Holiday Marketing Materials Printing Checklist

Introduction

During peak season, all channels experience increased demand. A structured checklist transforms the complexity of festive promotions into an actionable plan that achieves measurable outcomes. This guide provides a framework to scope, specify, and schedule marketing materials printing, enabling teams to execute efficiently and maintain consistent store presentation from window displays to tills. The following steps address formats, artwork, materials, production methods, installation, and fulfilment, with references to Pointmedia services for expedited support.

1) Define Goals, Offers and Timelines

• Primary objective for print: store traffic, higher basket value, event attendance, gift card sales.
• Final offer copy: price points, legal lines, redemption dates.
• Campaign dates: on sale, preview evenings, late-night trading, last guaranteed order dates.
• Priority locations: flagship stores, high footfall sites, pop-ups, concessions.
• Owners and approvals: marketing lead, brand lead, legal, store ops.
• Photography readiness: hero product shots, lifestyle imagery, model rights cleared.

Tip: if multiple offers will rotate through the season, set a simple naming and colour system so stores can swap assets without confusion.

2) Choose Your Festive Print Mix

Choose formats that fit your goals and the layout of your stores. Use a mix of standout pieces and targeted supporting items.

High-visibility formats

• Custom posters for windows and back walls, A1 to 60×40, portrait and landscape.
• Event banners for façades, atriums and railings. Consider mesh for exposed areas and PVC-free options for sustainability. See Exterior Signage.
• Hanging cards or ceiling rafts to float messaging above crowds.
• Window vinyls including etched films for premium looks and perforated films for privacy.
• Floor graphics with certified anti-slip ratings in key desire lines.

Conversion helpers

• Shelf talkers and wobblers to spotlight gift bundles and multibuys.
• Counter cards and strut cards near tills and service points.
• Gift voucher wallets and swing tags for easy add-on sales.
• Menus and price lists for hospitality or seasonal services.

Takeaway and outreach

• Flyers and door drops for local catchment areas.
• Direct mail postcards for VIP events and early access.
• Voucher inserts for click and collect orders.

Event and queue management

• Wayfinding boards for late-night shopping and Santa experiences.
• Photo backdrops with brand marks and seasonal motifs.
• Crowd guidance totems for temporary routes.

If you need complex packs for different store types or regions, plan kitting and distribution with Pointmedia’s Fulfilment Services.

3) Map Messages to Store Zones

Think about the customer journey and assign one clear message to each area of your store.

• Outside the store: hero offer or event headline, trading hours, click and collect signposting.
• Threshold and power aisle: newness, bundles, gift ideas under a price point.
• Category bays: signposts and shelf-edge proofs that help fast decision making.
• Till and service areas: gift cards, last-chance stocking fillers, extended returns policy.
• Back of house: staff briefs, planograms, install guides.

Limiting each store zone to a single primary message enhances both clarity and navigability, as customers can more easily process information and make purchase decisions without being overwhelmed by competing visuals or offers.

4) Artwork and Brand Control

Prepare your files and proofs carefully to avoid mistakes in production.

• Correct sizes with bleed and safe margins.
• Outlined fonts, or supply font files and licences.
• Linked images at print resolution.
• Spot colours and Pantone references where required.
• Version control naming that matches your kit list and store list.
• Mockups on photography of real store fronts for sign-off.

To keep colours consistent across vinyl, fabric, and panels, match your profiles and ask for on-material proofs.

5) Materials That Survive December

Choose substrates for durability, finish and sustainability.

• Posters: 170–200 gsm silk or photo-grade for premium windows. Consider tear-resistant or synthetic papers in damp entrances.
• Vinyls: removable for short promotions, high-tack for rough surfaces, etched for premium windows. Add laminates for scuff resistance.
• Banners: mesh for wind, PVC-free alternatives where possible, hems and eyelets or keder for frames.
• Cards and wobblers: 350–450 gsm board with crease lines for stability.
• Floor graphics: media and laminate rated with the correct slip certification.
• Totems and boards: Foamex, Dibond or honeycomb board based on span and reusability.
• Sustainable options: recycled boards, fabric frames with reusable aluminium, PVC-free films.

If you want sample swatches or advice on the best materials for your space, the print team can help.

6) Print Process: Digital vs Offset

Match method to volume, speed and personalisation.

• Digital printing for fast turnarounds, short runs, store-specific art and variable data.
• Offset printing for higher volumes where unit cost matters and colours are fixed.
• Large format print for custom posters, window vinyls, boards and event banners at scale.
• Finishing options such as lamination, soft-touch, foiling, embossing and die-cuts for premium gifting.

Not sure which printing method is right for your mix? Share your run lengths and deadlines, and we’ll suggest the best option.

7) Illumination and Display Hardware

Make your print stand out during dark evenings and in busy displays.

• LED lightboxes for windows and hero bays.
• Magnetic frames and snap frames for rapid poster changes.
• SEG fabric frames for crease-free walls and seasonal refreshes with minimal waste.
• Clip rails and hanging systems for ceiling cards that stay level.
• Discreet LED spots to highlight high-margin displays.

For permanent or semi-permanent fixtures, coordinate with Interior Signage so you can easily add seasonal inserts.

8) Accessibility and Readability

Make sure your offers are easy to read for everyone, no matter the lighting.

• Legible typefaces and comfortable letter spacing.
• Strong contrast between copy and background.
• Clear pictograms for services such as click and collect.
• Avoid placing high-gloss prints where glare is heavy.
• Keep key prices above busy shelf lines to avoid occlusion.

These tips help all your customers, not just those with visual impairments.

9) Compliance, Safety and Permissions

Make sure your operations are safe and meet all regulations.

• Landlord and centre management approvals for façades, atriums and external event banners.
• Fire ratings for interior substrates near exits and lights.
• Slip ratings for floor media in public routes.
• Electrical safety for illuminated displays.
• Working at height planning for window installs and high posters, scheduled out of hours when needed.

Pointmedia can prepare RAMS and coordinate access as part of Project Management and on-site Installation.

10) Store Pack Planning and Fulfilment

A good kit plan helps you avoid expensive store calls and missed installations.

• Create a store matrix by format and quantity.
• Bundle kits by store and campaign phase with clear labels.
• Include photo guides showing exact placement by zone.
• Add spares for breakages and snap decisions.
• Use tamper-proof packaging for window vinyls and delicate items.
• Track deliveries and sign-offs with simple checklists.

For multi-site programmes, lean on Fulfilment Services to assemble, label and dispatch packs on time.

11) Installation and Changeovers

Make sure your store looks just like the concept on day one.

• Lock install dates against trading calendars and staff rosters.
• Protect floors and frames, and plan removal of previous sets without damage.
• Use templates for vinyl alignment and bubble-free application.
• Photograph each zone to confirm compliance.
• Collect old media for recycling where possible.

Pointmedia handles surveys, overnight work and national rollouts through coordinated Installation and on-call crews during peak weeks.

12) Measurement and Optimisation

Think of your festive print as a performance channel.

• Add trackable QR codes and short URLs on windows and posters.
• Compare POS data by store before and after installs.
• Use footfall sensors where available to correlate visibility with traffic.
• Capture customer feedback on navigation and clarity.
• Record photography for a learning library and next year’s brief.

Try a simple test plan by comparing two poster designs or window layouts in similar stores to see which one gets a better response.

13) Budgeting and Contingencies

Plan ahead to protect your campaign from common surprises.

• Identify cost drivers early: scale, special finishes, illuminated hardware, out-of-hours labour, centre approvals.
• Prioritise high-impact zones first, then layer supporting items.
• Hold a small contingency for last-minute store openings or extended trading.
• Plan a mid-campaign refresh if your offer cadence demands it.
• Consolidate artwork to reduce plates, clicks and changeovers where feasible.

For firm quotes and scheduling, share your kit list and dates with the team via Request a Quote.

Conclusion

Holiday print achieves its greatest impact when every aspect of planning, material selection, and execution is strategically aligned with your business objectives. By defining key messages, selecting a targeted combination of formats, and ensuring consistent artwork and colour management throughout your store, you create a unified customer experience that builds brand recognition and trust. Selecting materials suitable for winter conditions, carefully scheduling proofs and installations, and rigorously tracking results not only strengthen current campaign outcomes but also contribute valuable data for ongoing optimisation. In practice, these measures can lead to quantifiable increases in customer traffic, sales conversions, and event participation, thereby demonstrating tangible returns on investment for your holiday marketing initiatives.

Why Pointmedia

Holiday campaigns move fast and have lots of details to manage, so having a partner who handles everything makes a big difference. Pointmedia supports you from the start, offering quick surveys and material samples so you can choose with confidence. We handle both large and small format production in one place, making it easy to match colours across all your sites. Our Project Management team takes care of schedules, approvals, and after-hours access, while our Installation teams ensure smooth, safe changeovers even during busy times. For multi-site campaigns, our Fulfilment Services provide accurate kitting and tracked deliveries to keep stores on track. If you’re ready to plan your festive print, contact us or send your kit list and dates through Request a Quote.