Shipping & Delivery

Order Processing

In-stock orders are picked, packed and ready quickly. We’ll notify you the moment your order is ready for pickup, delivery or carrier collection — local orders can be delivered as early as the next day.

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 Planning Ahead 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.

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

Two numbers cover most of the year, plus two dates to plan around.

• TextilesAbout eleven weeks from order to shelf by ocean freight.
• Ceramics & drinkwareAbout nine weeks from order to shelf by ocean freight.
• Air freightSaves roughly two weeks on either group.
• Golden WeekFactories in China close 1–7 October every year; output slows from late September into mid-October.
• Chinese New Year6 February 2027. Output drops from about 22 January and is back to full capacity around 12 March.

Goods can’t leave a closed factory. If your production run would land inside either window, the answer is to order earlier, not later — tell us your target date and we’ll work backwards from it.

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. We’ll notify you when your order is ready; please schedule a pickup appointment before arriving. Pickup location and available times come 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 after that. Please bring an appropriately sized vehicle and secure the merchandise for transport. We’ll assist with standard loading when reasonably possible, but we’re not responsible for damage after the order has been released to you or your representative.

Shipping Within Alaska

Orders shipped by parcel carrier, air cargo, barge or freight service are charged at the applicable carrier rate plus packing and handling. We normally ship by the most appropriate and economical service unless you request 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 is 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. It covers shipping cartons, protective materials, labeling, pallet preparation and shipment coordination. Any substantial handling charge is 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; 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.

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

Delivery Appointments & Receiving

Please provide a complete and accurate delivery address, receiving contact, telephone number, receiving hours and any delivery restrictions. 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 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 and 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, we’ll assist with or submit eligible carrier claims; 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 is determined after review of the circumstances and any applicable carrier claim.

Split & Expedited Shipments

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