’Tis the season to shop, shop, shop! We have the longest Christmas season in the world, and that means it’s also the busiest shopping season of the year. More benta for everyone!
But as exciting as that sounds, you first need to consider whether your online business is operationally and prepared to fulfill more orders and avoid logistics problems.
Trust us, the holiday rush can result in parcel delays and logistics nightmares that affect both you and your customers who expect nothing but top-notch service.
Also read: Ecommerce Tips to Drive Sales During the Ber-Months
10 Holiday shipping tips to win this season
So, prepare for the demand, keep your sales high and provide great customer experience with the following holiday shipping tips:
1. Stock up on inventory
As early as possible, make sure you stock up on inventory, especially your best-sellers.
If you’re dependent on third-party suppliers, you want to get your orders in even before the holiday season starts. Uncertainties in the global shipping chain may lead to delivery delays from your suppliers, especially if they’re overseas.
It’s better to be over-prepared than to have to turn away a potential sale. If the item your customer wants is always sold out, they’ll visit another shop instead. You don’t want that, do you?
#NinjaTip: Did you know that Ninja Van can connect you to a trusted network of manufacturers, factories and online/offline suppliers from China? Learn about Ninja Direct, Ninja Van’s one-stop solution to your sourcing and procurement needs!
2. Get backup (and by that, we mean more manpower!)
It’s not just about having stocks on hand — you also need to make sure you’re prepared to fulfill all the extra orders coming in.
on time for the holidays.
Quality assurance, packaging, and logistics takes time and effort on a regular day. Imagine doubling that work, on top of all the other tasks you have to do during the holidays! Consider hiring more people to help you prep, wrap and get orders out the door and on the way.
You could also work with a fulfillment partner to help automate your workflow, or address any logistics issues, such as lost parcels or order backlogs.
3. Offer flexible shipping and payment options
You must remain flexible about what customers want or need during the holidays. You’ll likely face increased requests for rush or urgent orders — last-minute Christmas gifts ‘yan!
Apart from standard shipping, customers may need items delivered within the day or be willing to pay extra for expedited delivery. Some buyers may also look for pick-up or cash-on-delivery options.
special requests from customers. Image from Burst
But expediting orders may also mean additional costs to your business, so we recommend asking for a premium fee or advanced payment before shipping by offering different online payment options to your customers. This way, you can find the best logistics services that can ensure faster delivery of the parcels.
4. Communicate clearly
Clear communication is the key to success. Make sure your customers are aware of your holiday schedule, which should already include a cut-off deadline for orders and any additional costs for rush orders.
Be transparent about shipping times, potential delays, and holiday schedules. Update your website, social media, and emails with this information.
5. Set realistic expectations
Manage customer expectations by clearly stating potential delays on your website and in confirmation emails.
Holiday shoppers will be eager to receive their orders ASAP, so be clear on delivery timelines, and work with your shipping partner to provide regular updates.
so learn to manage them to avoid misunderstanding.
6. Have clear shipping policies
The holiday season can be stressful and frantic, even for customers. Heightened expectations may lead to frustration if anything goes wrong during their buying journey.
While you need to protect your business, you still want customers to have a positive experience with your brand, even if things don’t go according to plan.
for orders to avoid miscommunication.
Most major ecommerce marketplaces already have established policies to protect both buyers and sellers. If you’re operating your own website, you’ll want to make a clear policy on returns, refunds or exchanges. While the actual terms and conditions may vary according to your business, at the very least it should include details on the following:
- Grace period after purchase
- Expected conditions of the purchased items
- Processing times
- Relevant fees
- Clear next steps
Follow these tips on How to Write an Easy Return and Refund Policy.
7. Prepare for returns
Speaking of returns and refunds policies, expect an increase in your RTS (return to sender) parcels after the holidays. Many online sellers see an increase in their RTS rates during and after the Christmas season.
This is not always your or the courier service’s fault. There are shoppers who order the same product from multiple sellers to ensure they’ll get their items and then will cancel the other, or they will simply change their minds. These cases are prevalent with COD orders.
Here are the Top RTS Reasons and How to Avoid Them, so you can protect your business and keep your holiday sales up.
8. Keep your lines open
Sometimes, issues can arise despite your best efforts. There may be shipping delays, lost parcels, or damaged items.
Image from Getty Images
To address issues as they pop up, make sure that you have an open communication line with customers when these situations arise. Be prepared to provide support across various points of contact, whether it’s through email, phone, chatbots or social media.
Create guidelines to have a standard response and process for common issues. This is where your shipping policies will come in handy and why choosing the right logistics partner is crucial.
9. Review and adapt
After the holiday rush, assess what went well and where there were issues. Use your marketplace or ecommerce platform data, social media analytics, and customer behavior analytics so you can have a data-driven report that will help you make well-informed business decisions
Use these information to improve your ecommerce strategy for the next holiday season.
10. Choose the right logistics partner
You’ll want to work with a logistics service that will extend your flexibility and help address any issues. So keep the holiday season headache-free for you and your customers with Ninja Van!
Need help managing your increased inventory for the holidays? Outsource your storage, inventory management and order fulfillment to Ninja Fulfillment. We’ll give you operational efficiency and reduced cost while having full visibility of your inventory’s movement. Leave the following to us:
- Inventorizing and storing of your products
- Pickup and packing your orders
- Delivering your orders to the end customers
Learn more how Ninja Fulfillment can boost your ecommerce!
For your order shipments, choosing our VIP Shipping account not only gives you safe and hassle-free deliveries. You’ll also enjoy the following perks:
- Exclusive shipping rates
- Fast COD Remittances
- No RTS Fees
- Real-time parcel tracking
- A dedicated Account Manager
- Big shipping rebates and rewards
Partnering with Ninja Van will give your ecommerce business the right boost and support during the holiday season and beyond.
Become a Ninja Van VIP Shipper today!
Keep logistics problems at bay during the holidays
No one enjoys having to deal with logistics and shipping problems during Christmas. Sellers and customers alike want a smooth, hassle-free shopping experience.
your customers happy.
Preparation is key. Make sure to plan for any potential operational speed bumps, such as running low on inventory or encountering shipping delays.
This is also the perfect time to enhance the customer experience by staying flexible to their needs and finding ways to drive brand loyalty.
More ecommerce tips for the holidays:
How to Stay Productive During the Holiday Season
Social Media Tips to Make Your Online Shop Shine for Christmas
Post-holiday Sales: How to Clear Your Excess Holiday Stock
