By PXN Design Team,Posted on April 12, 2025
- Factory Cycles: When to Order & When to Avoid
Peak Seasons (Higher Costs, Longer Leads)
- Jan–Apr: Spring/summer production + winter inventory clearance
- Aug–Dec: Fall/winter collections + holiday demand surge
Why it’s busy: Retail sales events (Black Friday, Lunar New Year) drive urgent orders.
Off-Peak Windows (Save 20–30% & Faster Turnaround)
- May–July: Post-spring lull (ideal for prototyping or small batches)
- Jan–Feb (partial): Brief downtime after holiday rush
- Seasonal Production Timelines (Northern Hemisphere)
Summer Collections (T-shirts, Light Fabrics)
- Produce: Dec–Mar (3–4 months before launch)
- Launch: Apr–Jun
- Avoid Jun–Aug: Factory delays from summer heat/vacations
Fall/Winter Collections (Coats, Knits)
- Produce: May–Sep (4–5 months before launch)
- Launch: Sep–Nov
- Key move: Finalize designs by Mar to secure production slots
- 3 Tips to Avoid Factory Bottlenecks
- Reverse Scheduling
- Example: For Sept launch, finalize designs by Jun, start production in Jul
- Off-Peak Negotiation
- Secure 20–30% cost savings in May–July for non-urgent orders
- Strategic Partnerships
- Commit to annual volume for priority slots during busy seasons
- Sample Procurement Calendar
|
Month |
Action |
|
Jan–Mar |
Finalize spring/summer orders; negotiate fall/winter terms |
|
Apr–Jun |
Launch spring/summer; begin fall/winter prototyping |
|
Jul–Sep |
Produce fall/winter collections; plan holiday lines |
|
Oct–Dec |
Launch fall/winter; prep next year’s spring/summer designs |