In response, <\/span>2021 carrier shipping deadlines<\/span><\/a> are aggressively buffering for this bottleneck. Navigating these shipping dates is overwhelming.<\/span><\/p>\n As many online merchants have experienced, meeting consumers’ <\/span>holiday shipping<\/span><\/a> expectations can often overshadow the joy and excitement many look forward to in December. With demand at an all-time high, small businesses are finding themselves working against time and limited resources, all while managing the sudden onset and sheer volume of the holiday shipping rush.<\/span><\/p>\n This is a guest post by Steve Longo, a Content Writer at <\/span><\/i>Easyship<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Easyship is the all-in-one shipping platform for global e-commerce.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Key <\/span>holiday dates<\/span> may be approaching quickly, but fortunately for you, it’s not too late to get organized and prepared. By following this checklist, you can get all of your french hens in a row and successfully get your shipments out and delivered on time. Here’s what to do!<\/span><\/p>\n Just like the local news uses data to forecast those incoming winter storms, you can use current data to help forecast this year’s holiday shipping rush!<\/span><\/p>\n Usually, we’d recommend taking a closer look at data from prior years, but we don’t have to remind you that 2021 was unique on its own. This year, we’re recommending that you dive into your current buyer trends from Q2 and Q3. To get an accurate picture of what we think you can expect, you will want to multiply those numbers by 1x or even 2x, depending on your product.<\/span><\/p>\n Amidst these unprecedented times, ShipBob has developed a free resource that helps businesses understand carrier trends, too. They’ve shared their <\/span>Shipping Carrier Data<\/span><\/a> to offer weekly time-in-transit updates from the four leading shipping carriers, UPS, USPS, DHL, and FedEx.<\/span><\/p>\n Not only will this help to gauge when your shipments need to get out the door, but it also assists you in preparing your inventory and making important site updates on popular products that may sell out fast.<\/span><\/p>\n Holiday packaging pays a good return on investment, but only when you plan for it in advance. It’s not too late to get your custom packaging turned around, but <\/span>holiday print deadlines<\/span><\/a> are fast approaching. To help get you started, check out <\/span>five tips on how to plan for custom holiday packaging<\/span><\/a>. Of course, <\/span>custom shipping boxes<\/span><\/a> are always a great way to start the new year.<\/span><\/p>\n If you haven’t already, the good news is that there’s still time to draw up your holiday shipping budget! In our <\/span>Holiday Shipping in 2020 Webinar<\/span><\/a>, Matt Hertz from Second Marathon offered a couple of key questions to ask yourself when thinking this through: What experience do you want to provide customers? Are customers expecting free and fast delivery? Which carriers will offer you the best last-mile experience and rates? If you’re aiming for quicker transit, expect higher costs–and if you plan to prioritize lower pricing, expect slower transit times. Can Amazon ship a similar product to yours faster? If so, this might make you want to consider higher costs to compete. Cost, timeliness, and customer experience are key factors to consider when planning.<\/span><\/p>\n The more coordinated and seamless your game plan is, the easier your fulfillment and shipping will ultimately be. The holidays will be here before you know it, so act fast and determine what your needs are.<\/span><\/p>\n Another year of pandemic uncertainty has thrown many curveballs (or should we say snowballs), which is why it is mission-critical to communicate with customers and manage their expectations proactively. Make sure your shipping policy is transparent, simple to understand, and easily visible on your website. Layout your delivery, cost, order deadlines, and returns policies very clearly. As soon as these policies are in place, be sure to update your FAQs and transactional emails to reflect the changes. For a seamless customer experience, you will also want to send status updates with reliable information for each order.<\/span><\/p>\n By being transparent and writing your policies in clear, consistent language, you can build trust with your customers and avoid misunderstandings that may lead to negative experiences and bad reviews that take up valuable time to fix.<\/span><\/p>\n Holiday spending is expected to spike up to 9%<\/span><\/a> in 2021 to the tune of $1.3 trillion in sales. Moreover, almost <\/span>75% of US holiday shoppers will shop online<\/span><\/a>. Despite <\/span>labor shortages<\/span><\/a>, the increase in holiday shipping demand means hiring more hands on deck.<\/span><\/p>\n With ongoing Covid rules and regulations varying from state to state, operating safely and appropriately to meet demand may feel like a challenge. So plan carefully to develop solutions that keep your employees protected as you properly staff to handle order fulfillment and shipping for the holidays.<\/span><\/p>\n Take the appropriate precautions to give employees easily accessible disinfectants, masks, gloves, and other essential items. Consider establishing multiple smaller assembly lines that implement social distancing and allow your staff to work efficiently as a collection of single units. Most importantly, if any employees begin to experience symptoms, immediately take the necessary precautions recommended by the <\/span>CDC guidelines<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Ultimately, try to ensure you have resources and safety measures in place to fulfill and ship orders as soon as they arrive. When it comes to fulfillment, customers are always happy to get an order earlier than expected!<\/span><\/p>\n Having an organized, seamless plan for <\/span>holiday order fulfillment<\/span><\/a> is mission-critical. Organizing your warehouse stock before the holiday craziness arrives will help ensure timely deliveries and guarantee efficiency and maximum productivity for the employees fulfilling those orders!<\/span><\/p>\n Declutter, sanitize, and organize your warehouse while also implementing appropriate safety measures for your staff. Another good idea is to draw out a map of your floorplan to see how it can be optimized and made more effective and safe for employees to move around. Adopting strategies such as <\/span>slotting<\/span><\/a> and optimizing your <\/span>inventory turnover<\/span><\/a> can also help!<\/span><\/p>\n As mentioned earlier, communication is an imperative part of the holiday shipping process.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to letting your couriers know of any changes to your shipping schedule, effective communication with customers is vital. If, for example, a shipment has been delayed due to bad weather, be sure to let them know immediately by email, text, website updates, and social media posts.<\/span><\/p>\n Sending out order and shipment confirmation emails is also a great idea, offering peace of mind for customers and keeping all parties involved accountable if any delays or other complications arise. Likewise, if you have a free shipping promotion for one day only during the holidays, be sure that it’s communicated clearly to customers via email, social media, and blog posts.<\/span><\/p>\n Crucially, make sure your customers also know your company’s order and shipping cutoff deadlines. A Christmas present that arrives on December 26 without any warning is guaranteed to disappoint much more than the standard lump of coal.<\/span><\/p>\n Shop around for the best options available when it comes to choosing a shipping solution from a courier. For best results, compare couriers carefully to find out which one offers the best deal for you, considering factors such as cost, delivery times, reliability, coverage, and the like.<\/span><\/p>\n Popular carriers like FedEx, UPS, DHL, and even USPS, have announced increased or new surcharges during peak season. While there is not much to avoid these surcharges, looking into regional and local options may be a valuable solution for some businesses. All major couriers released their holiday shipping deadlines<\/a> to help plan ahead. Talk to your shipping partners, set expectations, and start as early as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n To be safe rather than sorry, you may also want to source potential backup carriers just in case an issue arises, and something falls through with your preferred courier.<\/span><\/p>\n All too often, online merchants are overly focused on the hectic holiday shipping season and end up neglecting the inevitable deluge of returns. Always have a dedicated returns policy page on your website, updated within your FAQ section, and added to detailed product listings to inform customers before they buy.<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to provide customers with a stellar experience, including prepaid return labels, packaging, and instructions in your parcels is also a great idea. It can make the returns process much simpler and more seamless overall.<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, shipping insurance is an added cost. However, it can help protect you and your customers from any parcels that may get lost, damaged, or stolen while in transit. The last thing you want is a negative review or lost customer due to something out of your hands. As a general rule of thumb, always invest in shipping insurance for more expensive items over $100.<\/span><\/p>\n It’s worth the extra cost to protect your investment but will also provide customers with a high-end experience they likely won’t forget!<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, don’t neglect your marketing strategy as the holidays get closer!<\/span><\/p>\n Marketing should not be an afterthought amidst the priorities of fulfilling and shipping orders as quickly as possible. Proper marketing and advertising have always been the key to sales success.<\/span><\/p>\n Consider developing a specialized holiday season content calendar to let your customers know about any holiday-specific promotions, like a free shipping weekend or sales on certain products. Be sure to broadcast it on your blog, email newsletters, and social media channels, too!<\/span><\/p>\n The holidays are also a solid opportunity to build community and connect with your audience, especially as many people celebrate in-person after an isolating 2020 holiday season.<\/span><\/p>\n The effects of 2020 feel even greater this year. Failure to prepare for busy holiday shipping deadlines can leave your business with a lump of coal at the end of the year. Don’t wait–start planning today! Ensure your holiday shipping process is seamless and organized by forecasting and planning ahead of time, managing your inventory, and communicating effectively with customers and couriers. <\/span><\/p>\n Have holiday shipping questions? Tweet us <\/span>@packlane<\/span><\/a>, and we’ll answer them for you.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Another year into the pandemic, global supply chain shortages, port delays, and a delivery slowdown amplify and stall peak shipping season. Here’s how to navigate it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":232342,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"The holiday season is always full of fun and cheer for most people. But for retailers, holiday shipping deadlines can be a source of stress and frustration!\r\n\r\nAs many online merchants have found out, holiday shipping<\/a> deadlines can often take all the fun out of the holidays. Small businesses often find themselves caught off guard by the sudden onset and sheer volume of the holiday shipping rush.\r\n\r\nThis is a guest post by Steve Longo, a Content Writer at Easyship<\/a>. Easyship is the all-in-one shipping platform for global eCommerce.<\/em>\r\n\r\nFortunately, it doesn\u2019t have to be this way. By following this checklist, you can prepare for the holiday shipping season weeks in advance. This will ensure your inventory and shipping process is well in order. Here\u2019s what to do!\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/packlane.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/1-1024x536.png\")
<\/p>\nForecast Your Holiday Shipments<\/h2>\n
Plan and Budget in Advance<\/h2>\n
Manage Customer Expectations<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/packlane.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/scott-snyder-white-ink-hero-facebook-ad-1-1024x536.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStaff Up For Holiday Shipping<\/h2>\n
Prepare and Organize For Order Fulfillment<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/packlane.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2-1024x536.png\")
<\/p>\nHave a Strong Communications Plan in Place<\/h2>\n
Know Which Courier Shipping Solutions Work Best<\/h2>\n
Develop a Seamless Returns Process<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/packlane.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/scott-snyder-white-ink-packlane-1x1-1-e1606328401634-1024x699.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/p>\nConsider Shipping Insurance<\/h2>\n
Optimize Your Holiday Season Marketing Strategy<\/h2>\n
Prepare for Holiday Shipping Deadlines Today!<\/h2>\n
![\"Calendar](\"https:\/\/packlane.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/forecast-holiday-shipping.jpg\")
\r\nForecast the Holiday Shipping Season<\/h2>\r\nJust like the local news forecasts those incoming winter storms, be sure to forecast for the holiday shipping rush too!\r\n\r\nFirst and foremost, take a close look at data from prior years, particularly last year. This will help to gauge everything from revenue to products that sold well and, likewise, products that undersold. Look at industry trends to learn what to expect for the upcoming holiday shipping season.\r\n\r\nEstimating what your sales will be can help you prepare your inventory. This will ensure you have enough staff on hand to help fulfill orders efficiently!\r\n
![\"Calculator](\"https:\/\/packlane.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/budget-holiday-shipping-dates.jpg\")
<\/h2>\r\nPlan and Budget in Advance For Holiday Shipping Dates<\/h2>\r\nWhen it comes to meeting holiday shipping dates, planning ahead is key!\r\n\r\nDraw up your holiday shipping budget weeks in advance, order an adequate amount of custom shipping boxes<\/a> and packing materials. Then, assign specific tasks to employees to make the shipping process as organized and efficient as possible. The more coordinated and seamless your game plan is, the easier your fulfillment and shipping will ultimately be!\r\n\r\n
![\"Seatgeek's](\"https:\/\/packlane.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/new-employee-welcome-kits.jpg\")
\r\nStaff Up For Holiday Shipping<\/h2>\r\nOnce you have a game plan for your holiday sales, you'll be able to proper accordingly. Staff properly to handle order fulfillment and shipping for the holidays.\r\n\r\nWhat worked well in the past may not work depending on your current holiday season forecast. If your company found itself overwhelmed last year and expects even more orders this year, be sure to hire some extra helping hands.\r\n\r\nLikewise, if the prior year went smoothly and you expect orders to be essentially flat, there likely isn\u2019t a need to bring aboard more help for the holidays.\r\n\r\nUltimately, try to ensure you have enough staff ready to fulfill and ship any orders as soon as they arrive. When it comes to order fulfillment, the last you want during the holidays is a backlog!\r\n
Manage Customer Expectations<\/h2>\r\nMake sure your shipping policy is transparent and simple to understand on your website. Lay out your delivery, cost, order deadlines and returns policies very clearly. As soon as these policies are in place, be sure to update your FAQs to reflect the changes.\r\n\r\nBy being transparent and writing your policies in clear, consistent language, you can avoid any misunderstandings about small details that may lead to negative customer experiences and take up valuable time to fix.\r\n\r\n
![\"Sendoso](\"https:\/\/packlane.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/sendoso-mailer-box.jpg\")
\r\nPrepare and Organize Your Inventory For Holiday Order Fulfillment<\/h2>\r\nHaving an organized, seamless plan for holiday order fulfillment<\/a> is also critical.\r\n\r\nForecast your sales as best you can so you have enough inventory on hand for the holidays. Just as importantly, be sure to organize your warehouse stock before the holiday craziness arrives!\r\n\r\nClean and declutter everything and take the time to organize your warehouse, while also getting rid of anything that isn\u2019t absolutely critical. Another good idea is to draw out a map of your floorplan to see how it can be optimized and made more efficient and intuitive for employees to move around quickly. Adopting strategies such as slotting<\/a> and optimizing your inventory turnover<\/a> can also help!\r\n
Have a Strong Communications Plan in Place<\/h2>\r\nCommunications is a crucial but often overlooked part of the holiday shipping season for many online merchants.\r\n\r\nIn addition to letting your couriers know of any changes to your shipping schedule, effective communication with customers is also vital. If, for example, a shipment has been delayed due to bad weather, be sure to let them know immediately by email, website updates and social media posts.\r\n\r\nSending out order and shipment confirmation emails is also a great idea, offering a peace of mind for customers and keeping all parties involved accountable if any delays or other complications arise.\r\n\r\nLikewise, if you have a free shipping promotion for one day only during the holidays, be sure that\u2019s communicated clearly to customers via email, social media, blog posts and the like.\r\n\r\nCrucially, make sure your customers also know your company\u2019s order and shipping cutoff deadlines. A Christmas present that arrives on December 26 just plain doesn\u2019t work!\r\n
Know Which Courier Shipping Solutions Work Best<\/h2>\r\nShop around for the best options available when it comes to choosing a shipping solution from a courier. For best results, compare couriers carefully to find out which one offers the best deal for you, taking into account factors such as cost, delivery times, reliability, coverage and the like.\r\n
Develop a Seamless Returns Process<\/h2>\r\nAll too often, online merchants are overly focused on the hectic holiday shipping season - and neglect the inevitable deluge of returns just when it seems like everything\u2019s finally calmed down!\r\n\r\nAlways have a dedicated returns policy page on your website, updated FAQ section regarding returns and detailed product listings to inform customers before they buy. Including prepaid return labels, packaging and instructions in your parcels is also a great idea, as it can make the returns process much simpler and more seamless overall.\r\n
Consider Shipping Insurance<\/h2>\r\nYes, shipping insurance is an added cost. However, it can help protect both you and your customers from any parcels that may get lost, damaged or stolen while in transit. As a general rule of thumb, always invest in shipping insurance for more expensive items in excess of $100.\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s always worth the extra cost to protect your investment!\r\n
Optimize Your Holiday Season Marketing Strategy<\/h2>\r\nFinally, don\u2019t neglect your marketing strategy as the holiday season approaches!\r\n\r\nMarketing may seem like an afterthought in the midst of the holiday craziness when the main priority certainly is fulfilling and shipping orders as soon as possible, but proper marketing and advertising has always been the key to sales success.\r\n\r\nConsider developing a specialized holiday season content calendar to let your customers know about any holiday-specific promotions, like a free shipping weekend, or sales on certain products, and broadcast it on your blog, email newsletters and social media channels.\r\n\r\nAnother nice touch could be to include holiday-themed graphics on your website and social media platforms during the holiday season.\r\n
Prepare for Holiday Shipping Deadlines Today!<\/h2>\r\nFailure to prepare for busy holiday shipping deadlines can leave your business with a lump of coal at the end of the year. Don\u2019t wait - start planning today! Ensure your holiday shipping process is seamless and organized by forecasting and planning ahead of time, organizing your inventory and communicating effectively with both customers and couriers.\r\n\r\nNeed a hand with holiday shipping? Easyship<\/a> can help! We offer 250+ shipping solutions from couriers all around the world with discounted rates of up to 70 percent. Sign up<\/a> today to take your holiday shipping global!","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[43,6,44],"class_list":["post-991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-commerce","tag-holiday-packaging","tag-marketing","tag-shipping"],"yoast_head":"\n