Why Cabinet Manufacturers Should Avoid Calling the Christmas Break a “Shut Down”
And Why You Shouldn’t Push a Hard Cut-Off Date for Orders
Every year, cabinet shops across Australia prepare for the Christmas break. It’s a busy period, production is under pressure, and staff need a well-deserved rest. But one habit continues to work against manufacturers rather than for them: advertising a strict “Christmas shut down” and pushing clients to bring orders forward before a cut-off date.
For Cabinetry.Online users who rely on consistent, predictable online workflows, this approach can create unnecessary friction, slow down your sales pipeline, and even send customers looking elsewhere. There’s a better way: keep orders open, maintain a clean workflow, and set clear expectations around delivery timeframes.
Below, we break down why the language and psychology around a “shut down” can hurt your business, and how improved communication gives you a smoother Christmas period without sacrificing production efficiency.
The Problem With a “Shut Down” &/or “Cut-Off” Message
Words matter, especially in the online ordering space. When customers see “shut down”, even if it only applies to production, many unconsciously interpret it as:
“My supplier isn’t available.”
“I can’t place orders.”
“They can’t help me for the next few weeks.”
“I should find someone who can.”
Even loyal, long-term trade customers can react this way. Not because they don’t trust you, but because the phrasing triggers urgency and scarcity. It flips their mindset from calm planning to rushed problem-solving.
Worse still, when you pair “shut down” with an aggressive cut-off date, it adds pressure. Customers feel pushed to bring jobs forward, jobs that may not be ready, measured, or confirmed. A cut-off date tells them:
“If you don’t order now, you’re too late.”
This encourages rushed decision-making, creates more pre-Christmas stress, and often leads to errors, incomplete jobs, or customers seeking alternatives who appear “still open”.
The Uber Effect: Customers Accept Delays When They Understand Them
Modern customers, from tradies to homeowners, have been conditioned by technology platforms to value transparency over speed.
Services like Uber, Australia Post, DoorDash, and even major retail websites have taught us a simple truth:
Customers are happy to wait longer, provided they know upfront what to expect.
Nobody complains about a 12-minute Uber if the app tells them it’s 12 minutes from the start. The frustration only occurs when expectations are unclear or poorly managed.
Your business is no different.
If clients place an order on 22 December and you have notifications & messages in app that tells them:
“Orders placed now are scheduled for early January production”
they’re typically fine with it. They’re still working, still planning jobs, still organising clients, even if install won’t happen until February.
The key is predictability, not speed.
Why You Should Keep Orders Open All Through Christmas
Keeping your Cabinetry.Online ordering system open, while being transparent about lead times, creates several business advantages:
1. You continue capturing work without building artificial pressure.
Instead of forcing everyone to rush before a cut-off, orders flow naturally. Your pipeline remains healthy through December and into January.
2. Regular trade customers can still quote, plan, and commit jobs.
Even if production occurs in the New Year, cabinetmakers can continue operating as normal. They don’t feel “blocked” from progressing.
3. You remove the fear of missing out (FOMO) that sends customers elsewhere.
If you tell someone you’re shut, they may assume competitors aren’t. But if you simply display expected dates, you retain the order.
4. You support your team by avoiding unnecessary pre-Christmas chaos.
Let your staff finish strong, not under panic from a stack of jobs pulled forward artificially.
A Better Way: Communicate Production Timeframes Clearly
Instead of preventing orders, prevent confusion.
A simple message such as:
Orders placed before [date] will be scheduled for pre-Christmas production.
Orders placed after [date] will be prioritised for early January production.
…solves everything.
It:
✓ Sets expectations
✓ Allows customers to plan
✓ Maintains psychological reassurance
✓ Prevents you from losing work
✓ Keeps your January pipeline full
You’re not saying “no”. You’re simply telling customers when their job will be delivered.
And in today’s on-demand world, that’s all most people want: clarity from the beginning.
Three Effective Ways to Communicate Christmas Production Timeframes
To help your customers plan without panic, we recommend delivering this message through three touchpoints inside and outside Cabinetry.Online:
1. Send an Email to Clients (Positive, Planning-Focused Messaging)
Use email to frame the message in a helpful, supportive way:
- Highlight that orders remain open all through Christmas.
- Reassure them that they can continue quoting and planning normally.
- Outline the expected production dates so they can schedule installs.
This positions you as organised, reliable, and easy to work with.
2. Post It in the “News & Updates” Section
The News & Updates panel on your customers’ Cabinetry.Online home page acts like a bulletin board.
Displaying your Christmas production plan here ensures it’s visible every time customers log in:
- No digging through inboxes
- No uncertainty
- No surprises
This becomes your authoritative, always-accessible notice.
3. Add Guidance to the Job Submission Prompt Text
Within Cabinetry.Online, go to:
Tools → Settings → Manufacturer Defaults
Temporarily update your job submission prompt text so customers see your Christmas timeframe message right before they submit an order.
This reinforces expectations at the most relevant moment and helps prevent urgent follow-up emails like:
“Can this still be done before Christmas?”
“Where will this fall in the schedule?”
It’s clear, proactive, and perfectly timed.
Cutting to it
Taking a Christmas break is essential. But positioning it as a “shut down” sends the wrong message and creates unnecessary urgency, confusion, and pipeline gaps.
By keeping orders open and providing accurate lead-time expectations through Cabinetry.Online, you:
- Maintain continuous sales
- Build trust through transparency
- Reduce December stress
- Strengthen January cash flow
- Improve the customer experience
Ultimately, it’s not about being open: it’s about being clear.
