How to schedule your store launch

Written by Justin Hoehn •Updated Jun 11, 2026

Every Launch store requires a launch date before employees can begin placing orders.

For On-Demand stores, administrators select both an opening date and a closing date. For Always Open stores, administrators select an initial launch date, and the store remains open until it is manually closed.

Choosing the right launch window helps maximize employee participation, allows time for reminder emails to be delivered, and ensures employees have enough time to place their orders.

Choosing Your Launch Dates

Most companies keep their stores open for between 5 and 10 calendar days.

A shorter launch window often creates a greater sense of urgency and can encourage employees to place their orders sooner. Longer launch windows may be helpful for larger organizations, multiple office locations, or programs where employees may need additional time to participate.

On-Demand stores can remain open for up to 15 calendar days.

When selecting your launch dates, consider:

Employee schedules and company holidays
Internal communication timing
New hire onboarding schedules
Company events or gifting deadlines
Time needed for production and delivery

Many companies choose to announce their store internally on the same day the store opens to help drive immediate participation.

What Happens When Your Store Opens

When the scheduled launch date arrives, the store automatically becomes available to employees.

Depending on your configuration:

Employees can begin placing orders
Launch Codes become available for eligible employees
Employee Messenger emails begin sending if Messenger is enabled
Employees can access the storefront using the store link

Administrators do not need to manually open the store once the launch date has been scheduled.

What Happens When Your Store Closes

When an On-Demand store reaches its scheduled close date:

New orders can no longer be placed
Products can no longer be added to the cart
Employees see a message indicating that the store has closed
Employees have the option to contact the store administrator to inquire about future store openings.

After the store closes, Launch begins preparing the order for production.

This process typically includes:

Final order review
Billing preparation
Proofing when required
Production release after approvals and payment requirements have been completed

For repeat programs using previously approved artwork, the proofing process may be simplified depending on the products and decoration methods selected.

Changing Launch Dates

Administrators can manage launch dates directly from the Launch dashboard.

Before a store opens, administrators can:

Change the opening date
Change the closing date
Reschedule the entire launch window

After a store has opened, the opening date can no longer be changed because the store is already active. However, administrators can still modify the closing date while the store remains open.

For example, a store scheduled to close next week can be shortened to close sooner if needed.

Planning Ahead for a Successful Launch

Before opening your store, it is a good idea to complete a final review of your setup.

Consider confirming:

Products have been added and reviewed
Logos and artwork have been approved
Launch Codes have been configured
Employee lists have been uploaded
Messenger notifications are enabled if desired
Shipping preferences have been finalized

Completing these steps before launch can help create a smoother employee experience and reduce last-minute changes after ordering begins.

Best Practices

Keep most store launches between 5 and 10 days.
Schedule launch dates around holidays, company events, and employee availability.
Upload employee lists before the store opens.
Verify Launch Code eligibility before launch day.
Review all products, logos, and settings before making the store available to employees.
Use Employee Messenger notifications to help increase participation throughout the launch window.