Online retailers, the peak season is almost on your doorstep. Or should we say, this year is unwrapping at a fast rate. Asendia has come up with a few tips to help online stores stay ahead and increase profits this Christmas season.
Asendia offers a range of international e-commerce and mail delivery services. The company services fashion, apparel, health and beauty, marketplaces, and food and supplements. Key destinations for e-tailers include Asia, Europe, the USA, and Canada.
Here’s some advice to help you through this busy period: Get ahead of the curve—plan your anchor events early to capture more sales and maximize revenue.
Know your shipping cutoff dates
Shipping deadlines vary by destination, so check cutoff dates for both domestic and international deliveries.
International orders take longer, so plan ahead if you serve global customers. Staying on top of these dates ensures gifts arrive on time and keeps your customers happy.
Make shipping work for everyone
Here’s a scenario: You’re preparing for the holiday rush. One customer orders in October, choosing the lowest-cost shipping option because they have time to wait.
Another places an order on December 23rd, selecting premium next-day delivery to ensure their gift arrives on time.
By offering both options, you cater to both planners and last-minute shoppers, keeping everyone happy and boosting your holiday sales.
Give shoppers options: Keep customers happy
With peak season approaching, customers will want their orders as in yesterday. Here’s how you can stay in the game this Christmas season:
- Give shoppers more options: With 88% of consumers shopping online, offering a range of shipping choices ensures their orders arrive on time, no matter their needs.
- Cater to early birds and last-minute shoppers: Some customers want budget-friendly shipping and can wait, while others will pay for speedy delivery. Flexibility matters.
- Meet speedy expectations: Many shoppers expect delivery within two days. Providing faster options can satisfy digital natives who value convenience and are willing to pay extra.
- Keep everyone happy: Offering multiple shipping levels ensures you meet the diverse needs of your customers, boosting satisfaction and loyalty.
Review your shipping costs
Shipping is often your biggest expense when fulfilling orders. Here’s how to manage it:
- Negotiate rates: Check if you can negotiate better shipping rates or use industry association discounts.
- Cut international costs: Partner with a shipping consolidator to save on global shipping, leveraging their volume deals and partnerships with foreign postal services.
Streamline your storage and fulfillment
Your storage facility needs to be ready for the holiday rush. Here’s how you can prepare:
- Tidy up operations: If your storage is disorganized or overcrowded, it’s time to rethink your setup.
- Consider fulfillment services: Fulfillment providers can handle inventory storage, packaging, and shipping for you.
- Handle peak season with ease: Outsourcing these tasks helps manage high order volumes, boosts revenue, and improves the customer experience.
Create a plan for peak season success
Audit your website and inventory to ensure everything is user-friendly, accurate, and engaging.
Focus on maximizing your return on investment—whether that means finding a new shipping partner or outsourcing fulfillment.
NOW READ: Google Search data transforms peak season shopping
Photo Credit: Canva
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About the author
Sharl is a qualified journalist. He has over 10 years’ experience in the media industry, including positions as an editor of a magazine and Business Editor of a daily newspaper. Sharl also has experience in logistics specifically operations, where he worked with global food aid organisations distributing food into Africa. Sharl enjoys writing business stories and human interest pieces.
