Shipping & Delivery

Order Processing

Orders are picked, packed and ready within 3–5 business days on in-stock items, 5–7 during peak season. We’ll notify you when your order is ready for pickup, delivery or carrier collection.

Items that ship directly from our overseas manufacturing partner carry longer lead times — we’ll confirm those with you before you order.

Production & Made-to-Order Lead Times

In-stock items ship on the timeline above. Anything not in stock is produced to order, and the timing depends on the product, the size of the order and the freight method.

Add production and freight together for the full picture. A made-to-order textile order arriving by ocean runs roughly 9–11 weeks, or about 7–8 weeks by air — on textiles the production run is the long pole, so air freight saves around two weeks rather than a month. Ceramics, drinkware and acrylics run about 7–8 weeks by ocean, or 5–6 weeks by air.

These are calendar days, not business days. Our manufacturing partner runs weekends, so a 30-day production run is 30 consecutive days. The one exception is a national holiday, when the factory is genuinely closed — see the ordering calendar below.

Heavy, bulky and palletized orders. Ceramics, drinkware and blankets are the heavy categories. Whether an order travels as multiple cartons or on a pallet depends on its size and on the requirements of the freight forwarder handling it — some consolidate and palletize at the U.S. forwarder rather than at origin. We confirm the shipping method and the freight quote with you before anything ships.

Need it sooner? Air freight is available on any order, including express service through UPS or FedEx. It costs more, but on ceramics, drinkware and acrylics it can cut a month of ocean transit down to 10–15 business days.

We confirm the expected timeline in writing before your order is finalized, and we’ll tell you at the quoting stage whether we can fill it from stock. Planning for a season or a show? Talk to us early — most timing problems are solved by ordering a few weeks sooner.

Planning Ahead: When to Order for Any Month

Two numbers cover most of the year. Textiles need about eleven weeks from order to shelf; ceramics, drinkware and acrylics about nine. Both by ocean freight — air saves roughly two weeks. Production is quoted in calendar days, and the factory runs weekends.

The exceptions are the two stretches when factories in China close. National Day Golden Week runs 1–7 October every year, and in 2026 it follows Mid-Autumn Festival (25–27 September) with only three working days between them — so output effectively stops from late September into the middle of October. Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027; output starts dropping around 22 January and full capacity does not return until roughly 12 March.

Goods cannot leave a closed factory. If your production run would land inside either window, the answer is to order earlier, not later — the shaded rows below are the three delivery months that affects.

Ocean freight, conservative end of each range. Shaded rows are the delivery months whose production runs collide with a factory shutdown — those need ordering before the holiday rather than on the usual schedule. Golden Week is fixed at 1–7 October every year; Lunar New Year moves, falling on 26 January in 2028.

Alaska Shipping Credit

Merchandise orders of $3,000 or more earn free scheduled local delivery (Anchorage & Eagle River) or a credit of up to $150 toward one standard shipment within Alaska. Merchandise orders of $5,000 or more earn a credit of up to $300.

The credit is applied to the actual shipping cost of one consolidated standard shipment to one commercial Alaska address. If the shipping cost is less than the credit, the credit equals the actual cost. If it is more, we apply the full credit and the remaining balance is billed to the customer.

Heavy, Bulky & Palletized Orders

Orders containing substantial quantities of ceramic mugs, 20 oz stainless-steel tumblers, other drinkware, fragile products or similarly heavy and bulky merchandise may require palletized or LTL freight. In those cases the applicable shipping credit is applied to the actual quoted freight charge, and the buyer is responsible for any remaining balance. We confirm the freight quote with you before your order ships.

Local delivery is available on merchandise orders of $500 or more — smaller orders are always welcome via free Anchorage pickup.

Orders requiring multiple trips, oversized vehicles, extended unloading time or special handling may be quoted separately.

Delivery fees cover transportation and standard unloading only. Assembly, merchandising, inventory placement and extended receiving assistance are not included unless arranged in advance.

Free Local Pickup

Free local pickup is available in Anchorage for all wholesale orders, regardless of order amount.

Customers will be notified when their order is ready and must schedule a pickup appointment before arriving. Pickup location details and available pickup times will be provided with the order-ready notification.

Orders must be picked up within five business days unless other arrangements are approved in advance. Storage fees may apply to orders not collected within the agreed pickup period.

Customers are responsible for providing an appropriately sized vehicle and for securing the merchandise for transport after pickup. Northern Spiritlines will assist with standard loading when reasonably possible but is not responsible for damage occurring after the order has been released to the customer or the customer’s representative.

Shipping Within Alaska

Orders shipped by parcel carrier, air cargo, barge or freight service are charged at the applicable carrier rate plus shipping, packing and handling. Orders will normally be shipped using the most appropriate and economical service unless the customer requests another method.

Shipping quotes are estimates based on the information available when quoted. Carrier rate adjustments, remote-area charges, address corrections, redelivery, storage, liftgate service, inside delivery, limited-access fees and other carrier-imposed charges may be billed separately if incurred.

Ordering From Outside Alaska

Local delivery and Alaska shipping credits are currently available within Alaska only.

If you’re a retailer outside Alaska and interested in carrying the line, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch and we’ll go over pricing, shipping options and availability for your area. Email Wholesale@NorthernSpiritlines.com.

Packing & Handling

A packing and handling charge may apply based on the size, fragility and complexity of the shipment. This charge helps cover shipping cartons, protective materials, labeling, pallet preparation and shipment coordination. Any substantial handling charge will be disclosed before shipment.

Large, Custom & Direct-Import Orders

Large-volume and custom-program orders may ship directly from a manufacturing partner, freight forwarder or consolidation facility.

Freight estimates are based on projected carton or pallet dimensions and are not guaranteed until the shipment has been fully packed, weighed and booked with the carrier. Freight rates may change before booking or while merchandise is in transit.

Unless expressly included in a written quotation, the customer is responsible for applicable freight, cargo insurance, customs duties, tariffs, brokerage, port or terminal fees, inspections, storage, demurrage, destination charges and final-mile delivery. Direct-import and custom-program freight must be paid before the shipment is released unless other written terms have been approved.

Working With Your Shipping Company

Many of our stockists have their own freight accounts and preferred carriers — and we’re glad to work with them. We regularly coordinate shipments with Span Alaska and other LTL, barge and freight carriers serving Alaska. Tell us your preferred carrier or freight account when you order and we’ll book the shipment on your account or schedule pickup by your carrier from our Anchorage location.

Northern Spiritlines will provide shipment dimensions, weights and pickup information after the order is packed. Orders must be picked up within five business days after notification that they are ready. Storage charges may apply after that period. Northern Spiritlines is not responsible for delays, loss or damage involving transportation arranged directly by the customer.

Delivery Appointments & Receiving

The customer is responsible for providing a complete and accurate delivery address, receiving contact, telephone number, receiving hours and any applicable delivery restrictions. Any additional charges resulting from incorrect information, a missed appointment, refusal of delivery, lack of receiving access or the need for redelivery may be billed to the customer.

Inspection, Shortages & Damage

Please inspect all shipments promptly. Visible carton, pallet or merchandise damage must be noted on the carrier’s delivery receipt before the shipment is accepted. Signing a freight receipt without noting visible damage may limit the ability to recover a claim.

Concealed shipping damage, shortages or fulfillment discrepancies must be reported to Northern Spiritlines within 48 hours of delivery. Manufacturing defects must be reported within five business days.

Claims should include:

• The invoice or order number
• A description and quantity of the affected merchandise
• Photographs of the merchandise
• Photographs of the interior and exterior packaging
• A photograph of the shipping label
• A copy of the freight delivery receipt, when applicable

All merchandise and packaging must be retained until the claim has been reviewed. For shipments arranged through a Northern Spiritlines carrier account, Northern Spiritlines will assist with or submit eligible carrier claims. Claim approval and reimbursement are subject to the carrier’s investigation and policies.

Risk of loss for carrier shipments transfers to the customer when the properly packed merchandise is tendered to the carrier, except where otherwise required by law or agreed in writing. Northern Spiritlines remains responsible for verified packing errors, shipment shortages and merchandise defects attributable to Northern Spiritlines. Replacement merchandise, credit or reimbursement will be determined after review of the circumstances and any applicable carrier claim.

Split & Expedited Shipments

Requests to divide an order into multiple shipments may result in additional shipping and handling charges. Expedited shipping is available when feasible and is charged at the applicable expedited carrier rate. Production or fulfillment times are not shortened unless expressly confirmed in writing.