Order Calendar

Seasonal decor has a supply curve nothing else in the house has: it is plentiful for ten months and gone in the last two weeks. A Thanksgiving runner ordered on the twentieth of November is a gamble; the same runner in early October is fully stocked and usually cheaper. This page is the whole year laid out against today's date.

The calendar, from where we are now

Occasion	Lands in	From today	Order by
Patriotic & 4th of July	July	This month	This week
Summer & Pool	August	1 month	Within the fortnight
Back to School	September	2 months	Any time before the month starts
Fall & Harvest	October	3 months	Any time before the month starts
Halloween	October	3 months	Any time before the month starts
Thanksgiving	November	4 months	Any time before the month starts
Christmas & Winter	December	5 months	Any time before the month starts
Valentine's Day	February	7 months	Any time before the month starts
St Patrick's Day	March	8 months	Any time before the month starts
Easter & Spring	April	9 months	Any time before the month starts
Graduation	May	10 months	Any time before the month starts
Fiesta & Cinco de Mayo	May	10 months	Any time before the month starts

Why two weeks matters

Two things happen close to a holiday. Popular patterns sell out and are not restocked until the next year, because the maker plans a season's run months ahead. And delivery windows lengthen exactly when everyone is ordering. Neither is dramatic if you are four weeks out; both are ruinous if you are four days out.

The exceptions

• Birthday and party goods are made year-round and do not follow the curve. The party shelf is stocked whenever you need it.
• Classroom supplies spike in late August rather than at the holiday itself; the back-to-school shelf is worth ordering in July.
• Outdoor flags fade in strong sun, so buying one a year early to store it is a false economy. Buy it for the season you will fly it.

Once you know when, the party planner covers what, and the size guide covers how big.