Happy Hallo-week! Things have been pretty spooky at EBD since I woke up at the end of September and realized we needed to sell 3,000 copies of Sweet & Spooky before October 31st. When I was ordering my coloring books, it was a big guessing game of what the demand would be for seasonal products. 

Managing stock for seasonal items tests your planning skills… Short sales periods means less time to make profit and get those products out of the door. It also means, if they don’t sell, you have to be prepared to hold onto those items until the next year. You have to work in advance for seasonal items, but it can be tough to stay ahead.

Big companies are planning holiday products years in advance, some already planning for Christmas 2027. That level of foresight sounds wild, and even harder to predict trends. I tend to stick to a shorter timeline. I started working on Christmas in April and May, which is the earliest I have ever prepared for a release. It allowed me to be prepared, already having more holiday items in stock than usual. Fall started a bit later, so my coloring books and Kindle Cases came later than I would have liked, but I was still sending out the orders in August. Next year, I want to keep up the pace, starting Christmas planning as early as January! 

Seasonal themes require new ideas, new patterns, and even new colors. A Christmas desk pad  or a fall Kindle Case looks quite different from my normal items. It isn’t really an option to just make changes to existing items, you want them to be special. But, you can also make designs that can mesh year-round but still be included in your holiday lines. Celestial Garden and Mushroom Meadows were released with my fall collection, but they have more of a witchy vibe, so I can definitely see them selling year round. 

I designed and ordered my Halloween Kindle Cases in August, but I had to pay for air shipping which made them more expensive. Ground shipping would have saved money, but they would not have been here in time to sell for fall. Hasty ordering leads to extra fees, so it is definitely important to plan ahead when it comes to a seasonal release. 

You also have to think about seasonal demand. In my personal experience, I could start selling Christmas in September and it would have a steady sale until the end of the year. But, Halloween tends to stay closer to October. Fall feels rushed in comparison to Christmas.

I ordered 3,600 Kindle cases, and while two patterns should stretch all year, and the pumpkin design leans toward later fall as well, I just have to hope the year round spooky fans pull through. 

Typically, I order 2,000 copies of my coloring books on the first round. Sweet & Spooky, I wanted to be prepared in case tariffs took over in the next year, so I stocked 3,000 copies so we could have some for next year. I was initially kicking myself for it, but once I reminded myself of that I felt better. Pre-orders definitely helped, though. There were about 400 orders that had early copies of Sweet & Spooky, which was definitely helpful.

Another plus to coloring books is nostalgia. If people are mid-July and wanting that spooky feeling, they can pick up Sweet & Spooky. Coastal Americana is perfect for winter months where you’re yearning to be on a beach.

It is good to make holiday designs that are versatile, as well. While Winter Poppies is primarily red and green, it isn’t so Christmas that it can’t be sold year round. Decor sits in storage. Books and such? They stick around. Pick products that match your goals. Experiential wins for repeat value.

Seasonal products spice up your shop. They keep customers coming back. Sure, inventory trips happen. But the fun outweighs the fumbles. Jump in and learn as you go. Focus on customer joy over perfect stock counts. Holidays build loyalty. Add buffers like extra orders for tariffs. Mix in year-round designs too. Leftovers aren't failures. Save them for next season. Sell-outs teach buyers to act fast.

Don't skip seasons. They boost sales and mood. Start small this year. Track what works. Your business will thank you. What seasonal wins have you had?