Going into peak season can be daunting for eCommerce operations of any size, so proper preparation is pivotal to your business. From growing UK demand for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals, through to those last-minute Christmas shoppers, it’s safe to say peak season can be a rollercoaster of emotions for all involved. Having been a supplier to eCommerce businesses for 30 years, we’ve been there through the highs and lows that the season can bring, so we’ve compiled our very best advice to perfect your process to ensure your peak is the best yet.
When and where to begin:
1. Review last year’s performance
If you’re wondering where is best to start with your peak preparation, review last year’s performance and use the data to accurately predict what may happen this year. Look at who was shopping when, and analyse what drove the best and most conversions for your business during this time.
2. Prepare for early shoppers
Be proactive instead of reactive to your orders. Don’t wait until the end of November to start preparing as you could be fighting a never-ending battle. Never underestimate how organised some shoppers are, or how important it is to be organised within your own business!
Choose efficiency focused packaging and warehouse supplies:
3. Roll Holders
If you’re sending fragile or delicate items, you’ll be used to all sorts of void fill solutions for wrapping and protecting your products. Using a roll holder can make for quicker and easier cutting, wrapping, and packing of your important goods; ensuring they arrive in perfect condition whilst saving you precious time.
4. Tape Dispensers
If you find yourself constantly searching for the end of your packing tape and hunting for scissors – start using a packing tape dispenser. Save time, reduce waste, and increase your operational efficiency all in one simple handheld device which provides a secure seal to your parcels.
5. Instant Bottom Boxes
The packaging you choose can make or break your business during peak season. If you’re used to folding and taping your boxes, why not try an instant assembly box which pops up, is sealed with a peel and seal closure, and can increase your efficiency by up to 400%!
6. Integrated Labels
When you’ve got a lot of orders coming in, the last thing you want to do is send the wrong product to the wrong customer. Using integrated labels eliminates miss picks as order details, customer name, and a peel-out customer address label all printed on the same page – despatching your orders couldn’t be easier.
Make an impression:
7. Gift wrapping
Save your customers time and increase their happiness by offering to gift wrap their order as an additional service. Use tissue paper, postal boxes, or gift boxes and create beautiful parcels that your customers, and their recipient, will love.
8. Convey your eco message
With millions of parcels going through the courier network, Christmas can have a big impact on the environment so it’s important to make sure your eco friendly packaging does the talking with easily understandable brand markers so your customers know what to do with your packaging so it ends up in the right place.
9. Returns friendly packaging
No matter how much thought goes into Christmas gifts, you’ll likely receive more returns in the last week of the year than you have for the rest of the year put together. Make this as easy as possible for your customer and use returns friendly boxes with a dual seal so your customers can easily send goods back to you.
Ask the experts
Peak season can be a super stressful time so we hope this checklist has given you some guidance with what to do next. We pride ourselves on our service and sharing our knowledge wherever possible, so if you have any questions then please speak to us on live chat, give us a call on 01622 580100, or use our Contact page. To ensure your business runs smoothly all-year-round, enquire with us for one of our despatch process audits and packaging health checks with our team of experts and give your business the boost it needs.
eCommerce operations are our speciality and we can advise on all aspects of despatch to assist you in perfecting your process, so please get in touch – we’ll be happy to help.
