Every holiday season, distributors face the same crunch: orders pour in through September and October, deadlines hit hard in November, and by December many clients are out of options. But in 2025, things are changing. With new consumer expectations, evolving promotional product trends, and on-demand fulfillment technology, distributors can extend their selling season into what MOQ1 calls “The 13th Month.”

That means capturing last-minute December orders, impressing clients who thought they missed the window, and driving extra revenue when competitors are saying no.

The State of the Industry in 2025

The promotional products industry continues to grow steadily, surpassing $26 billion in sales last year with forecasts pointing even higher in 2025. At the same time, the print-on-demand (POD) market is experiencing explosive growth, expected to expand at more than 20% annually over the next decade.

The takeaway is clear: while traditional bulk orders remain important, flexible, fast-turn solutions are now a must for distributors who want to stay competitive.

2025 Holiday Promo Trends to Watch

1. Sustainability First
Corporate buyers increasingly want eco-friendly products that align with responsible brand values. From apparel made with recycled materials to reusable drinkware, sustainable options are expected to remain top of mind this holiday season.

2. Personalization at Scale
Custom gifts feel more thoughtful, and clients know it. On-demand decoration methods now make it possible to add names, teams, or departments to apparel and accessories without bulk commitments.

3. Apparel, Bags, and Drinkware Still Lead
These core categories continue to dominate orders because they’re practical, gift-friendly, and easy to brand. Seasonal kits that combine them, like a cozy hoodie + tumbler gift set, create a higher perceived value.

4. Holiday Kits and Bundles
Themed gift sets are trending as companies look to create experiences rather than one-off items. A curated Holiday Shop allows employees to choose from multiple options, making gifting more engaging.

5. Wellness-Driven Gifts
Items that support well-being, like journals, hydration products, or comfort apparel, are on the rise. Clients want to show they care about recipients’ health and lifestyle.

6. The “13th Month” Advantage
Historically, distributors have been forced to shut down holiday sales by late November. But with on-demand fulfillment and fast turnaround times with MOQ1, December becomes a new opportunity. “The 13th Month” means you can capture incremental sales from last-minute orders other suppliers can’t fulfill.

How MOQ1 Fits In

MOQ1 shines in the areas that matter most this holiday season:

• Speed: Average fulfillment in 1–2 business days, even during peak season
• No Inventory Risk: Products are printed on demand, so distributors can say yes without requiring bulk commitments
• Curated Holiday Shops: Launch a fully branded shop in under a minute, stocked with 10,000+ SKUs and seasonal gift bundles
• Personalization Options: Quickly apply new holiday designs or branded refreshes to existing shops without rebuilding products
• Extended Selling Season: Keep accepting orders through December, The 13th Month, instead of turning clients away

What “The 13th Month” Means for Distributors

• More Revenue: Capture late-season sales that competitors miss
• Happy Clients: Solve the “we missed the deadline” problem and earn loyalty
• Competitive Edge: While others stop, you keep selling
• Stress Relief: No late-night kitting or frantic rush orders – MOQ1 handles (rapid) production

Holiday 2025 isn’t just about hitting deadlines, it’s about creating opportunities. By leaning into sustainable products, personalization, and curated holiday experiences, distributors can stay on trend. And by embracing “The 13th Month” you can transform December into your most profitable time of year.

Ready to unlock your 13th Month of holiday sales? Create your online stores today!

For decades, holiday gifting in the branded merchandise world followed a simple formula: bulk order one product, hand it out to everyone, and hope it landed well.

In 2025, that model doesn’t cut it anymore. Employees, customers, and supporters expect personalization. They expect speed. They expect experiences that feel designed for them — not leftovers from a warehouse.

Here’s why choice-based gifting, delivered through Holiday Shops, is winning this season:

1. Satisfaction Goes Up

Studies show that 69% of employees prefer to choose their own gift, and 77% of consumers say personalization is important (PPAI). When people pick the product, style, and size that fits them, satisfaction skyrockets.

2. Waste Goes Down

One-size-fits-all gifts often end up in closets or landfills. Choice-based shops eliminate over-ordering and reduce waste — only what’s wanted gets produced. That’s more sustainable and more cost-effective for clients.

3. Logistics Simplify

No need to collect sizes, store bulk orders, or sort boxes. Recipients order directly through a shop, and products ship straight to their homes. That’s less stress for clients and fewer headaches for distributors.

4. Experiences Matter More Than Ever

In a crowded holiday season, the companies that stand out deliver thoughtful, modern experiences. A branded Holiday Shop feels polished, personal, and professional — reflecting positively on the client’s brand.

The Takeaway

Choice-based gifting isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s what recipients and clients expect in 2025. Holiday Shops make it possible, giving distributors a simple way to deliver experiences that work for everyone.

👉 For strategies and step-by-step guidance, grab the free Holiday Shops Playbook.  

Get the Playbook

For distributors, the holiday season is both the busiest and most stressful time of the year. Clients are counting on you to deliver meaningful gifts for employees, customers, and supporters — but the reality behind the scenes is often messy.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by holiday demand, you’re not alone. Here are five of the most common challenges distributors run into during the holidays, and some practical ways to approach them:

1. Tight Timelines and Last-Minute Orders

It’s almost guaranteed: a client will reach out late in the season with a “must-have” order. Traditional promo workflows can require weeks of lead time, leaving you in a tough spot when clients expect delivery before the holidays.

What to do: Eliminate the bottleneck by offering on-demand ordering with instant access to a full product catalog. Instead of curating a narrow mix in advance, give recipients the freedom to choose what they want from a pre-loaded storefront. This cuts down on planning time, reduces back-and-forth, and makes it possible to fulfill late-season requests without the usual stress.

2. Inventory Risk and Leftovers

Ordering in bulk always feels like a gamble. If you over-order, you’re left with excess stock that eats into profit. If you under-order, you disappoint clients and their recipients.

What to do: Where possible, avoid carrying inventory altogether. Offer programs that allow for individual orders, or give clients more visibility into how much their audience is likely to purchase before you commit.

3. Distribution Headaches

Bulk shipping means someone — often you or your client — is stuck sorting, packing, and delivering gifts. For larger organizations, this process can take days and requires staff hours that nobody has in December.

What to do: Look for ways to streamline distribution. That might mean using direct-to-recipient shipping, simplifying packaging, or working with partners who can take on fulfillment for you.

4. One-Size-Fits-All Gifting

Handing every employee the same sweatshirt or mug seems efficient, but it often leaves people with items they don’t want or can’t use. That’s wasted spend for clients, and it doesn’t reflect well on the brand.

What to do: Whenever possible, build in choice. Even a small amount of flexibility — letting recipients pick a size, a design, or a product category — dramatically improves satisfaction and keeps gifts out of storage closets or donation bins.

5. Proving Value After the Campaign

Once the gifts are delivered, the story often ends. Clients rarely have visibility into how well their holiday campaign performed, and distributors miss the chance to show measurable value.

What to do: Share results. Whether it’s participation numbers, dollars raised in a fundraiser, or feedback from recipients, providing data helps clients understand the impact. It also positions you as a partner who can help them plan for next year.

The Bottom Line

The holidays bring the same challenges every year: tight deadlines, inventory headaches, distribution hassles, and one-size-fits-all gifts that fall flat.

A Holiday Shop flips that script — and MOQ1 makes it simple to create one. With instant storefronts, on-demand production, and built-in reporting, distributors can turn a seasonal pain point into a growth opportunity.

👉 Get the free Holiday Shops Playbook and see how to launch smarter, easier campaigns this season.

Get the Playbook

The holiday season is the biggest window of the year for branded merchandise. But for distributors, it often comes with the same challenges: last-minute client requests, bulk order headaches, and endless logistics that eat away at your time.

That’s exactly why MOQ1 is built for Holiday Shops. It takes the chaos out of seasonal orders and turns it into growth, helping you deliver value, stand out from competitors, and finish the year strong.

1. Instant Shops = More Opportunities

With MOQ1, you can launch fully branded Holiday Shops in seconds. It’s completely free to use, set up, and to create unlimited shops. 

2. Unlimited Products, No Minimums

MOQ1 eliminates the limitations that hold distributors back. From apparel and ornaments to mugs and blankets, clients get endless variety…all with DIGISOFT® retail-quality decoration. And with no order minimums, every single order is produced on demand, whether it’s one hoodie or hundreds of mixed items.

3. Wholesale Pricing Without the Waste

Traditional bulk orders force clients to overbuy. MOQ1’s Mix & Max Wholesale™ changes that. Distributors can combine different products, sizes, and designs in a single order and still unlock wholesale pricing starting at just 10 units. That means bulk discounts without the leftover inventory.

4. 1–2 Day Turnaround (Even During the Rush)

Timing makes or breaks holiday programs. MOQ1 delivers fast, with most orders shipping in 1–2 business days…even at peak season! Clients can launch shops late in the year and still meet deadlines, giving you the confidence to say “yes” to more opportunities.

5. Built-In Marketing & Reporting Tools

A Holiday Shop only works if people use it. MOQ1 makes promotion effortless with ready-to-share links, QR codes, and pre-built marketing assets. Plus, built-in reporting tracks sales, commissions, and participation, so you can prove value to clients and set up repeat success year after year.

The Takeaway

Holiday Shops thrive on speed, flexibility, and scalability. That’s exactly what MOQ1 was designed for.

✅ Free to use
✅ No setup costs
✅ No inventory risk
✅ Retail-ready quality with DIGISOFT®
✅ Mix & Max Wholesale™ pricing that saves clients money

Distributors who want to capture seasonal revenue — without the chaos of bulk orders and missed deadlines — choose MOQ1.

Ready to launch smarter holiday programs? Create your free shop today or download the Holiday Shops Playbook for strategies and real-world examples.

[Get the Playbook]

When you talk to a client about a “shop,” it’s easy for them to picture just another website. Another catalog. Another transaction.

But Holiday Shops aren’t really about the shop itself. They’re about the experience they create for employees, customers, and communities. And that’s where the opportunity lies for distributors.

Why Clients Don’t Buy “Shops”

Most clients aren’t interested in the mechanics of a storefront. They’re not asking about setup, product counts, or how you manage inventory.

What they care about is: Will this be easy? Will it feel personal? Will it make us look good?

That’s why selling a “shop” often falls flat — because what you’re really selling isn’t the platform, it’s the outcome.

What Clients Actually Want

When you position Holiday Shops as an experience, the benefits resonate instantly:

• Simplicity: One link replaces weeks of order forms, bulk shipments, and distribution headaches.
  
• Choice: Every recipient gets the size, style, or product they actually want.
  
• Speed: Orders placed deep into December can still arrive in time.
  
• Impact: Clients see real results — from participation rates to most-loved products.
  

It’s not about pushing more branded merchandise. It’s about giving clients a holiday program that feels effortless and memorable.

How Distributors Can Shift the Conversation

Instead of leading with “We can build you a shop,” reframe it around the client’s experience:

• “Imagine every employee choosing their own gift — without you touching a single box.”
  
• “What if your fundraiser ran online, with no inventory risk?”
  
• “How much easier would your holidays be if all the logistics just disappeared?”
  

These scenarios go straight to client pain points — and position you as the partner who solves them.

The Takeaway

A Holiday Shop isn’t the product. The experience is.

When you stop selling shops and start selling outcomes, you shift the conversation from features to value. And that’s how you win.

👉 For strategies and real-world examples, download the free Holiday Shops Playbook.

[Get the Playbook]

The holiday season is one of the biggest opportunities in branded merchandise — and also one of the toughest. Clients are under pressure to deliver meaningful gifts, fundraisers, or seasonal programs, but distributors often get stuck juggling bulk orders, tight deadlines, and complex logistics.

Holiday Shops are changing that. By shifting from one-off orders to turnkey seasonal stores, distributors can capture more revenue, simplify the process, and deliver more value.

Here are five reasons every distributor should consider offering Holiday Shops:

1. Drive Seasonal Sales

Holiday gifting is one of the largest revenue windows of the year. Holiday Shops give distributors a way to capture that demand by turning seasonal campaigns into tangible product sales — without the limitations of traditional bulk ordering.

2. Deliver Real Client Value

Instead of leaving clients to figure out holiday orders on their own, distributors can provide a ready-made solution. This positions you as a problem-solver, makes life easier for clients, and increases satisfaction with every campaign.

3. Stand Out From Competitors

Many distributors still rely on static catalogs or one-off transactions. Offering a Holiday Shop shows innovation and sets you apart with a more modern, engaging solution that today’s clients are more likely to choose.

4. Simplify Gifting Logistics

Traditional holiday stores require collecting sizes, sorting products, and managing distribution — a process that eats up time for both you and your clients. Holiday Shops streamline the entire workflow into one simple, digital experience.

5. Strengthen Client Relationships

Holiday gifting is emotional and memorable. By helping clients deliver smooth, impactful programs, distributors reinforce relationships, build loyalty, and open the door to repeat business year after year.

The Takeaway

✅ In short: Holiday Shops help distributors boost seasonal revenue, add client value, differentiate from competitors, simplify logistics, and strengthen relationships.

👉 Want to see how to put this into practice? Download the free Holiday Shops Playbook for strategies and step-by-step examples.

[Get the Playbook]

The holiday season is a massive opportunity for distributors to deliver branded merchandise campaigns that truly matter. But let’s be honest, Holiday Shops have traditionally been a headache. Manual bulk orders, inventory limits, and long lead times weigh distributors down, leaving less time to focus on client relationships and growth.

That’s why we built the MOQ1 Holiday Shops Playbook — your step-by-step guide to running faster, smarter, and more profitable Holiday Shops.

What You’ll Learn Inside

This playbook distills best practices, industry insights, and proven strategies into a simple roadmap you can start using today. Inside, you’ll learn how to:

• Launch turnkey Holiday Shops in seconds: with no setup costs, fees, or inventory.
• Proactively sell shops to clients as a stress-free, value-added solution.
• Capture incremental revenue with on-demand production that ships within hours; even on orders placed into December.
• Deliver a modern shopping experience that employees, customers, and supporters will love.

Why Holiday Shops Matter

Holiday Shops are more than just seasonal stores, they’re a proven way to strengthen client relationships, capture repeat business, and unlock seasonal revenue. Whether it’s corporate gifting, fundraising, or employee appreciation, clients are looking for turnkey solutions that cut through the clutter and deliver results.

With MOQ1, you can finally offer Holiday Shops without the stress of managing inventory, upfront costs, or long lead times.

Get the Playbook Today

The MOQ1 Holiday Shops Playbook is now available, free for distributors ready to level up their holiday sales strategy. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to launch profitable shops, sell them with confidence, and grow your seasonal business.

👉 Check Out the Playbook Now

Don’t let another holiday season pass by with missed opportunities. With MOQ1 and the Holiday Shops Playbook, you’ll have the tools to deliver fast, flexible, and unforgettable branded merchandise experiences.

As the seasons change, so do your clients’ needs – and fall is one of the best times to refresh your shops with cozy, practical products that people actually want to wear and use. From chilly football games to office holiday parties, the right gear makes branded merch both useful and memorable.

Here are a few seasonal standouts to consider adding to your MOQ1 shops right now:

Branded Blankets: From the Office to the Couch

Few products are as versatile as a blanket. They’re perfect for staff appreciation gifts, sports fans braving the bleachers, or cozy holiday giveaways. With your client’s branding front and center, these make a lasting impression while being something people actually reach for again and again.

Hoodies: Always in Season

Hoodies are a no-brainer when the weather cools. Whether it’s for school spirit wear, team shops, or corporate swag, hoodies are one of the most popular fall items across every audience. Add them to your shops and make it easy for clients to outfit their employees or fans in comfort.

Lined Jackets: Warmth Meets Professional Style

For clients who want something a little more polished, lined jackets are a great option. They’re perfect for business casual environments, outdoor staff uniforms, or corporate gifting. They provide warmth while keeping a sharp, professional look.

Anoraks: Lightweight and Packable

The Sport-Tek Adult Packable Anorak is a seasonal favorite, ideal for unpredictable fall weather. These are great for schools, booster clubs, and organizations who want to give their community a lightweight, branded layer that’s easy to wear on the go.

Soft-Shell Vests: Layering Done Right

Vests are one of those items people don’t always think to buy for themselves – but once they have one, they wear it constantly. They’re perfect for layering, offering warmth without bulk, and are a stylish addition to any branded apparel collection.

Why It Matters

Adding featured seasonal products to your MOQ1 shops shows clients you’re proactive and thoughtful about their needs. These items aren’t just merch – they’re useful, versatile, and perfectly timed for the season. And with MOQ1’s no-minimum, on-demand model, your clients can stock up without worrying about leftover inventory.

Now’s the time to get ahead of the season. Refresh your shops with cozy, practical gear and give your clients the kind of branded products that will get used (and seen) all season long.

Let’s face it, traditional wholesale ordering hasn’t kept up with modern needs. Clunky order forms. SKU limitations. Long wait times. MOQ1 was built to change all that.

Mix & Max Wholesale™ gives you a faster, more flexible way to manage bulk orders with zero chaos; whether you’re placing a team order, gearing up for a school event, or running merch for a reunion or 5K.

Here’s how it works, and why it’s already becoming the go-to tool for promo pros across the industry.

The Smarter Way to Do Wholesale

Mix & Max Wholesale™ is a built-in feature that lets you:

Bulk Ordering Starts Here

Want to See It in Action?

We made a quick video demo showing exactly how Mix & Max works — from combining products to checking out with bulk pricing applied.

🎥 Watch the demo → HERE

You’ll see how easy it is to:

Ready to Rethink Bulk Orders?

With MOQ1’s Mix & Max Wholesale™, you can finally handle large orders without the stress, delays, or outdated processes. It’s flexible enough for one-off events, scalable enough for growing businesses, and powerful enough to make you look like a hero to every client.

This is how wholesale should work.

No hoops. No hassles. Just smart, efficient ordering — built right into every MOQ1 shop.

Create your free MOQ1 account now and give it a try.

AI isn’t coming… it’s already here. For promotional product professionals, this shift creates both new challenges and huge new opportunities. The good news? MOQ1 was built for this moment.

The Shift Toward Smarter Selling
AI is streamlining tasks once done manually, and buyers now expect faster responses, personalized experiences, and digital-first solutions. The old-school catalogs and clunky order forms aren’t cutting it anymore.

The AI Advantage (And What Reps Can Learn From It)
Even if you’re not using AI tools directly, your workflow and sales tactics can mimic the benefits of automation:

• Speed: Clients don’t want to wait for quotes or mockups.
• Ease: They want to browse, order, and pay instantly – just like ecommerce shoppers.
• Customization: They want products and stores that reflect their brand.

MOQ1 Bridges the Gap by acting like your AI-powered assistant – without needing you to become a tech expert.

🔧 No-Code Store Creation

• Build beautiful, branded shops in less than a minute
• No design or development required

🧠 Plug-and-Play Marketing Templates

• Smart sales tools that help you promote shops like a pro
• AI-inspired, dynamic templates that make social, email, and DM outreach easy

⚙️ On-Demand, Automated Fulfillment

• Your orders flow directly into our advanced facility
• Products are printed, packed, and shipped within days — no manual touchpoints

📊 Real-Time Reporting & Tracking

• Know what’s working and what’s not
• Make smarter decisions with data, not guesswork
  

What This Means for You: With MOQ1, you’re not just keeping up… you’re getting ahead:

• Save hours of time on setup and outreach
• Impress clients with smart, seamless ordering
• Sell more with less work
• Stay competitive as expectations evolve
  

The world of promo is changing fast. AI is raising the bar…but with MOQ1, you already have the tools to match it.

 Ready to future-proof your business?

Back-to-school season isn’t just for students, it’s a major opportunity to boost sales, reconnect with clients, and launch fresh, custom shop ideas.

Whether you’re working with schools, booster clubs, sports teams, or local businesses that want to support their community, now’s the time to refresh your shop offerings and start those client conversations.

Here are some easy ways to lean into the season:

How are you planning to drive more back-to-school sales this year?

Start a conversation with your clients now, and build shops they can share with their community. MOQ1 makes it easy to create fully branded, shoppable collections that turn school spirit into sales.