Seasonal packaging can bring a brand to life. Think pumpkin spice in fall, festive winter themes, or limited-edition summer flavors. But for CPG teams managing dozens (or hundreds) of SKUs, each with different timelines, labels, and claims, seasonal releases often mean one thing: chaos. 

The good news? With the right packaging workflow in place, you can move faster without sacrificing accuracy, compliance, or sanity. 

Here’s how to set up a scalable packaging workflow for seasonal SKUs that helps your team stay on top of deadlines, handle last-minute changes, and reuse past work efficiently. 

1. Clone past workflows to save time 

When it comes to seasonal packaging, chances are you’ve done something similar before. Instead of building from scratch every time: 

• Duplicate previous projects that follow a similar format like same product, same structure, new theme or label. 

• Reuse briefs, reviewer matrices, and checklists to ensure nothing gets missed. 

• Update only what’s new (e.g., seasonal claims, artwork tweaks, updated compliance notes). 

Pro tip: Platforms like Artwork Flow let you clone entire workflows, including stakeholders, tasks, and timelines, so you’re not reinventing the wheel each season. 

2. Group SKUs by campaign, not just product lines 

One common pitfall in seasonal packaging is managing SKUs in isolation. Instead, group your SKUs by campaign, especially if the packaging is tied to a launch window, holiday theme, or regional rollout. 

Here’s why it helps: 

• You can track the entire campaign as a single project, with linked SKUs underneath. 

• Shared deadlines, artwork templates, or compliance rules can be applied across all SKUs. 

• You avoid duplication of tasks (like repeating the same legal or regulatory reviews). 

Example: If you’re launching a festive pack with 10 variants, manage them under one “Holiday 2025” campaign instead of 10 separate projects. 

3. Batch review cycles to avoid bottlenecks 

Review and approval is where most seasonal projects get delayed. To keep things moving: 

• Schedule batch reviews instead of reviewing each SKU in isolation. 

• Use side-by-side comparisons to check artwork consistency across variants. 

• Create approval windows for stakeholders (e.g., “Marketing feedback by Friday,” “Legal sign-off on Monday”). 

Artwork Flow’s proofing tools let teams annotate, compare versions, and review multiple files together. This is ideal for campaign-style workflows. 

4. Set clear deadlines and reminders (especially when it’s a rush) 

Seasonal packaging projects often operate on tighter timelines. Missing a print window could mean missing the season entirely. 

• Create a visual timeline with milestone deadlines: design, feedback, compliance, and finalization. 

• Automate reminders and handoffs between teams so no one drops the ball. 

• Assign clear ownership at each stage. Avoid “everyone’s responsible” delays. 

Use workflow automation to nudge stakeholders when it's their turn. This is especially helpful when juggling multiple launches. 

5. Plan for last-minute changes without derailing everything 

Seasonal launches are notorious for last-minute changes, whether it’s a new claim, a regulatory update, or a change in messaging. 

Prepare your workflow to handle this: 

• Enable version control so updates don’t overwrite previous work. 

• Keep an audit trail of approvals and changes to stay compliant. 

• Use smart checklists to flag updates that might affect packaging copy or layout. 

6. Keep compliance in the loop early 

Just because it’s seasonal doesn’t mean compliance is optional. In fact, limited-edition claims often bring new risks, especially in regulated industries like F&B, cosmetics, or alco-bev. 

• Involve your legal and regulatory teams early in the review process. 

• Use pre-built checklists for different geographies or product categories. 

• Log all feedback and approvals for future audits or repeat campaigns. 

Packaging compliance doesn’t have to slow you down. If it’s baked into the workflow, it becomes part of the process, not a blocker. 

7. Track performance so you can improve next season 

Once the campaign wraps, take time to review how your workflow performed: 

• Were timelines met? 

• How many rounds of revisions were needed? 

• What caused delays? 

• Which assets or templates worked best? 

Use these insights to tweak your process, clone the campaign for next year, and reduce turnaround even further. 

Final thoughts 

Seasonal SKUs are exciting. They build buzz, connect with customers, and help brands stay culturally relevant. But the speed and volume they require can overwhelm traditional packaging workflows. 

By grouping SKUs by campaign, cloning past projects, batching reviews, and building automation into the process, CPG teams can deliver limited-edition packaging faster and more accurately while keeping stress levels low. 

Looking to simplify your seasonal packaging workflow? Artwork Flow helps CPG brands streamline project setup, manage multi-SKU campaigns, and reduce approval timelines so your seasonal launches go out on time, every time. Book a demo today.

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