distributors? 

More digital retail translates directly into heightened demand for packaging materials.

Every order, whether shipped or click-and-collected, requires protective, reliable and efficient packaging to reach the customer. Retailers need more and more packaging every year to fulfil and deliver these orders.

Meanwhile, packaging distributors like Kite Packaging consistently see a 25% uplift in order activity during November year-on-year since starting in 2004.

Jake Kirk, Managing Partner of the online business, said: 

“As the e-commerce market continues to grow, we as a packaging business have seen a huge uplift in order activity around the November – December period as people prepare for Christmas. Typical products are things like tape, boxes and mailing bags, and as well as the number of orders growing, we also observe a significant increase in order value. On average, November shows a 40% increase in turnover when compared with the rest of the year.”

Impact on businesses

The surge in social commerce and ecommerce sales has a considerable impact on businesses, particularly on their packaging requirements, fulfilment processes and logistics. 

Higher packaging volumes

More packaging materials are needed to process and ship the increased number of orders. From boxes to protective wraps, the need for high-quality, sustainable packaging solutions intensifies. 

Tight delivery deadlines

Holiday shoppers expect faster delivery times, often with same-day or next day shipping which means businesses must have ample packaging supplies on hand and ready to go. 

Warehouse efficiency

As orders flood in, streamlined operations are crucial to avoid bottlenecks. Adequate packaging supplies ensure timely packing and dispatch of goods. 

Supply chain resilience

Packaging suppliers face heightened demand during this period, which can lead to stock shortages or delays. Planning ahead will help you mitigate the risk of disruption. 

Environmental responsibility

With higher packaging use comes greater scrutiny of sustainability practices. Companies are increasingly prioritising eco-friendly packaging to meet consumer expectations and reduce their environmental footprint.  

Peak Packaging Monday serves as a critical reminder for businesses to prepare for the holiday rush. Failure to do so can leave you facing many challenges. 

What are the consequences of being unprepared for peak?

Delayed fulfilment & shipping

A lack of essential materials such as boxes, void fill, and tape can halt fulfilment processes, delaying the dispatch of customer orders and slowing down overall operations.  

Delays can result in late deliveries, missed gift-giving occasions, and unhappy customers especially expect fast delivery during the holiday season.   

Increased costs

You may face inflated prices or rush fees when ordering materials at the eleventh hour.

Delays in fulfilment can also lead to overtime costs for staff and increased shipping charges to make up for lost time. 

Lost sales opportunities

If you run out of packaging, you can no longer process orders, resulting in potentially missed sales during a peak revenue period. Not to mention that your customers may turn to competitors who are better equipped at handling the rush. 

Damaged goods & returns

Inadequate or improvised packaging solutions can lead to damaged goods during transit, increasing return rates and replacement costs. This erodes trust in your brand, leading to negative reviews, damaged reputation and lost future custom. 

Environmental oversights

In the rush to meet demand, you might be resorting to less sustainable packaging options which will conflict with consumer preferences for eco-friendly practices. 

With the above in mind, here are some key pieces of advice to help you plan for peak demand. 

Strategies to help your business prepare for peak & Peak Packaging Monday

Stock up on packaging essentials

Analyse past order trends to estimate demand during the golden quarter. Factor in expected growth from events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday while building a buffer for unexpected spikes. 

Secure your packaging materials early to avoid shortages or inflated costs, prioritising versatile options that suit various products and sizes. Additionally, opt for eco-friendly solutions, such as recycled cardboard or biodegradable alternatives, to align with consumer preferences for sustainability.

Warehouse & fulfilment processes

To ensure smooth operations during peak, optimise your warehouse and fulfilment processes by organising packing stations, maintaining stock levels, and using automation tools like case erectors or tape dispensers to boost efficiency. 

Train your staff to manage high order volumes effectively. Leverage technology such as inventory management systems to track stock, predictive analytics to refine demand forecasts, and e-commerce integration to synchronise packaging and fulfilment processes in real time.

Communicate with customers

Effective customer communication is key during peak. Set clear shipping deadlines to encourage early purchases and reduce the strain of last-minute orders. Highlight your use of eco-friendly packaging to attract environmentally conscious shoppers and incentivise early bulk orders with discounts to drive sales while easing peak-season pressure.

Communicate with suppliers

Strengthening supplier relationships is crucial for navigating the peak smoothly. Communicate your anticipated needs early to secure priority access to materials and establish backup suppliers to mitigate risks of stock shortages. 

Negotiate pricing and delivery schedules in advance to avoid last-minute surcharges and ensure a consistent supply chain.

Monitor sales

Monitoring and adjusting your approach is essential during peak. Regularly track sales and packaging usage to identify trends and address any issues promptly. Be ready to adapt operations or restock materials as demand fluctuates. Post-season, evaluate what worked well and identify areas for improvement to refine your strategy for the next golden quarter.

Summary

Peak Packaging Monday serves as a crucial checkpoint for businesses navigating the golden quarter. By forecasting demand, securing stock early, and optimising fulfilment processes, you can ensure smooth operations throughout the busiest shopping season of the year.

Don’t leave your packaging to chance. Prepare ahead to protect your profits, reputation, and your customers’ experience.

Visit www.kitepackaging.co.uk to explore our comprehensive range of sustainable, high-performance packaging solutions designed to keep your business moving during peak.

For tailored advice, contact Kite Packaging on 02476 420065 to speak to one of our expert packaging advisors today.