Market Trends
Christmas Deliveries 2026: How to ensure your parcels arrive in time under the tree
Ensuring your parcels arrive before Christmas: key arrival dates for your stock, what to consider when shipping internationally, and how to navigate the festive season stress-free.
TOPIC
Christmas Delivery
WHO IT'S FOR
Entrepreneurs and business leaders
READING TIME
5 minutes
FOCUS
E-commerce
Christmas is the most important time of the year for e-commerce. At the same time, it is the period when delivery services worldwide are pushed to their limits. Planning ahead pays off: your customers receive their gifts on time, and you save yourself stress, customer enquiries and negative reviews.
In this article, you will find out when your goods need to reach us, why international shipments in particular require more lead time, and how best to prepare for the festive season.
We wrap your Christmas gifts using your own packaging materials.
Why Christmas shipping requires more lead time
Consignment volumes are skyrocketing
Starting with Black Friday on 27 November and Cyber Monday on 30 November, parcel volumes increase dramatically. Delivery services operate at maximum capacity in December, transit times become longer, and delays are difficult to anticipate. The sooner your goods are dispatched, the more reliably they will arrive.
International deliveries take longer
Shipments destined for abroad pass through more processing points: sorting centres, freight hubs and, for non-EU destinations, customs clearance. Each of these stages faces increased demand during the run-up to Christmas. What takes a week to arrive in spring can take considerably longer in December.
Customs is the biggest cause of delays
For shipments to countries such as Switzerland, the UK or the USA, you need complete customs documentation. If any information is missing or the product description is vague, the parcel will be held up. Particularly just before Christmas, this can mean a gift does not arrive until the New Year.
We need time for processing
Before your consignments leave our warehouse, your goods are stored, picked, packed, and handed over to the appropriate courier service. We also experience a significant increase in volumes during this peak season. Allowing sufficient lead time ensures that every order is handled with our customary care.
TESTIMONIALS
What our clients say
SALU HOME
"Especially since focusing entirely on our online shop, reliability and fast delivery times have been invaluable to us."
Anna & Sarira Krüger
Co-Founder & Creative Director
When your goods should reach us
To ensure we can dispatch your shipments on time and your customers receive them before Christmas, your goods should arrive at our warehouse by mid- to late November. For international shipments, the earlier, the better.
Destination of your shipments | Goods to reach us by |
|---|---|
International (outside the EU) | Mid-November |
EU (outside Austria) | End of November |
Austria | End of November |
These deadlines refer to the intake and storage of your goods at our warehouse, not the dispatch date of individual orders. This ensures we have sufficient time to check in, store, and prepare your stock for the busy Christmas period.
Running late? Please get in touch with us anyway. We will work together to find the best solution for your shipments.
The sooner your goods arrive with us, the smoother the season will be for you and your customers.
Your Christmas shipping checklist
Plan your stock: Estimate how much inventory you will need for Christmas and consider planning for a little extra.
Dispatch inventory in good time: Internationally by mid-November; for Austria and the EU by the end of November.
Announce promotional campaigns: Are you planning discounts for Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Let us know so that we can allocate the necessary capacities.
Check customs data: Product descriptions, values, and customs tariff numbers should be complete for shipments outside the EU.
Keep your customers informed: Clearly state order deadlines in your shop to ensure deliveries arrive before Christmas.
Plan ahead for returns: Returns inevitably follow the festive period. We will quickly prepare your stock so it is ready for resale.
Navigating the season together
A smooth Christmas trading season starts with good planning. Once your goods reach us in good time, we will take care of the rest: from storage and fulfilment through to delivery across Austria and worldwide.
Do you have questions about deadlines or would you like to plan your peak season with us? Drop us an email at sales@gmlogistics.at or give us a call on +43 1 258 33 77 0.
Sources: GMLogistics
