As winter draws to a close, e-commerce brands around the country are starting to prepare for the looming festive season. As online retailers gear up for this busy time, many are looking for ways to get ahead so that they’re ready.
From team morale to planning promotions and sales, there seems to be a never-ending list of things to do at this time of year, which is why it’s necessary to get started now.
To guide your business through the next few months, this blog will outline the 5 core steps that will set you up for success during the holiday season.
Why is Christmas preparation important?
The Christmas quarter is a lucrative season for e-commerce, with several major sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and of course, all of the Christmas shopping!
To ensure customers are attracted to your company and enjoy the experience they have, you need to anticipate and accommodate the influx. This could mean hiring more dispatch and sales staff, automating your workflows, and getting your website up to speed.
The easier and more enjoyable the buyer’s journey is for online shoppers, the more likely they are to click ‘buy now’.
How to prepare for Christmas
Before you get overwhelmed with the thought of all the things still to do, take some time to plan out your next steps. Organising your operations ahead of time will save you time, money, and energy when the orders start flowing in.
1. Reflect on previous years
To know what to expect going forward, you need to reflect on how things went in the past few years. While 2020 and 2021 were unusual in many ways, they can still provide you with insights into your efficiency, projected sales, and customer preferences for 2022.
For starters, take note of the following:
- Sticking points in the transaction process.
- Inefficiencies in dispatch.
- Frequently asked questions about products, services, or deliveries.
- Last-minute orders for packaging supplies.
- Staff shortages in certain departments, such as order processing.
Before these concerns rise again, you can be proactive about resolving them. This will save your employees time and customers will get what they need, much faster.
2. Stock up on packaging materials
At this busy time of year, the foundation of a strong e-commerce strategy is stocking up on Christmas packaging materials and equipment. So before the courier network gets overloaded, order all of the supplies you will need to package your customer's orders through to 2023.
To help you get started, we’ve outlined some essential packaging supplies every e-commerce business needs.
Boxes and cartons
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Whatever your products are, the right box or carton will help to protect them and keep them secure until they arrive safely on your customer's doorstep. From large corrugated cartons to small custom-shaped boxes, be sure to stock up with enough to get you through to the New Year.
For a sturdy, cost-effective box, a stock carton will be the best choice. For smaller, lightweight products, white cube boxes or self-locking diecut boxes are an attractive and simple solution.
Protectives and delivery instruction labels
For products that need a little extra care during the delivery process, protectives and delivery instruction labels are crucial. To ensure customers aren’t disappointed when their order arrives broken, consider if bubble wrap, polyfoam rolls, freight labels, or desiccant bags could keep them safe during transit.
A4 copy paper
When processing thousands of orders, make sure you have enough 80gsm A4 copy paper for paperwork, customer invoices and labels. You don’t want to get caught out in the middle of the silly season so we recommend stocking up all of your printers now and having enough in storage to get you through the rest of the year.
3. Start using sustainable packaging
More and more, customers are preferring to shop with brands that are proactive about sustainability, especially when it comes to packaging. Consumers are 57% less likely to invest in your products if they consider the packaging to be harmful to the environment.
So, if you want customers to feel good about their purchase, make sure it is delivered to them in an environmentally conscious way. As sustainable packaging alternatives become increasingly accessible, it’s imperative to get ahead of your competition.
At Primepac, we make this easy by using our Sustainable Choice logo on all products that are degradable, biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable. For more ideas and inspiration, check out our sustainable products catalogue.
4. Personalise your packaging
Amidst the advertising boom that comes with Christmas, you need to make the most of every opportunity to make a lasting impression on your customers. You can follow the traditional track, such as billboards or radio ads, or you can get creative with alternative channels to capture their attention.
Incorporating branding into your packaging is an innovative way to improve the user experience and promote your company at the same time. It can be as simple as boxes in brand colours or custom-printed packaging tape.
These small details help to build brand awareness and turn the e-commerce buyer's journey into a more integrated, enjoyable experience.
5. Increase efficiency and safety
With 64% of consumers stating convenience as their reason for shopping online, they expect their orders to be processed and delivered quickly and efficiently. That’s why it’s vital to spend time now setting up streamlined workflows and safety procedures to keep things running smoothly.
Online shoppers value speed, with 25% preferring same-day delivery during the festive season. To meet these expectations, your dispatch team needs to be well-trained and equipped with the right tools. We recommend starting with warehouse automation solutions such as:
- Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
- Mobile scanning devices.
- Warehouse drones.
These time-saving technologies help to reduce employee workload and keep staff morale elevated during this demanding time. Additionally, why not invest in a few practical gadgets to take the strain off your dispatch staff, such as label and tape dispensers?
Ultimately, the goal of every e-commerce business is to make the most of this busy time of year and build a memorable customer experience. By being prepared, you can ensure your customers enjoy the entire process right up to the delivery, while also alleviating stress during the busy holiday season.
From coffee for the staffroom to pallet wrap for the warehouse, you’ll find everything you need to keep things running smoothly in our e-commerce catalogue.
