Spode Christmas Cards, Mug Sets & Snow Globes: A Buyer's FAQ

Before you place your first Spode Christmas wholesale order, here are the questions I wish someone had answered for me.

I've been buying giftware for independent retailers for nine years. I've documented 23 significant mistakes—and I only stopped counting because the checklist I now use is the point, not the counting. Together, those mistakes added up to roughly $4,800 in wasted product, shipping, and refunds.

This list is the FAQ version of my mistakes. If you're considering Spode Christmas cards, mug sets, votive candles, ornaments, or snow globes for your shop, these are the things to check before you commit.

1. Is Spode Christmas merchandise right for my store?
2. How many Spode Christmas cards should I buy for the first season?
3. What should I know before ordering the Spode Christmas mug set in bulk?
4. Are Spode votive candles worth stocking?
5. How do I keep Spode Christmas ornaments from arriving damaged?
6. How much glycerin is in a snow globe—and why does it matter?
7. When should I place my Spode Christmas order to avoid disappointment?

1. Is Spode Christmas merchandise right for my store?

Let me start with the answer that isn't a sales pitch: Spode Christmas is not a universal bestseller. It's a strong line for certain stores. It has a traditional English aesthetic—the Christmas Tree pattern, blue-and-white transfers, classic reds and greens. If your customers collect that heritage look, it's an easy yes.

But if your shelves are mostly modern Scandinavian or minimalist farmhouse, Spode can look out of place. I made that mistake in my second year. I bought 80 Spode Christmas mug sets because I loved them. Placed them in a modern gift shop. We sold 11 before Christmas. That's on me, not the product. In my opinion, the line doesn't need to fit every shop—it needs to fit yours.

2. How many Spode Christmas cards should I buy for the first season?

Christmas cards are a low-risk add-on, but there's a trap: assuming they'll sell at the same speed as mugs. In 2017, I ordered 500 Spode Christmas cards because the per-unit cost dropped nicely at that volume. The shop had decent foot traffic, but not enough for cards. We sold maybe 300 by December 20—or rather, the cash register counted 300; the rest went to a clearance table at 50 cents each. That's $100 of "savings" I'd rather have in the bank.

If you're new, order half of your gut feeling. Cards are easier to reorder than mugs, as long as you don't wait until December 10. Also check whether the cards come in packs of 10 or 12, and ask to see the envelope quality. Cheap envelopes can turn a nice card into a hassle. I didn't think about that until I was hand-stuffing envelopes at 11pm.

3. What should I know before ordering the Spode Christmas mug set in bulk?

Mug sets are a great gateway product—Spode's Christmas Tree pattern is iconic, and boxed sets make easy gifts. But don't order a hundred sets before asking about packaging. In September 2022, I ordered 120 Spode Christmas mug sets without checking the inner packing details. The standard boxes had cardboard dividers, which was fine for normal handling, but the freight route to my shop involved two transfers and some rough handling. Eleven mugs arrived chipped. Spode's distributor credited us, but checking every set took hours. Now I ask three questions before any bulk mug order:

Is this specific line dishwasher safe? I won't make a blanket statement, because some Spode Christmas patterns with platinum banding are more delicate—check the line. How are the mugs packed? And what's the damage claim process before the order, not after? A flimsy box also affects how you display it. If it looks cheap at $30 retail, it's hard to justify the price.

Actually, that last point is worth repeating: the box is part of the gift. Spode's presentation is usually strong, but ask for a sample if you're unsure.

4. Are Spode votive candles worth stocking?

Spode's votive candles are a nice price point for gifts and stockings, but they need care in transit. I learned this in August 2021 when 240 candles arrived with white, cloudy patches on the wax. The truck had sat in the heat for two days. They smelled fine, but they looked old and damaged. We had to sell them discounted. That experience taught me to be careful with any wax product, including Spode's candles. Now I only order candles between October and February, or I pay for temperature-controlled shipping. At least in my experience, that's worth the cost.

Also check the burn time and whether the candle sits properly in a standard votive holder. Some votives have a silicone cup or a tapered base—the kind of detail you don't notice until a customer complains about a wobbly candle.

5. How do I keep Spode Christmas ornaments from arriving damaged?

Spode's Christmas ornaments are popular, but they're delicate. Honestly, the breakage I've seen has mostly been a freight problem, not a product problem. One year I saved $60 by using a cheaper carrier for 200 ornaments. Eight arrived shattered. That $60 savings became about $320 of replacement cost, shipping delays, and refunds. The carrier didn't want to cover the claim because we'd already disposed of the damaged packaging. Lesson: the packaging is evidence.

Use a reputable carrier. Ask for fragile labels even if they're ignored. And ask how the ornaments are packed—whether each ornament has its own compartment. If you're buying assorted ornament sets, also ask how the assortment is split. In 2018, I asked for a "mixed" box and got 75% Santas. It took until mid-December to move the extras.

6. How much glycerin is in a snow globe—and why does it matter?

This is the one nobody asks until something breaks. The liquid in a snow globe isn't just water. Actually, it's usually distilled water mixed with glycerin. Glycerin slows the snow down so it falls naturally. According to a spec sheet our distributor sent in November 2024—and what our rep told me about multiple brands—most commercial snow globes use roughly 20–30% glycerin. Less than 15% and the snow falls too fast, and the liquid freezes more easily. More than 30% and snow may float instead of fall.

If you're stocking Spode snow globes, this matters because cold weather can crack glass if the liquid freezes. In January 2022, I had a pallet of snow globes sit overnight on a tarmac at 14°F. About a third cracked. Now I ask for the freeze point in writing and request cold-weather protection when shipping through freezing regions. And if you're refilling a globe, use distilled water and food-grade glycerin. Tap water leaves mineral residue that can ruin the look.

7. When should I place my Spode Christmas order to avoid disappointment?

The mistake I made was waiting until the fall. I placed my first serious Christmas order in October 2018. By then, several mug-set SKUs were already on backorder. Popular Christmas Tree patterns sell through early, because the products are seasonal. Now I place my core Spode Christmas order by May or June and a smaller fill-in order in August.

Ask your rep about final order dates for each seasonal drop. On the 2024 trade schedule my distributor sent, the first Christmas order cutoff was July 31. If you're a small shop, ask whether you can combine a Christmas order with non-holiday items to hit the minimum. It's a simple question, and it can save you from paying freight twice.