Plan Ahead for Custom Overseas PRODUCTION: How Chinese New Year Can Impact Your PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT TIMELINE
- Kelly Brown
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
The Planning Advantage
If you’re in marketing, HR, or events, you know how fast the calendar fills up. Before you know it, that spring conference, milestone celebration, or companywide recognition program is around the corner and suddenly everyone wants custom branded items “yesterday.”
Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: truly custom overseas projects take time. Between concepting, approvals, samples, production, and shipping, even a straightforward project can take 3–6 months from idea to delivery.
And if your timing overlaps with Chinese New Year, those timelines can stretch even longer.
Why Chinese New Year Matters (Even If You’re Not in China)
Each year, factories across Asia shut down for several weeks in late January or early February to celebrate Chinese New Year. Workers travel home to be with their families, production halts, and supply chains slow to a crawl.
Even when factories reopen, there’s often a backlog as they ramp back up. So, if you’re planning an overseas project that needs to be delivered in Q1 or Q2, you’ll want to start your planning before the holidays to avoid delays and disappointment.
What a Realistic Custom Overseas Production Timeline Looks Like
Here’s a breakdown of what goes into custom overseas production and why planning early pays off:
Brainstorming & Ideation (7–10 days): We collaborate with you on concepts that fit your event, audience, and budget.
Proposal & Quoting (7–10 days): You review our ideas and present them to leadership or stakeholders.
Sample Review (7–10 days): We ship random samples so you can see quality, size, and finish before committing to a pre-production sample with your logo and branding.
Art Proofing & Sales Order (3–5 days): Once you choose your favorite, we create a detailed virtual product mock-up and confirm all specs within a sales order.
Pre-Production Sample (5–15 days): Once the sales order and mock-up is approved, we produce a physical pre-production sample. This is your “final check” before full production begins.
Pre-Pro Review (5–10 days): You review and approve that sample (or request tweaks, which extends the timeline).
Production (21–120 days): Depending on the item’s complexity and quantity.
Transit Time:
Air Freight: ~ 7–14 days (fast but higher cost)
Ocean Freight: ~ 30–45 days (economical but slower)
Receiving & Distribution (up to 1–2 weeks): Unloading, inspection, and final delivery.
When you add it all up, that’s roughly 3–6 months from concept to completion. Some projects and items may take longer, depending on the complexity in packaging, shipping, and decoration.
That's why it's best to start your new year projects right now, before everyone else jumps into the queue.
Why Partner with Green Giftz Early
With 35 years of experience managing custom global projects, Green Giftz knows how to navigate production schedules, relationships, and shipping logistics so you don’t have to. That means you earn back more time to do the things you love.
We keep track of every milestone, sample, and approval, making sure your project stays on track (and stress-free). Early planning means:
More creative freedom and customization options
Fewer rush charges or limited choices
Predictable delivery (even with global holidays in the mix)
More time to get leadership buy-in and wow your team
Plan Now, Thank Yourself Later
If you’ve got a company milestone, employee recognition program, or major event on the horizon, this is your sign to start planning.
Reach out today, and let’s turn your idea into something meaningful, on-brand, and perfectly timed — no last-minute stress required.