Christmas 2025 Online Order Deadline

Quick Answer

Our Christmas order cutoff is Friday 12th December at 5pm. Orders placed after this time will be dispatched from 6th January 2026.

This policy exists to protect your Christmas plans and ensure reliable delivery.

Why Do You Have a Christmas Cutoff?

Courier networks become overwhelmed during the Christmas period. Even tracked, premium services experience significant delays as parcel volumes increase dramatically in mid-December.

We set our cutoff at 12th December because it's the last point where we can reasonably expect couriers to deliver reliably before Christmas.

What Happens to Courier Services in December?

• Increased volume: Parcel numbers can triple in the two weeks before Christmas

• Unpredictable delays: Even next-day services can take 3 to 5 days

• Depot backlogs: Parcels sit in sorting centres longer than usual

• Weather disruption: Winter weather compounds delivery challenges

We have no control over courier performance once your order leaves our studio. Setting a clear cutoff protects you from paying for an order that doesn't arrive in time.

Why 12th December Specifically?

This date is based on our experience with courier performance in previous years.

Here's the timeline:

• 12th December (5pm): Last orders accepted

• 13th to 16th December: Orders dispatched (1 to 3 business days)

• 17th to 20th December: In transit with courier

• 21st to 24th December: Delivery window

This gives couriers a full week to deliver your order, accounting for potential delays.

Orders placed after 5pm on 12th December would be dispatched from 16th December onwards, leaving insufficient time for reliable delivery before Christmas.

Can You Make Exceptions?

Unfortunately, no.

We understand how important Christmas gifts are, but making exceptions would mean sending orders into the courier network when we know delays are likely. We'd rather be honest with you now than risk disappointing you later.

The cutoff exists to protect your plans, not to inconvenience you.

What If I Miss the Deadline?

You have two options:

Option 1: Shop in Person

Visit us at the Indie Collectives markets at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay:

• Saturday 13th December, 11am to 6pm

• Saturday 20th December, 11am to 6pm

You'll find a selection of handcrafted bags available to take home on the day. No waiting, no courier uncertainty.

Because each bag is handcrafted in small batches using premium materials like Harris Tweed® from the Isle of Harris, stock varies from market to market. What's available depends on what's been made recently and what's sold at previous events or online.

The Wales Millennium Centre is located in Cardiff Bay with excellent transport links and parking nearby.

Option 2: Order for January Delivery

Place your order online, and it will be dispatched from 6th January 2026. You'll receive tracking details by email as soon as it's on its way.

Delivery usually takes 1 to 2 working days from dispatch, so you can expect your bag around 7th to 8th January.

Why Is the Website Closed on Market Days?

We close the website on the following market days:

• 15th November

• 29th November

• 6th December

• 13th December

• 20th December

This prevents selling the same bag twice, once online and once in person.

Because each bag is handcrafted and stock is limited, closing the website on market days avoids any confusion or double bookings.

The website reopens each evening after the market closes.

What About Expedited Shipping?

We offer three tracked delivery options:

• DPD Next Day

• Royal Mail Tracked 24 (with signature)

• Royal Mail Tracked 48 (with signature)

All of these services are reliable under normal circumstances. However, during the Christmas period, even next-day services experience significant delays as parcel volumes surge.

Choosing DPD Next Day or Royal Mail Tracked 24 won't guarantee faster delivery in mid-to-late December. The entire courier network slows down, regardless of the service level you select.

The only way to guarantee you'll have a bag before Christmas after 12th December is to visit us in person at the Indie Collectives markets.

When Will January Orders Be Dispatched?

All orders placed after 5pm on 12th December will be dispatched from Monday 6th January 2026.

You'll receive an email with tracking details as soon as your bag is on its way. Delivery times from dispatch:

• DPD Next Day: 1 working day

• Royal Mail Tracked 24: 1 to 2 working days

• Royal Mail Tracked 48: 2 to 3 working days

Why Not Just Make More Bags in Advance?

Each bag is handcrafted to order in our small studio. We don't mass-produce or hold large amounts of stock.

Our production capacity is limited by:

• Time: Each bag takes 3 to 6 hours to make

• Space: Our studio is a small converted outbuilding

• Materials: We use premium materials like Harris Tweed® from the Isle of Harris, which we source in small quantities

This approach ensures every bag is made to the highest standard, but it also means we can't simply "make more" to extend the deadline.

What If My Order Is Urgent?

If you need a bag urgently and the online cutoff has passed, your best option is to visit us in person at the Indie Collectives markets on 13th or 20th December at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay.

We can't offer rush production or guaranteed expedited delivery during the Christmas period. As a one-person business, I handcraft every bag and attend all the markets myself, while also working a job outside of the business. The courier network is unreliable in late December, and I simply cannot be in multiple places at once making bags, dispatching orders, and attending markets.

Can I Collect My Order Instead of Having It Delivered?

Collection isn't available from our studio, but you're welcome to shop in person at the Indie Collectives markets on 13th or 20th December at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay (11am to 6pm both days).

This gives you the same outcome: a bag in hand before Christmas, without the uncertainty of courier delivery.

Please note that because bags are handcrafted in small batches, stock at the markets varies depending on what's been made recently and what's already sold.

Summary

• Cutoff date: Friday 12th December, 5pm

• Reason: Courier networks become unreliable after this date

• After cutoff: Orders dispatched from 6th January 2026

• Alternative: Shop in person at Indie Collectives markets, Wales Millennium Centre (13th or 20th December, 11am to 6pm)

• No exceptions: Policy applies to all orders to ensure fairness and reliability

This policy is designed to give you the best possible experience. We'd rather set a deadline we can meet than make promises we can't keep.

Still Have Questions?

If you have questions not covered here, please contact us. We aim to respond within 24 working hours (faster during school holidays).

Email: support@emmaeaster.co.ukWebsite: emmaeaster.co.uk