Why Chinese New Year Affects Your Merchandise (Even If You Order Early)
If you’ve ever tried to order promotional merchandise for January, February or early March and experienced unexpected delays, there’s a good chance Chinese New Year played a role.
Chinese New Year (CNY) is the single biggest annual disruption in global manufacturing and because much of the world’s promo merch is produced in China, the entire industry is affected.
Whether you’re planning event merch, staff gifts, sales kick-off packs or onboarding kits, here’s exactly how Chinese New Year can impact your merch and what you can do to avoid delays.
1. CNY Impacts the Entire Production Pipeline – From Materials to Delivery
Most people think Chinese New Year simply means factories close for a week or two.
But the real impact reaches much further.
CNY affects three critical stages of the merchandise supply chain:
a) Materials & Component Supply
Fabric mills, packaging suppliers and component manufacturers reduce output weeks before the break. Some stop taking orders entirely.
Impact:
- Sampling pauses
- Colour matching, pre-production and approvals slow down
- Some trims, fabrics and colours become temporarily unavailable
b) Factory Production Capacity
Factories close completely for 1–3 weeks. When they reopen, not all staff return at the same time – or at all.
Impact:
- Lower production capacity
- Longer lead times
- Higher pressure on quality control
- Backlogs take weeks to clear
c) Freight & Logistics Congestion
Ports, shipping lines and air freight carriers struggle with pre-holiday demand and post-holiday backlogs.
Impact:
- Slower sea freight
- Booked-out air freight
- Higher freight costs
- Longer transit times
2. The Slowdown Starts Sooner Than You Think
A common misconception: “I’ll order in January – that should be fine.”
Here’s the reality:
- Supplier slowdowns begin in December
- Factories start closing mid-January
- Lower production capacity lasts into late February/early March
- Freight delays can stretch into March or April depending on congestion
So even if you don’t need your merch until Q1, Chinese New Year can still affect you.
3. What This Means for Your Merchandise Order
Chinese New Year can create several challenges that marketers and event managers feel directly:
- Risk of missing event deadlines: Conferences, roadshows, staff events and launches in February–March are the most at risk.
- Limited product choices: Some colours, fabrics, or components may not be available until suppliers return.
- Longer approval timelines: Sampling, testing and artwork sign-offs take longer.
- Potential quality inconsistencies: New or rushed post-holiday staff can lead to colour, position or finish variations.
- Higher freight costs: You may need to choose air freight to hit a fixed event date.
- Fewer opportunities for customisation: Fully custom projects or moulds can be delayed until after CNY entirely.
4. So… How Will Chinese New Year Impact My Merch?
Here’s the simple version:
If your merch is being produced offshore between December and March, it may:
- Take longer to produce
- Experience slower sampling or approvals
- Face delays in shipping
- Arrive later than expected
- Cost more if faster freight is required
- Have fewer available product or customisation options
If you have a fixed deadline – especially in Q1 – it’s important to plan ahead.
How Honeycomb Helps You Avoid CNY Delays
You don’t need to worry about supply chain challenges – that’s our job.
Here’s how we help you stay ahead:
✓ Local Stock & Local Decoration
Fast turnaround options that bypass offshore timelines completely.
✓ Warehousing & Pre-Ordering
We can produce ahead of time and hold stock locally until you’re ready.
✓ Realistic, Transparent Lead Times
Clear expectations so you can confidently plan events and internal deadlines.
✓ Product Recommendations That Work Around CNY
We suggest items less affected by component delays – especially for early-year activations.
✓ Early Planning Support
If you’re even thinking about an early-year event, we can get ahead of the rush and lock in production before shutdowns start.
The Best Advice? Start the Conversation Early.
If you’ve got Q1 events, campaigns or onboarding happening in the new year, now is the perfect time to plan your merchandise.
Early planning means:
- More product options
- More reliable delivery
- Lower freight costs
- Less stress
A short briefing now can save weeks of headaches later. Reach out to our team and lock in your 2026 merch today.