Work backwards from the in-store date
The only fixed point in a buying plan is the day the goods must be on the shelf or in the window. Everything else is counted back from it: delivery to the shop, customs, freight, inspection, production, sample approval and the order itself.
A typical factory-direct chain looks like this:
- Offer and specification: about 2 working days.
- Samples: about 7–14 days, longer for new colours, glazes or scents.
- Production: about 25–45 days after sample approval.
- Rail or sea to Poland: about 25–45 days.
- Customs, warehouse and delivery in the EU: allow one to two weeks.
In total, plan about 8–12 weeks from order to our warehouse for catalogue items, and more for private label. Our how it works page shows each step.
The two retail seasons
European home decor retail runs on two main seasons, with smaller windows in between.
| Season | In store | Typical order window |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn and winter (candles, throws, lanterns, velvet, Christmas tableware) | September to November | March to July |
| Private label for Q4 | October to November | By June–July |
| Spring and summer (linen, glassware, outdoor serving, artificial flowers) | March to April | November to December |
| Wedding and hospitality projects | Project date | Counted back from the opening or event |
Trade fairs and what they mean for imports
The main European home and interior fairs take place in January–February and in September. Retail buyers see collections there and confirm orders shortly after. If you import factory-direct, the fair is a reference point, not a deadline: your own orders for the next autumn season should already be in progress by spring.
Use the fairs to check colours, materials and price points. Then compare those prices with a delivered factory-direct quote for the same specification.
Factory holidays in late January–February
Production at partner factories stops for three to five weeks in late January–February. Before the break, factories try to finish and ship as much as possible, so freight space is tight and prices rise. After the break, workers return gradually and production restarts slowly.
- Spring ranges should be in production by December, so they ship before the break.
- Orders placed in January often start production only in March.
- Samples requested in January may arrive after the holidays.
A month-by-month plan
- November–December. Order spring and summer: linen bedding, glassware, light throws, artificial flowers, outdoor serving. Request samples for next autumn's private label.
- January–February. Fairs and factory holidays. Review sell-through from Christmas. Finalise colours for autumn.
- March–April. Place autumn catalogue orders. Approve private-label samples, glaze colours and candle scents.
- May–June. Last call for Q4 private label and gift boxes. Pre-production samples and artwork sign-off.
- July. Production of Christmas and winter ranges. Final top-up orders for catalogue items.
- August–September. Shipments arrive, inspection, customs and delivery to stores.
- October. Ranges on the shop floor. Small top-ups only from European stock.
What takes longest
Some products need more time than the average:
- Custom glazes and colours. Ceramics may need two or three rounds of samples to match a colour.
- Scented candles. A new scent needs the fragrance supplier's documents and a burn test before production.
- Printed gift boxes. Artwork, proofs and box production run in parallel with the product.
- Furniture and floor mirrors. Larger cartons or crates and fewer units per container.
- Textiles in custom colours. Dyeing to a pantone reference adds time, and lab dips should be signed off first.
How much to buy for one season
Factory-direct orders cannot be repeated in two weeks, so the first quantity matters. A few rules help:
- Split core and trend. Core lines such as white tableware, plain towels, tealights and neutral throws sell every season and can be bought deeper. Trend colours and shapes should be bought for one season only.
- Use last year's sell-through. Look at weeks of cover by category, not total sales. Candles and throws often sell fast in November and stop in January.
- Plan the end of season. Christmas tableware and red or green textiles are hard to sell after December. Neutral winter items such as wool throws, lanterns and pillar candles carry over into January and February.
- Keep room for top-ups. Order the key lines with a little reserve rather than the full season in one shipment if storage is tight.
Hospitality and project dates
Hotels, serviced apartments and interior projects do not follow the retail calendar. The fixed date is the opening, a refurbishment window or an event. Count back the same way, but add time for approval by the client and the designer, and for installation. Bulk textiles such as towels, bed linen and curtains for a project are usually produced to order, so the first sample round should start early.
Seasonal capsules
If you plan a coordinated window or a seasonal table, plan the whole capsule together: candles, cushions, vases and tableware in one colour story. Items from different factories must be ready at the same time, so the slowest item sets the date. Our seasonal collections page shows how we plan this from the in-store date.
If you are already late
Late orders are not hopeless, but the options are narrower. Choose catalogue items without customisation, use stock where available, split the order so that the key lines go by faster transport, and keep the private label for the next season. Air freight, about 7–12 days, works for light, high-value items, not for floor vases or furniture.
Plan with us
Send us your in-store dates and the categories you need, and we will tell you which dates are realistic for each line. Request an offer with your list, or read how we handle private label timelines.
