For most print shops, October through December is fleece season. Corporate gift orders, team holiday hoodies, Black Friday product drops and family Christmas sets all land in the same eight weeks, and every one of them wants a hoodie, a crew or a quarter-zip. The shops that do well in Q4 decide their core blanks early and order them before the rush, not during it.
This guide covers which blank hoodies and fleece to quote for each kind of holiday job, and the order-by dates that leave enough time to decorate and deliver.
When fleece orders peak for print shops
Peak: October to December
Back-to-school starts the season; corporate and gift orders carry it to Christmas.
Holiday order-by dates for 2026
In-stock orders placed before 1 PM EST ship the same business day, and ground delivery takes 1–2 days to most of the U.S. The dates below add a typical one-to-two-week decoration window on top of that. Carriers do not pick up on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26) or Christmas Day, so plan around that week.
| Holiday job | In customers’ hands by | Order blanks by |
|---|---|---|
| Black Friday / Small Business Saturday drop | Fri Nov 27 – Sat Nov 28 | Fri Nov 6 |
| Hanukkah gifts (first night Fri Dec 4) | Thu Dec 3 | Mon Nov 16 |
| Corporate gifts and staff holiday parties | Fri Dec 11 | Fri Nov 20 |
| Christmas gifts shipped to end customers | Wed Dec 23 | Fri Dec 4 |
| Local pickup or hand delivery, last call | Wed Dec 23 | Wed Dec 9 |
Exact cutoffs and rates are on the shipping page. If the job has a fixed date, order the blanks the week you get the deposit rather than the week before the deadline.
The core hoodie: Gildan 18500
The Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend hooded sweatshirt is the default for volume holiday orders: 8 oz 50/50 cotton/poly fleece, a deep color range and size runs that make big mixed-size orders easy. It screen prints, takes DTF and embroiders without fuss. The matching 18000 crewneck and 18810 quarter-zip let you sell a set in one fabric. More on the Gildan brand page.
Step-up hoodies for gifts that feel premium
- Champion S700 Powerblend (9 oz, 50/50): a recognisable retail label, which matters for gifts. See Champion.
- Independent Trading Co. SS4500 (8.5 oz, cotton face) and the heavier IND4000 (10 oz, 3-end fleece): the streetwear-weight picks. See Independent Trading Co.
- Comfort Colors 1567 (9.5 oz, garment-dyed): the lived-in look that sells in boutiques and family sets. See Comfort Colors.
- Lane Seven LS14001 (8.25 oz, cotton face) and Gildan Softstyle SF500 (8.4 oz, cotton face): a smooth face for soft-hand prints.
Quarter-zips and zip hoodies for corporate gifts
Corporate buyers often prefer something they can wear to the office. A quarter-zip gives a flat chest for a left-chest embroidered logo, and a full-zip hoodie layers over a work shirt. Good options: Gildan 18810, Champion S450, Comfort Colors 1580 and the BELLA+CANVAS 3739 sponge fleece full-zip. For cold-weather crews, the sherpa-lined Independent Trading Co. EXP90SHZ is a gift people keep. Embroiderers: hoop the outer fleece only, since its sherpa lining is not bonded to the shell.
Quick comparison
| Style | Weight / fabric | Best holiday use |
|---|---|---|
| Gildan 18500 hoodie | 8 oz, 50/50 | Volume team and staff gifts |
| Champion S700 hoodie | 9 oz, 50/50 | Branded gifts with a retail label |
| Independent Trading Co. IND4000 | 10 oz, 70/30, cotton face | Premium drops and streetwear |
| Comfort Colors 1567 | 9.5 oz, 80/20, garment-dyed | Boutique and family sets |
| Gildan 18810 quarter-zip | 8 oz, 50/50 | Corporate gifts, embroidered |
| BELLA+CANVAS 3739 full-zip | 8 oz, 52/48 sponge fleece | Soft-hand gifts, layering |
Ordering tips for the rush
- Pick two core styles and stick to them. One volume hoodie and one premium hoodie cover most holiday quotes.
- Order the full size run at once. Use the size run guide for the split, and add a small buffer in the middle sizes for late additions.
- Mix within a style to reach the price break. Sizes and colors of one style count together; see bulk pricing.
- Buy tax-exempt if you resell. Upload a resale certificate once before the rush.
Browse every option in hoodies & sweatshirts, or read the wholesale hoodies guide for a closer look at the 18500 against the S700.
FAQ
When should a print shop order blanks for holiday merch?
For a Black Friday product drop, order blanks by Friday, November 6. For corporate gifts handed out by mid-December, order by Friday, November 20, before Thanksgiving week. The last sensible date for Christmas gifts that still have to be decorated and shipped is Friday, December 4.
What is the best blank hoodie for holiday gifts?
For volume corporate and team gifts, the Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend hoodie (8 oz, 50/50) is the safe default. For a gift that feels premium, step up to the Independent Trading Co. IND4000 (10 oz) or the garment-dyed Comfort Colors 1567 (9.5 oz).
Are quarter-zips good for corporate holiday gifts?
Yes. A quarter-zip reads as office-appropriate, and its flat chest takes a left-chest embroidered logo cleanly. The Gildan 18810, Champion S450 and Comfort Colors 1580 are all solid choices.
Is there a minimum order for wholesale hoodies?
No. B2B Sportswear sells wholesale from the first piece, and volume tiers apply automatically as quantity grows; sizes and colors of one style count together toward the break.