To help you plan your orders around the busy holiday season, we’ve outlined our order processing, shipping dates, and office closures for the remainder of the year.
During this period, we’ll be operating on a reduced shipping schedule, and carriers may experience volume-related delays. We strongly recommend placing time-sensitive orders as early as possible.
Palletized Freight Deadline
Final LTL/FTL (Freight) Pickup Date: December 15
- This is the last day carriers will pick up palletized or volume freight orders from our facility.
- Any LTL/FTL orders placed after Dec 15 will be queued for pickup once carriers resume after our holiday closures.
- To ensure freight ships before year-end, please place orders well in advance of Dec 15.
Holiday Shipping & Closure Calendar
All dates below are based on our local time (Eastern).
December
- Dec 1 – Dec 5: ✅ Shipping daily
- Dec 6 – Dec 7: ❌ Closed – no shipping
- Dec 8 – Dec 12: ✅ Shipping daily
- Dec 13 – Dec 14: ❌ Closed – no shipping
- Dec 15 – Dec 19: ✅ Shipping daily
- Dec 15 only – final palletized freight pickup for the year
- Dec 20 – Dec 21: ❌ Closed – no shipping
- Dec 22 – Dec 23: ✅ Shipping daily
- Dec 24 – Dec 28: ❌ Closed – no shipping / limited support
- Dec 29 – Dec 30: ✅ Shipping daily
- Dec 31: ❌ Closed – no shipping
January
- Jan 1 – Jan 4: ❌ Closed – no shipping
- Jan 5 – Jan 9: ✅ Shipping daily (returning to our normal schedule)
- From Jan 5 onward: We resume our regular order processing and shipping operations.
On closed days, no orders are shipped and customer service response times may be delayed. Orders can still be placed online and will be queued for the next available shipping day.
Order Processing Time
On shipping days, our typical processing time is:
- In-stock items: Usually ship within 1–2 business days on our active shipping dates.
- Orders placed on closure days or after daily cutoff will be processed on the next shipping day.
Please note:
- Large or pallet orders require additional handling time. Dec 15 is the final day for outgoing LTL/FTL shipments.
- Custom, special order, or built-to-order items may have longer lead times; these will be communicated as needed.
Carrier Delays & Transit Times
During December–January, major carriers like UPS, FedEx, USPS, and Canada Post all experience higher than normal volumes, which can lead to:
- Longer than normal transit times
- Fewer tracking updates
- Occasional weather-related delays
Once an order has left our facility, delivery speed is controlled by the carrier. The delivery dates shown on tracking are estimates, not guarantees, unless a guaranteed service has been specifically selected and confirmed.
Recommended Planning
To avoid disappointment:
- Place time-sensitive orders as early as possible, especially if needed for:
- Holiday events
- School programs
- Exhibits, therapy rooms, or installations
- Allow extra buffer days beyond standard transit estimates.
- For large or complex orders, contact us in advance so we can recommend the best shipping option.
Customer Service During the Holidays
- On shipping days, we will respond to emails and messages as usual, but response times may be slower than normal due to increased volume.
- On closure days, our office is closed. Messages received on those days will be handled on the next open business day.
Questions?
If you’re unsure whether your order will arrive in time, or if you have special delivery requirements, please reach out:
- Email: info@coloredsandcompany.com (preferred)
- Phone: 905-379-5868
- Or use the Contact Us form on our website.
Thank you for your understanding and for planning ahead with our holiday schedule in mind.