Preparing Your Business for the Holiday Shipping Season

The holiday shipping season is a crucial time for e-commerce businesses. In 2021, US holiday sales reached an astounding $886.70 billion — despite all of the challenges (inflation, COVID-19, supply chain issues, etc.) consumers faced. This year could be even bigger. If you’re not prepared, the holiday shipping rush can be a nightmare. But with a little planning and the right tools, you can make sure your business is ready to take advantage of the biggest shopping season of the year.

Here are 5 tips to help you get ready for the busiest time of the year.

1. Start Early

The key to a successful holiday shipping season is to start early. This means planning your inventory and production schedules well in advance so that you have plenty of time to get everything done. It’s also important to start promoting your holiday products and deals early so that customers have time to plan their purchases. If you wait until the last minute, you’ll likely miss out on sales because customers will have already completed their shopping.

• Use Flat Rate Shipping Whenever Possible

During the holidays, everyone is looking for ways to save money, so offer flat-rate shipping whenever possible. Customers will appreciate being able to budget their shipping costs, and you’ll save money on shipping by using flat-rate boxes from the post office.

• Offer Expedited Shipping Options

When it comes to holiday shopping, timing is everything. That’s why it’s important to offer expedited shipping options during the holidays. Customers who are worried about getting their gifts on time will be willing to pay extra for faster shipping. And if you use a service like DHL or FedEx, you can even offer same-day or next-day delivery in some cases.

• Stay Organized and Keep Track of Your Shipments  

It’s important to stay organized during the holiday shipping season so that you can keep track of all your shipments. Use a system like Shipstation or QuickBooks Shipping Manager to generate packing slips and tracking numbers automatically. This will save you time and help you avoid mistakes. And be sure to keep an eye on your tracking numbers so that you can quickly resolve any issues that come up with deliveries.    

• Get The Right Tools for the Job

One tool you’ll need is a good 4-inch thermal shipping label printer, along with plenty of blank 4×6 shipping labels. With your own shipping label printer and supplies, you can give your holiday shipments a professional look that will make a great impression on your customers. DuraFast Label Company has everything you need to get started, including thermal shipping label printers, blank 4×6 shipping labels, and software. Our 4×6 labels are perfect for use with FedEx, UPS, DHL, Canada Post, eBay, Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, Woo Commerce, Shipstation, Quickbooks Shipping Manager, and more.

The holidays are a busy time for e-commerce businesses, but with a little planning and the right tools, you can make sure your business is ready for the rush.’));