Why August Is the Time to Get Christmas Compliance Ready
There are 134 days until Christmas… and yes, we know it’s still August.
But if you sell products into Europe, August might actually be one of the best times to start thinking about Christmas.
Research conducted by Blackcatcard in collaboration with YouGov looked at Christmas shopping habits across more than 5,500 consumers in 11 European countries. The research found that Christmas purchasing gathers pace from November, before accelerating rapidly as December approaches.
And shoppers are planning to spend.
Across the European markets surveyed, the average Christmas shopping budget was around €200 per person, while consumers in Malta and France planned to spend around €300.
For SMEs looking to break into new European markets or increase their sales over the Christmas period, that represents a significant opportunity. Christmas creates a period when millions of consumers are actively looking for gifts, new products and smaller brands.
But to take advantage of that demand, your products need to be ready before your customers start shopping.
If November is when Christmas demand begins to arrive, November is probably not the ideal time to discover that your product documentation needs updating, your labels are missing required information, your customs classification needs reviewing or you still need to arrange an EU Responsible Person.
August, September and October give you the opportunity to get ahead of the rush.
🎁 GPSR
Selling consumer products into the EU?
Now is the time to review your General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) requirements, including technical and safety documentation, product labelling, warnings, traceability information and your EU Responsible Person arrangements.
📦 PPWR
Packaging requirements are changing too.
Understanding how the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) affects your products now gives you more time to prepare rather than trying to make changes while Christmas orders are already coming in.
🚚 Brokerage
More orders can mean more shipments — and more opportunities for customs problems.
Getting your brokerage, HS/CN classifications, customs documentation and import arrangements organised before peak season can help reduce unnecessary delays when volumes increase.
✅ Certification
If your products require CE marking, testing, Declarations of Conformity or other technical documentation, identifying those requirements early gives you time to resolve any gaps before your busiest sales period.
Christmas might still feel a long way away.
But your customers can start shopping in November. Your preparation needs to start before then.
With average planned Christmas spending of around €200 per consumer — and approximately €300 in markets such as Malta and France — the Christmas period can be an excellent opportunity for SMEs wanting to expand their reach in Europe.
And to make getting ready a little easier, Rombes is offering a 10% discount to new clients who sign up for our services before Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
So if you have been putting off your GPSR, PPWR, certification or brokerage arrangements, now is a good opportunity to get them sorted before the Christmas rush begins.
Getting your compliance and brokerage arrangements in place early means you can enter the busiest part of the year focused on selling and growing, rather than dealing with last-minute compliance issues.
At Rombes, we help businesses simplify their GPSR, PPWR, certification and brokerage requirements, helping you prepare your products for the European market.
Get Christmas-ready early and save 10% by signing up before Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Interested? Visit rombes.eu to find out how we can help.
Source: Blackcatcard & YouGov, How Europe Prepares for Christmas: Shopping Habits and Budgets Revealed by Blackcatcard and YouGov, 2024. Survey of more than 5,500 consumers across 11 European countries.
