Visual merchandising is a key driver of sales growth during the retail year, making it important to invest in high-impact display, packaging and gifting products as early as possible, especially if you’re looking for something bespoke.
From beautiful wine boxes, wicker hampers and containers to retail and countertop solutions, we’ve got the scope to provide whatever you need to make an impression.
Partner with our experienced team to discuss:
- Construction, design and components, including dimensions, inserts, shapes, etc.
- Quality materials
- Finishes and aesthetics
- 360° functionality
- Ease-of-use features that will raise the bar.
To help you plan your 2026 marketing strategies and get your made-to-order merchandise in time for every calendar event, here’s a checklist of unmissable dates and trade shows – plus some pointers that may inspire a little creative license.
Don’t forget that bespoke products can take between 16 and 24 weeks to manufacture and ship, so if you’re looking for Christmas-themed products, you’ll need to put your plans into action early in the year.
A quick user guide
- Consider the focus for the month.
- Note down key dates that align with your marketing strategy and brand goals.
- Check how long you’ll need to get your packaging ready for the event.
- Add this action to your calendar.
- Call our team so that we can get the ball rolling on designs.
Q1: New Year and mid-winter
January
Focus
- Create new strategies that will build your brand
- Revolve marketing content around sustainability and healthy habits
- Order bespoke food and drinks packaging for all the Christmas season events 2026
Key dates
New Year’s Day (1st ): A celebration of new beginnings
Products to consider
- Drinks gift packaging
- Health and pharmaceutical packaging
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: May 2025
- Personalisation: November 2025
February
Focus
- Bespoke packaging and gifting for Valentine’s Day
- Branded tags, ribbons, and bows
- Packaging for food and wine pairings
- Design and order your bespoke packaging for Halloween 2026
Key dates
- Birmingham Spring Fair (1st): A four-day trade event for home, gift and fashion buyers
- Valentine’s Day (14th): UK consumers spend an average of £1 billion on this event
- Lunar New Year (17th): The Year of the Horse - factories in China close for 1 to 4 weeks
Products to consider
- Wicker hampers
- Gift boxes
- Drinks packaging
- Horticulture and floristry packaging
- Apparel packaging
- Skincare and beauty packaging
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: June 2025
- Personalisation: January 2026
March
Focus
- Transit and ecommerce packaging
- Mother’s Day gifting
- St Patrick’s Day
- Spring visual merchandising strategies
- Using up residual budgets on investment countertop display solutions
- Plan your bespoke packaging for Black Friday 2026
Key dates
- Crufts 2026 (5th): The world’s greatest dog show spanning four days
- Mother’s Day (15th): Approximate consumer spend: £2.4 billion
- St Patrick’s Day (17th): An excellent opportunity for bespoke food and drinks packaging
Products to consider
- Pet food packaging
- Health and beauty packaging
- Horticulture and floristry packaging
- Apparel packaging
- Skincare and beauty packaging
- Limited-edition drinks packaging
- Limited-edition food packaging
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: June 2025
- Personalisation: February 2026
Q2: Spring and early summer
April
Focus
- Increase brand visibility in time for spring festivals
- New-season tote bags
- Easter
- Highlight sustainability.
Key dates and fun occasions
- Easter Sunday (5th): (Approximate consumer spend: £2.3 billion)
- The Farm Shop and Deli Show (13th): (Spans three days)
Products to consider
- Sustainable fabric bags
- Easter and spring seasonal food and drinks packaging
- Countertop display solutions
- BRIX® modular retail furniture
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: August 2025
- Personalisation: February/March 2026
May
Focus
- Get ready for summer with outdoor living merchandise
- Refresh your countertops
- Invest in personalised wine tasting solutions
- Plan your bespoke merchandise and gifting for Christmas
Key dates
- Pet Appreciation Week((3rd): (Ends on the 5th of May)
- May Day Bank Holiday (4th): (Picnics are a popular pastime on this day)
- London Wine Fair (18th): (A two-day trade event)
- The RHS Chelsea Flower Show (19th): (Ends on the 23rd of May)
- Spring Bank Holiday (25th): (A late-season celebration ideal for al fresco events)
Products to consider
- Branded pet treat packaging
- Personalised barware
- Picnic baskets and hampers
- Drinks transit packaging
- Bespoke drinks packaging
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: September 2025
- Personalisation: April 2026
June
Focus
- This is the UK’s “Great Outdoors Month”, so get with the theme
- Ensure that your Father’s Day gifting solutions are delivered on time
- Prepare for a busy summer with seasonal food and transit packaging
- Order your bespoke gift packaging for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day 2027
Key dates
- Father’s Day (21st): (Approximate consumer spend: £1.1 billion)
- Summer Solstice (21st): (Marking mid-summer and the longest day of the year)
Products to consider
- Bespoke food-to-go packaging
- Wicker and deli hampers
- Personalised drinks display packaging
- Transit packaging
- Ecommerce boxes
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: October 2025
- Personalisation: May 2026
Q3: Summer
July
Focus
- It’s all about the summer sales, so have those fabric shopping bags ready to go
- Ramp up your countertop displays and signage solutions
Key dates
- Southsea Food Festival (4th): (A two-day food extravaganza)
Products to consider
- Branded market bags and shoppers
- Pop-up BRIX® retail furniture
- Countertop display and signage options
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: November 2025
- Personalisation: June 2026
August
Focus
- The UK grape harvest begins
- Order protective packaging for your new-season wines
- Update your health and pharmaceutical packaging – it's National Wellness Month
- Curate wine or beer hampers filled with all your bestsellers
- Get your bespoke gifting and packaging designed for Easter and summer 2027
Key dates
- International Beer Day (2nd): (SIBA members get £20 off any purchase over £150 ex VAT)
- Foodies Festival, Oxford (23rd): (One of many of its kind throughout August)
- International Dog Day (26th): (Celebrate with bespoke pet food packaging)
Products to consider
- Pulpsafe and Honey Hex transit containers
- Branded pharmaceutical packaging
- Beer carriers
- Limited-edition pet food packaging
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: November 2025
- Personalisation: July 2026
September
Focus
- Promote recycled and compostable (it’s Organic September)
- Make sure you have all the transit and gift packaging you need for trade shows
- Explore fresh ideas for your exhibition countertops
- Wrap up your branded turkey and goose box orders for Christmas 2026
Key dates
- Speciality Fine Food Fair (8th): (One of the biggest food trade shows in the UK)
- Pet and Aquatics Trade Show (27th): (Spans three days)
Products to consider
- Countertop display solutions
- Bespoke gifting
- Festive season pet food packaging
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: January 2026
- Personalisation: August 2026
Q4: Peak sales and the festive season
October
Focus
- Get your personalised turkey and goose box orders in before the cut-off deadline
- Get your personalised packaging ordered in time for Christmas
- Brand your Halloween merchandise
- Consider festive packaging for your healthcare and beauty products
- Get your bespoke packaging ordered for Father’s Day 2027
Key dates
- Professional Beauty London & Salon International (4th): (A two-day industry event)
- The Pharmacy Show (11th): (A two-day event for pharmacy professionals)
- National Baking Week starts (14th): (Stock up on sustainable cake stands and domes)
- World Food Day (16th): (Build new product awareness ahead of Christmas)
- Halloween (31st): (Approximate consumer spend: £777 million)
Products to consider
- Halloween gifting solutions
- Themed, special edition food and drinks packaging
- New-season pharmaceutical, beauty and healthcare packaging
- Farm shop and deli retail display options
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: February 2026
- Personalisation: September 2026
November
Focus
- Just a few weeks left to get branded packaging, totes and gifting for Christmas
- Curate your products and merchandise in time for the Vineyard & Winery Show
- Get your Black Friday marketing campaign over the line
- Wrap up your personalised gifting orders for December and January
- Place your orders for bespoke packaging for all the 2027 festive season food shows
Key dates
- The Vineyard and Winery Show: (An important trade show for viticulturists)
- Black Friday (27th): ((Approximate consumer spend: £10.2 billion)
Products to consider
- Transit packaging, gifting and barware for the wine industry
- Health care packaging for animal products
- Christmas tote bags
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: March 2026
- Personalisation: October 2026
December
Focus
- It’s the final push for festive season sales
- Promote your end-of-range products at discounted prices
- Plan for January and a fresh outlook by analysing all your data
Key dates
- Christmas Jumper Day (10th): (Don’t miss WBC’s Save the Children cake sale)
- Christmas Day (25th): (Approximate consumer spend: £24.6 billion)
- Boxing Day (26th): (A popular day for shopping post-Christmas sales)
- New Year’s Eve (31st): (Approximate consumer spend: £505 million)
Products to consider
- White-label (off-the-shelf) Christmas gifting solutions for last-minute retail sales
- Pre-printed tags, ribbons and bows
Start sourcing designs
- Bespoke: April/May 2026
- Personalisation: October 2026
