Lock the quantity before buying materials
Confirm the total recipient count, then add a sensible overage for damaged products, late additions or address corrections. Materials are much easier to plan when the quantity is stable.
Build one approved packout
Before production starts, create one finished sample showing the exact box, cushioning, tissue, inserts, product orientation and closure method. That sample becomes the reference for the whole run.
Clean the address list
Use separate columns for recipient name, company, street address, suite or unit, city, state, ZIP and any internal reference field. Avoid combining an entire address into one cell when the data will be imported into a shipping system.
Plan variations before assembly
If executives receive one item, employees another, or certain recipients get personalized notes, define those rules before packing begins. Last-minute exceptions are where bulk projects start eating labor.
Work backward from delivery day
The useful deadline is the date recipients should have the package, not the date you want packing to start. Build in time for assembly, label review, carrier transit, weekends and the seasonal shipping rush.