Quick answer: Mid-December is the busiest stretch of the year at shipping counters. Before December 1, set up a single serpentine line with retractable belt stanchions that feeds every counter, add a separate express lane for prepaid drop-offs, and mark both with signs. Plan about 3 feet of line per customer, because people waiting to ship are carrying boxes.
Fall Sale: 10% off 6, 8, and 10-post stanchion bundles through November 30 — in time to set up before the December rush.
Why December Lines Get Out of Hand
Traffic at shipping counters climbs steadily from the start of December and usually peaks in the middle of the month, when customers hit carriers’ holiday ship-by deadlines all at once. Three things make these lines harder to manage than an ordinary retail queue:
- Customers carry packages. Boxes and bags take space, so each person needs more room in line.
- Transaction times vary widely. A prepaid drop-off takes seconds; an international package with customs forms can take ten minutes.
- Lobbies are small. Most shipping stores were not built for a line of 20 people, so the line spills toward the door.
A line planned in November handles all three. A line improvised on December 15 does not.
Use One Line for All Counters
Instead of letting customers pick a counter and hope, run a single line that feeds every open counter, with the next person called to whichever counter frees up first. One slow transaction then delays the whole line by seconds instead of trapping everyone behind it, and customers see the line as fair because it is first come, first served.
A serpentine layout of retractable belt stanchions fits a long single line into a small lobby. Keep lanes at least 36 inches wide and leave 3.5 to 4 feet between parallel lanes so customers holding boxes can turn. If the line has to start against a wall, wall-mounted belt barriers replace a post and free up floor space.
Add an Express Lane for Prepaid Drop-Offs
The single biggest time saver in December is separating customers who only need to drop off a labeled package from customers who need full service. A short second lane with its own sign — “Prepaid Drop-Off” — keeps quick transactions from waiting behind long ones. Staff it with one person, or end it at a drop bin.
How Much Line Do You Need?
Allow about 3 feet per customer, since most are holding packages.
| Customers in Line | Line Length | Posts with 11 ft Belts |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 24 ft | 4 posts |
| 15 | 45 ft | 6 posts |
| 20 | 60 ft | 7 posts |
| 30 | 90 ft | 10 posts |
These counts assume a straight run with posts about 10 feet apart, which 11-foot belts such as the QueuePro 250 allow while still leaving slack in the belt. Corners in a serpentine line share posts, so check your exact layout with How Many Stanchions Do I Need? and get the gaps right with our stanchion spacing guide.
Signs That Save Your Staff Time
Most questions at a shipping counter in December are the same ones, asked over and over. Put the answers on the line itself with stanchion signs:
- “Line Starts Here” at the entry
- “Prepaid Drop-Off” over the express lane
- “Have your recipient’s address and phone number ready” halfway down the line
- “Next Available Counter” at the head of the line
Post-top sign frames keep each sign at eye level and move with the line when you reconfigure it.
Turn the Wait Into Sales
Customers waiting to ship are often missing something: tape, a padded mailer, a greeting card. In-queue merchandising displays along the line put those items within reach, so the wait adds to the sale instead of only costing time.
When the Line Still Will Not Move
If counters are open but customers still hesitate at the head of the line, an electronic call system closes the gap. Our sister brand Qbuster Technologies uses numbered displays to send the next customer to the next free counter the moment it opens. See examples in our queue technology projects. Stanchions organize the line; Qbuster moves it faster.
Fall Sale: Set Up Before December 1
- 10% off 6, 8, and 10-post bundles through November 30 at 11:59 PM ET
- 11-foot retractable belts: a 6-post bundle covers roughly a 50-foot straight line
- A sign holder included with every 6, 8, and 10-post bundle (two with the 10-post bundle)
- Black or red belts, flat-rate shipping on bundles
Shop the Fall Sale → or call (800) 480-4523 and we will help you plan your lobby layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a shipping store set up its holiday line?
Before December 1. Traffic rises from the first week of December and peaks mid-month, so the line should already be in place and tested before the climb starts.
Is one line better than a line for each counter?
For most shipping stores, yes. A single line feeding every counter keeps one slow transaction from stalling everyone behind it and feels fairer to customers.
How do I keep the line from blocking the front door?
Start the line inside, run it along a wall away from the entrance, and fold it into a serpentine. Keep a clear path from the door to the head of the express lane.
More Planning Guides
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