Fort Mill Prepares for the Holidays at Shutterfly’s Plant

News Summary

Shutterfly’s Fort Mill plant is in full swing for the holiday season, with around 1,000 workers fulfilling millions of gift orders. Producing personalized cards and photo books, the 300,000 square feet facility operates 24/7, ensuring timely delivery for Christmas celebrations. With impressive production stats, the plant highlights the spirit of the season and the importance of personalized gifts.

Fort Mill Gears Up for the Holidays at Shutterfly’s Busy Plant

Christmas Countdown Creates a Buzz

In the heart of Fort Mill, South Carolina, a dedicated team of around 1,000 workers has transformed the Shutterfly plant into a holiday hub, working diligently to fulfill countless gift orders in the weeks leading up to Christmas. This bustling facility, located in York County, is a cornerstone of holiday cheer, crafting personalized gifts and festive cards that allow customers to preserve their precious memories during this special time of year.

All Hands on Deck

At this time of year, the plant is hotter than a Christmas ham! It’s known as the busiest season for Shutterfly, as the operation goes into overdrive to meet the demands of holiday shoppers. With a broad spectrum of products ranging from Christmas and Hanukkah to Kwanzaa and New Year’s Day celebrations, the Fort Mill plant is a creative factory of joy churning out everything from personalized photo books to cheerful holiday cards.

Spotlight on the Fort Mill Facility

The Fort Mill facility, which spans a whopping 300,000 square feet, was once a VCR tape duplication plant before it livened up as a production powerhouse for Shutterfly. Undertaking a major consolidation in 2013, the company combined its paper printing operations from three locations in Charlotte to settle into this vast space, which now boasts the largest line of digital printers in the United States. With more than 40 digital printers whirring away, this plant is truly the engine of holiday magic.

Daily Production Stats

Imagine this: during peak seasons, the Fort Mill plant can produce an astounding 2 million cards per day! But that’s not all. The team also cranks out 15,000 photo books and 5,000 canvas prints daily, making sure that each order is turned around with care. Processing more than 100,000 orders per day this time of year, the plant works hard to ensure all of that holiday spirit is delivered right to the doorsteps of customers.

Working Around the Clock

To handle the influx, the facility operates on four shifts, keeping production rolling 24 hours a day—except for Sundays, of course. Many seasonal workers return each year, drawn in by the heartwarming nature of the products they help create. The demand keeps the team buzzing, and local manufacturing workers often join the ranks to lend a hand during slower times in their own companies.

Shipping Joy Across the East

Once production is complete, the packages are swiftly dispatched with UPS, who ensures that truckloads of holiday cheer hit the road every day. The orders typically take between four to ten days from submission to delivery, with the production process taking just two to three days. With the aim of meeting every customer’s wishes, there are also 30 on-site machine technicians working around the clock to keep the production lines humming smoothly.

Looking Beyond the Holidays

Once the Christmas rush subsides, the Fort Mill plant gears up for its next wave of busy season: celebrations like Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Valentine’s Day. Plus, ever since Shutterfly acquired Lifetouch in 2018, the demand for school photos and yearbooks has taken off, keeping the Fort Mill facility bustling throughout the year.

With production ramping up and a dedicated workforce at the helm, Shutterfly’s Fort Mill plant embodies the spirit of the season, delivering cherished memories and heartfelt gifts right when they’re needed most. As the countdown to Christmas continues, this wonderful team reminds us all that it’s the personal touch that makes the holidays truly special.