There’s no better way to get the Christmas mood than with a festive Advent Calendar.

Here at Meridian, we pride ourselves on offering packaging solutions and manufacturing to a high standard. As a leading UK Advent Calendar specialist, we’re here to help! Advent calendars may have roots in tradition and religion, but these days, you can find calendars in a glorious selection of themes and styles. Counting down to the big day has never been so popular with the market opened up to beauty, wax melts, candles, crystals, socks, tea, crafts and even pet treats! Of course, we will always appreciate the classic chocolate advent, but it’s been great to see new alternatives hitting the shelves. With so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start.

Are Advent Calendars Worth it?

You only have to look at the value of the products in some advent calendars to see why they sell out so quickly.

Brands will value their advent at a lower price point, prompting customers to be more inclined to spend. Furthermore, brands can promote limited edition or trialled items, enticing customers to try items they wouldn’t have typically bought before. This is the perfect opportunity to promote their identity in households for the month of December

Influencers have taken it upon themselves to rate popular countdown calendars on their social media platforms. All it takes is for one video to go viral and sales can shoot up in a matter of hours, showing how powerful a marketing tool it can be. Not all advent calendars have such dramatic cost-to-value ratios, but the basic principle is that you get more than you pay for. 

We’ve collated a list of our favourite advent calendars, with plenty of time to be inspired before December 1. You’ll find something for just about any hobby or budget!

1: Bird & Blend – Tea Advent Calendar

Bird & Blend Tea have smashed it once again with their 24 Day Tea Advent Calendar. This beautiful countdown calendar allows their tea-loving customers to try 24 different flavours of tea at the convenience of their cosy homes!

As seen in… GQ, Good Housekeeping, BBC Good Food, The Independent, & Lorraine!

Many brands are embracing eco-friendly or ethical materials, ensuring that the joy of the season doesn’t come at the expense of the planet. This style of advent is structurally unique, uses high-quality folding box board and is 100% plastic-free. Larger in size than most retailing calendars, this advent features sturdy double doors, a wreath cut-out and a cardboard buffer insert. 

Popping in colour, B&B carefully created their artwork based on the vibrant colour trends of 2023 while keeping their brand identity at the forefront. Sealed with soft-touch matt varnish, this finish elevates the quality feel of the lightweight box.

We take pride in having crafted their advent calendar design for the past three years.

2: Fabric Godmother – Sewing & Fabric Advent Calendar

Non-food advent calendars have surged in popularity, and for craft enthusiasts, the Fabric Godmother sewing calendar is a must-have! This charming 24 day advent calendar is recyclable and easy to assemble, consisting of a base, lid, and multi-sized internal cartons.

Each carton is pre-glued for effortless filling, while the fold-up base and lid can be assembled in seconds.

Their choice of vibrant print will ensure this countdown calendar will stand out from the crowd. Our speedy sampling process allows our customers to test and trial their products before heading to production! We’ll help you every step of the way!

Contact us today to arrange your custom advent sample!

3: The Aromatary – Candle Advent Calendar

Our popular Giant Advent calendars are perfect for holding larger items like 1oz hinged wax pots, dog treats or small bath bombs. The Aromatary chose to fill each cavity with 24 glass miniature wooden wick candles, designed to burn for approximately 6 hours – perfect for counting down to Christmas Day.

While this stock advent calendar typically arrives with a corresponding clear moulded rPET vac-forme tray, The Aromatary opted for a card buffer base and insert due to its heavier contents. This addition provided strength and rigidity to the calendar, enhancing the overall luxury feel. We admire their minimalist, neutral colour choice, which reflects their peaceful brand narrative.

Creating a one-of-a-kind advent calendar doesn’t have to break the bank. Our stock tooling service offers a cost-effective solution to customise your advent calendar. Simply provide your own artwork, and we’ll take care of the proofing process at no additional cost! With a minimum order quantity starting from just 250 units, it’s easier than ever to create a personalised advent calendar that’s uniquely yours. Get in touch for a free quote.

4: Martin’s Chocolatier – Triangle Chocolate Truffle Advent Calendar

Martin’s Chocolatier sets the bar for luxury with its stunning chocolate advent calendar. Designed to captivate the luxury market, this three-part triangle advent calendar features a base, lid, and custom-made vac-forme tray perfectly crafted to hold 24 exquisite chocolate artisan truffles.

The tree-like triangle shape of this statement piece ensures it stands out on any display. Available in two beautiful design variations, with traditional colours and intricate foil detailing, this calendar is a timeless classic. 

“Meridian are always happy to help with samples and suggestions. As my company has expanded over the years Meridian have grown with me and always been there with help and guidance. Without a top packaging supplier, I would have never been able to grow my business. I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Meridian.”

– Philip Ahn, Martin’s Chocolatier

5: Meridian Speciality Packaging – London Advent Calendar

Introducing one of our top-selling fill-it-yourself advents: the 24-Day London Standard Advent Calendar. This newly released, hand-illustrated countdown calendar showcases the enchanting London skyline in winter. Available in packs of 10, this self-fill advent calendar is perfect for holding chocolate truffles, foiled sweets, crystals, and wax melts.

Explore our range of festive advent calendar designs and discover more options to suit your preferences. Browse our full selection here!

Did you know we can personalise our stock advents? We can hot press foil your logo or design for a small additional cost. Interested? Get in touch to find out more.

6: Coco Chemistry – Chocolate Truffle Advent Calendar

Our Classic 24 Day advent calendars are incredibly popular and easy to assemble, but why not take it a step further and customise your own calendar with hot press foiling and printing? Coco Chemistry is just one of our many satisfied customers who opted to personalise a stock calendar. Their timeless gonk illustration exudes luxury — and did we mention it’s plastic-free too?

Customising our stock tooling is a cost-effective way to create a unique advent calendar without breaking the bank. Supply your own artwork to add a personal touch and showcase your brand in the best light. Choose from three inserts based on your price point, box strength, and recyclability

To enquire about personalised packaging, contact our friendly sales team at:

7. Happi Free From – Vegan Chocolate Advent Calendar

After the success of its first 100% plastic-free advent calendar in 2022, Happi Free From brought back its best-selling 24-piece vegan chocolate Christmas countdown calendar for 2023, focusing on two primary consumer trends: sustainability and veganism. The Happi company ethos shines through in all elements of their packaging.

“Our advent calendar proved hugely popular last year, but we felt we needed to keep our customers guessing a little more this festive season by introducing three different flavours. It was very important that our advent calendar continued to offer inclusivity with vegan chocolate, but also that we retained our plastic-free promise to meet the demand for sustainable and ethical Christmas choices”

– Gavin Cox, founder of Happi. 

Made from high-quality biodegradable folding box board and vegetable-based inks, this unique advent calendar features a hinged door that adds a luxury feel. The corrugated insert is made of a minimum of 75% recycled material and is 100% recyclable.

Ready to start your packaging journey? Contact us at productionsales@meridiansp.co.uk or call us on 01684 578441 to enquire.