‘Yule’ Love These Tips: Getting Your Coffee Business Holiday Ready

First things first, take a peek at Christmas Past. Review your sales data and customer feedback to get a feel for how your products performed last year and what needs tweaking. Whether your goal is to increase sales, launch a new product, jump on a trend, or improve customer satisfaction, having a plan is key to achieving your holiday targets.

Make your list and check it twice! Avoid the panic of last-minute rush orders by planning ahead. Ensure you have all the necessary dry goods—like paper towels, cups, and bags—in stock to keep your daily operations running smoothly. Remember, as your business gets busier around the holidays, so do your suppliers. It's important to communicate with your vendors to gain an understanding of anticipated lead times heading into the busy season. At Roastar, we notice customers typically begin stocking up on bags from August to October to get ahead of fall sales, which then lead into the holidays.

We chatted with our lovely customers and partners about the top reminders for the holiday season. If you’re launching a brand-new seasonal blend, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Get Designing

Stunning branding for your brew is key to grabbing the attention of holiday shoppers. Spend some time perfecting the design, copy, and graphics not only for your packaging, but also any materials you’ll need to promote the launch. All of these elements should work in harmony to complement the product, season, and intended customer.

If you’re short on time or design prowess, work with a graphic designer to capture your vision, or choose a festive seasonal or holiday design in our Roastar Design Lab to speed up the process. With MOQs as low as 1 for tin cans, 25 for gusset and 100 for flat bottom bags, our ready-to-use designs are perfect for small seasonal runs. You can customize them with your logo and any text you’d like.

As you design and plan, keep in mind that all visual elements should work in harmony with your packaging and overall branding (if you’re unsure about branding, learn more about it in our blog - Roastar Design Lab 101: Leveling Up).

Refining the Details for Perfect Packaging

First things first, you’ll want to determine the volume, style, and quantity of the bags or cans you’d like to use. A flat bottom bag offers enhanced design possibilities, or else the trusty gusset bag is a solid choice. If you prefer something both sustainable and collectible, a festive themed tin can from our Roastar Design Lab fits the bill.

As Mill City Roasters points out, first impressions are key. The packaging is the first thing customers see. It’s your chance to make a dazzling first impression and drive sales, so let your design shine! If designing on your own, use the right template (we’ve got plenty) to prevent delays when you’re heading to print. Or, if you’re looking for something quicker and budget-friendly, sled on over to our Roastar Design Lab.

Another tip we love from Mill City Roasters is simple (and catchy): “Use your real estate.” This refers to the available space on your bags or cans. Don’t be afraid to use all 360 degrees of your packaging to convey information, infuse personality, and maybe even include some easter eggs for coffee connoisseurs.

As you put the final touches on your packaging design, factor in the time it will take to have a few rounds of physical proofs, which is the surest way to know your design will look exactly how you envision it.

Spread the Word (and Holiday Cheer)

Preparing for the holidays isn’t just about the products; it’s also about the presentation. This piece on holiday media placements by Happyland Creative is a great resource. As they mention, now is a great time to revamp your photography. Capture high-quality images of the finished packaging to use for holiday social media promotion and product listings. Prep all graphics so they’re ready to go live on launch day. You’ll also want to hammer out your social media strategy; plan out your posts and establish a budget for ads. For your offline promotion, develop some physical signage to help support the release.

You may also consider running promotions, such as discounts, sales, or product bundles. Creating bundles is an especially good option. As The Coffee Roaster's Guide to Profitable Holidays free downloadable guide by RoasterTools points out, holiday bundles can help increase your average order value, while also improving the shopping experience for your customer. Think about it — would you rather curate and pay for a handful of gifts a la carte, or save time and money by purchasing a bundle of goodies? It’s a win-win — larger orders for you, and valuable savings for your customers.

While appearances are important when it comes to seasonal launches, your behind-the-scenes preparation can turn a good launch into a great one.

Getting ahead of your digital strategy can be a game changer. As Happyland Creative points out, gift guides and wishlists are being curated as early as October. You’ll want to be ready to capture the early birds, while also preparing for the last-minute shoppers with continued promotions and expedited shipping through the holiday season.

Update your inventory and POS systems to include new products. This will help with the visibility of inventory and allow you to track how well products sold, which is helpful for next year. (Bonus tip: Track individual products ("Pumpkin Spice 12oz ground bags", "1lb whole bean Holiday Blend" etc. rather than "bag of coffee") to differentiate between them so you can capture as much sales data as possible.)

By starting your holiday prep early—managing inventory, crafting unique blends & branding, preparing behind the scenes, and creating eye-catching packaging—you can have a successful and stress-free holiday season. Happy roasting, and may your holiday sales be merry and bright!