A Holiday Prep Checklist for Your Wood Trays
The holiday season sneaks up fast, and if you’re in the food or catering business, you already know it’s the busiest time of the year. Customers are looking for easy, festive options, and our wood trays can be one of your best tools for meeting that demand.
To help you get ahead, we’ve put together a simple checklist to make sure you — and your trays — are ready for the rush.
1. Choose Your Tray Sizes
Think about what you’ll be offering and who you’ll be serving. Small trays, like our A09-012 or A09-016 work well for individual gifts or smaller gatherings, while larger trays like our A09-015 or A09-020 are perfect for families, and for office parties, or corporate orders try our A24-001.
2. Finalize Your Holiday Menu
Once you’ve decided on tray sizes, plan out what’s actually going on them. Seasonal touches—like festive desserts, specialty cheeses, or holiday-themed bundles—go a long way. Make sure you balance creativity with items that are practical to prepare in volume.
3. Plan the Presentation
People shop with their eyes first. Take time to arrange trays in a way that feels full, polished, and festive. A well-styled tray does double duty—it impresses customers in person and photographs beautifully for marketing. Mix and match different sizes for beautiful gift boxes and well curated events and buffets.
4. Run the Numbers
Don’t wait until orders start piling up to figure out your margins. Work out the full cost of each tray now—ingredients, packaging, and labor—so you know exactly where to price them. Even with our quick delivery times, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
5. Invest in Great Photos
This one’s worth repeating: good photography sells. Hire a photographer or set up a clean, well-lit space to capture your trays. Strong visuals make your website, social posts, and ads instantly more effective.
6. Refresh Online Ordering & Marketing Materials
Double-check that your website, order forms, and marketing materials all reflect your holiday trays. Make sure the process is simple and clear for customers—because if it’s confusing, they’ll move on.
7. Map Out Your Marketing Push
Don’t wait until mid-December to start talking about holiday trays. Use social media, email, and in-store signage to get the word out early. A calendar helps keep you on track and avoids last-minute scrambling.
8. Consider a Holiday Landing Page
If your current site feels cluttered, think about adding a dedicated holiday landing page. It gives customers one place to see your trays, pricing, and order info without distractions.
Pro Tip
If you’re going to spend money anywhere, put it toward professional photography and a smooth online ordering system. Those two things make the biggest difference in how customers perceive your trays—and how easily they hit “buy.”
Wrapping Up
The holidays don’t have to be stressful if you start preparing now. Use this checklist to make sure your trays, your team, and your marketing are ready. When December hits, you’ll be glad you did the work early and your customers will be too.
🎁 Ready to Make This Holiday Season Seamless?
Explore our full tray collection today and be ready for the busiest (and most wonderful) season of the year..