The holiday season is just around the corner. And for eCommerce businesses, this means you must prepare for the annual shopping frenzy. Be ready to meet customers’ heightened expectations—especially since many will start shopping early.
Holiday shopping typically starts in November after Thanksgiving and continues into December. To get the most of these sales, retailers and online shops roll out discounts, special promotions, and enticing offers to attract festive shoppers.
To have a successful holiday season for your online business, you need to plan and execute your holiday shipping strategy effectively. Let’s start by looking at a timeline of shipping deadlines to manage your supply chain effectively.
Timeline for Successful Holiday Logistics
Here are the key deadlines to note as an eCommerce business:
September: Research & Plan Ahead
Start by analyzing data from previous years to identify your best-selling products and customer trends. Additionally, consider the inventory you’ll need to meet the expected demand. With that information, be realistic and evaluate if your in-house team can handle potential demand.
If you want to avoid most problems, work with an outsourced logistics expert. Contact a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) provider and request 3PL quotes to assess the logistics aspect of your holiday season.
You’ll want to find a reliable 3PL partner that can do the following for you:
- Provide scale and flexibility
- Offer smart warehousing
- Fulfill purchase orders swiftly
- Manage shipping complexities
- Boost cost-efficiency
- Minimize potential risks
These qualities will make your 3PL partner an invaluable asset during the holiday season. Your 3PL will optimize operations and set the stage for a prosperous and stress-free shopping season.
October: Lay the Foundation
Finalize your holiday inventory and secure a 3PL partner if you haven’t already. 3PL providers are pivotal in supply chain efficiency, especially during the holiday rush.
Once you’ve partnered with a 3PL, here are tips to prepare for the month:
- Collaboration: Establish a strong, transparent partnership with your 3PL provider. The more they know about your business, the more they can plan ahead and foresee bottlenecks.
- Inventory: Ensure your holiday inventory is well-stocked and aligned with expected demand. Your 3PL warehouse should have your historical data and a fleshed-out strategy for execution.
- Order Fulfillment: Fine-tune processes for prompt deliveries and accurate order processing. Your 3PL might do things differently than an in-house team, so ensure you’re aligned.
- Shipping Strategy: Align your shipping strategy with your 3PL provider. Good 3PLs will have a whole network of options for you to choose from.
- Return Policies: Work with your 3PL to establish and implement a return policy. If you need more help in crafting return policies, we have a guide for you to use.
November: Align with Marketing & Promotions
By November, your marketing team should ramp up promotions. Create enticing holiday-themed campaigns and deals to attract shoppers as people start their purchasing spree. Moreover, your business will want to promote fast deliveries and a trusted returns process for customers.
Here are the tips to meet customer expectations:
- Inventory Readiness: Ensure to place your inventory in strategic locations, like a Hong Kong warehouse, so they’re readily available to meet the anticipated demand generated by scheduled marketing promotions.
- Order Fulfillment Efficiency: Collaborate closely to guarantee that orders are processed promptly and accurately.
- Shipping and Delivery Coordination: Establish a clear line of communication between teams to ensure that any shipping commitments made in your promotions are fulfilled.
- Returns Management: A smooth returns process is equally vital. Marketing should be informed of any returns policies and procedures to communicate effectively with customers.
- Customer Communication: Coordinated efforts are essential to relay the same message to customers regarding delivery expectations, order tracking, and return processes.
December: Dispatch & Troubleshoot
As the holiday season enters full swing, maintaining a smooth and efficient supply chain is crucial. Your 3PL provider should be fully operational, ensuring your orders are picked, packed, and shipped promptly and accurately to satisfy your customers.
Still, you might experience minor mistakes despite good preparation, so here are the common problems supply chains face during the holiday season and their solutions:
- Increased Demand Fluctuations: Keep an open line of communication with your 3PL provider to quickly adjust inventory levels and order fulfillment capacity.
- Shipping Delays: Weather, carrier issues, and holiday congestion can delay shipping. Provide customers with realistic delivery timelines—even for expedited shipping options.
- Inventory Shortages: Underestimating product demand can result in inventory shortages. Work with your 3PL’s real-time data to monitor inventory and prioritize restocking based on demand.
- Returns and Customer Inquiries: The holiday season often sees a surge in returns and inquiries. Have a robust returns policy and efficient customer service to address matters promptly.
- Last-Minute Changes: Changes in marketing strategies or product offerings may require quick adjustments in your processes. Collaborate with your 3PL to handle changes efficiently.
- Employee Availability: Staffing issues can impact order fulfillment. Work with your 3PL provider to ensure they have the necessary labor resources to handle peak season demands.
- Technology Glitches: Technical problems can disrupt order processing and inventory management. Have contingency plans in place and invest in reliable technology solutions.
By anticipating these supply chain challenges, your business can proactively mitigate disruptions during the holiday season, ensuring a smooth and successful operation.
Meet the Deadlines, Meet the Demand
As the holiday season approaches, eCommerce brands need to be well-prepared and proactive in their logistics and supply chain management. By starting early and working with a reliable 3PL provider, you can position your business for success in the holiday shopping rush.
Looking for a reliable 3PL company to work with?
At San Legend, we help eCommerce businesses scale their brands and break into new markets by providing customized, agile, and forward-thinking third-party logistics solutions. Reach out today to see how we can help.