As the Christmas supply stores prepare to close down for the year, packaging lines finalise their bookings and food producers see their products go through packaging testing, where are you in your 2026 preparations? If you're new to retail, NPD or the idea that Christmas 2026 started before Christmas 2025, this weeks newsletter has you covered. Equally, if you're now in a panic reading this, search for "over wrap," festive packaging ideas and temporary festive rebranding for a shortcut to Christmasifying your product range. When you're sitting with a stock of Christmas packaging in early September (when the festive shopping starts) and watch the suppliers run out, you can feel all smug and confident for the season ahead (while preparing for 2027).

A great article that won't make it into this week's newsletter; your packaging can influence what people expect from your product: https://www.bentley.edu/news/tempting-more-taste-buds-how-packaging-influences-chocolate-choices

CPG Fast Track (Consumer Packaged Goods) are offering free reviews of your packaging, live in an online video. The webinar takes place on the 25th February with a recording if you can't make it live. https://riverside.com/webinar/registration/eyJzbHVnIjoibWFya3VzLWthcmphbGFpbmVucy1zdHVkaW8tQWhGdFkiLCJldmVudElkIjoiNjk3Y2FiNjU2OGFkNzczMmU1MTFmNzJhIiwicHJvamVjdElkIjoiNjk3Y2FiNjVmODNlZjZhZjYzNTFhNDRjIn0=

Note, there's a new Sales & Marketing category, for discussing getting more sales and improving promotions/campaigns (not for self-promotion).

A free webinar on 3rd December about a spice maker in the UK: https://www.business.gov.uk/business-academy/events/spice-up-your-business-how-the-spice-kitchen-went-global-03-december-2025/