Is It Too Early for Pumpkin Spice? Not If You Own a Business
Pumpkin spice. Those two words spark intense reactions—adoration, ridicule, anticipation, or a combination of all three. Every year, as summer hits its peak, a familiar question starts swirling: Is it too early for pumpkin spice?
For consumers, the answer might be yes. For manufacturers, however, the answer is an emphatic no.
If you’re in the business of producing food, beverage, beauty, wellness, home fragrance, or personal care products, you already know: your timeline runs ahead of the customer’s calendar. Fall flavors, fall fragrances, and fall product lines should be in motion by midsummer—or even earlier. And if your product is hitting shelves in September, your pumpkin spice labels need to be printing now.
Let’s dive into why it’s not too early for pumpkin spice—and what seasonal planning really looks like for savvy manufacturers.
The Season Behind the Season
Consumers think in real time: It’s July, so they want lemonade, not lattes. But brands and manufacturers think in product cycles.
That means:
Product development often begins 6–12 months in advance.
Label design and compliance checks take place 3–6 months ahead of launch.
Packaging procurement and label printing needs to happen at least 8 weeks before a product release.
So while the public is planning their beach trips, brand owners are knee-deep in cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove oil. If you’re not already planning your autumn line—and the labels that go with it—you’re at risk of missing the seasonal wave entirely.
Why Pumpkin Spice Still Matters (Yes, Really)
Pumpkin spice isn’t just a flavor—it’s a cultural phenomenon. Since Starbucks popularized the PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) in 2003, the flavor has become a seasonal signal, almost like holiday decorations or back-to-school ads.
But the trend is bigger than just coffee. According to NielsenIQ, pumpkin spice-flavored products generate over $500 million in annual retail sales across multiple categories:
Coffee creamers and syrups
Snack bars and breakfast cereals
Candles and wax melts
Lotions and body scrubs
Pet treats
Beer, spirits, and ciders
Every fall, shelves brim with orange and brown hues and cozy flavor cues. It’s not a niche—it’s a retail strategy. And it sells.
But only if it’s on time.
Miss the Window, Miss the Sale
Pumpkin spice season has a narrow but lucrative window. While consumers may roll their eyes in August, many retailers are stocking seasonal SKUs by then, especially major grocery and big box chains.
If your products are late to shelf—or even late to your own e-commerce launch—you risk:
Even for DTC brands, launching in sync with cultural momentum is crucial. You want your seasonal product live and ready as early adopters start their annual fall shopping binge.
And none of that happens unless your packaging—especially your labels—is ready early.
Labels Can Take Longer Than You Think
You can have the best pumpkin spice formula on earth, but if your label isn’t approved, printed, and shipped, your product isn’t going anywhere.
Here’s why labels can take longer than you may think:
Design iteration takes longer than expected.
Regulatory copy (like ingredients and nutritional info) requires multiple eyes.
Specialty finishes like foil stamping, textured stock, or autumn-themed embellishments may have longer lead times.
Custom sizes or die cuts can require tooling and approval time.
Many businesses underestimate how early they need to submit label artwork—and how long revisions, proofing, and production can take. Especially in Q3, when label printers get slammed with seasonal orders. It is vital that businesses have their artwork “print ready” to avoid additional hang ups and delays.
At Columbine Label, for instance, we often see a spike in rush requests come August and while our standard turn time for digital labels is 3-5 business days after art approval, this time of year often makes that lead time closer to the 5 days than the 3.
Seasonal Labels Drive Seasonal Sales
Let’s not forget: the label is your first impression—especially for seasonal releases.
Pumpkin spice products are competing in a saturated space. That means standout labels matter more than ever. A seasonal label:
Increases shelf appeal with warm color palettes and autumn imagery
You wouldn’t sell a holiday candle in generic packaging. The same applies to fall food and beverage. You need your seasonal identity front and center—and your label is where that happens.
It’s Not Just Pumpkin: Think Ahead for All Seasons
Pumpkin spice is the poster child for seasonal marketing, but the same logic applies year-round. Smart brands treat their label planning like a fashion calendar—always a season or two ahead.
Here’s a typical seasonal label planning timeline:
Season
Product On-Shelf
Labels Should Be in Production
Spring (floral, fresh, light)
March–May
January
Summer (citrus, tropical)
June–August
March/April
Fall (pumpkin spice, apple, cinnamon)
September–November
July
Holiday/Winter (peppermint, pine, cocoa)
November–January
August/September
By building label planning into your product development schedule, you set your seasonal launches up for success.
Tips for Getting Ahead on Seasonal Labels
Whether you’re a first-time seasonal product maker or a seasoned private label producer, here are five ways to stay on schedule:
1. Create a Seasonal Label Calendar
Map out your year by flavor launches or product themes. Backtrack 12 weeks from your intended launch to plan label design and approvals.
2. Design with Modularity
Build flexibility into your labels—like reusing layouts and updating only flavor names or color accents—to speed up seasonal turnarounds.
3. Talk to Your Label Printer Early
Loop in your print partner during product development—not just at the end. They can help you anticipate lead times, material options, and embellishment choices.
4. Use Digital Label Printing for Small Batches
Testing pumpkin spice for the first time? Go digital. Digital printing lets you run short batches, add versioning, and respond quickly if demand spikes.
5. Forecast Demand with Past Data
Use sales history to forecast how many labels you’ll need, especially if you’re restocking mid-season. A good label partner can help you build in buffer stock or reorder easily.
Why It’s Not Too Early—It’s Just Good Business
Back to our original question: Is it too early for pumpkin spice?
For a consumer, maybe. For a manufacturer, being “early” is the only way to be on time.
Launching a successful seasonal product takes more than a great recipe. It takes label strategy, supply chain timing, and visual impact. And for that, you need to be thinking fall while it’s still hot outside.
If you want your autumn SKUs to stand out, now is the moment to finalize your pumpkin spice labels, not wait for sweater weather.
How Columbine Label Can Help
At Columbine Label, we specialize in helping brands stay ahead of the season with:
Flexible ordering for seasonal runs
Digital printing options
Speedy turn times
Specialty finishes for standout fall looks
Expert support to help your seasonal strategy succeed
Whether you’re rolling out a new fall flavor or reprinting a fan favorite, we can help you get your label just right—and right on time.
Final Thoughts: Be First to Fall
Pumpkin spice isn’t just a product—it’s a moment. And in the seasonal product world, first to shelf often means first to sale.
Don’t let your great idea get stuck waiting for a label. Be proactive. Be seasonal. And yes—embrace pumpkin spice in July.
Because if you’re running a business, it’s not too early.
