Holiday Shipping Hacks: Surviving the 4th Quarter | EP 174

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It’s the 4th quarter—also known as the busiest, craziest time of the year for product-based business owners! You've planned your 4th quarter promotions and products are arriving, but have you thought about the logistics of fulfilling and shipping all those orders? 

In this episode, I share shipping hacks and strategies to help subscription box owners and product-based businesses navigate our busiest quarter… and stay sane doing it! 

Prep Packing & Shipping Supplies Early

• Audit your packing and shipping supplies now: tape, labels, boxes, poly mailers, filler. 
• Order enough to get you through December.
• Plan for the unexpected. 
• Establish a dedicated storage space for your extra supplies so your team knows exactly where to find what they need.

Consider:

• What types of packaging will you need? Boxes, poly mailers, padded envelopes, etc. 
• What types of items are in your 4th quarter promos? 
• What size box(es) will you need? 
• Will you need more poly mailers than boxes? 

Optimize Fulfillment by Prepacking, Prepping, and Batch Packing 

• Pre-pack items that will be sold together, like holiday bundles or Black Friday specials.
• Reduce friction, eliminate unnecessary steps, and gain efficiency
• Set up efficient packing stations with all necessary materials within reach to avoid wasting time during fulfillment.
• Put quality checks in place along the way (it’s so easy to make a mistake when volume is high and time is short). 
• Implement batch packing by processing similar orders together for a smoother, faster workflow.

Research Shipping Carrier Cut-off Dates & Have Options 

• Research carrier cut-off dates and set your own Christmas shipping cut-offs well in advance. 
• Overcommunicate! Post these cut-off dates visibly in your social media headers, on your website, and in emails.
• Stay flexible and ready to adjust by having multiple shipping options.
• Maintain open communication with your drivers to help manage any unexpected delays.

Be Prepared for Increased Customer Service Volume 

• Expect an increase in customer service inquiries and be transparent with customers about shipping timelines and potential delays.
• Remember, people are stressed this time of year. Be patient!
• Encourage customers to order early to beat the rush! 
• Have a contingency plan in place to deal with lost packages, including a policy for replacements or refunds.

The holiday rush can be chaotic, but with these tips, you’ll feel more prepared than ever to tackle Q4. 

Have a shipping manager or team? Have them listen to this episode to boost efficiency and reduce holiday chaos in your shop!

Join me for this episode, where I share fulfillment & shipping strategies to help subscription box owners and product-based businesses navigate the busiest, craziest time of year - the 4th quarter. Grab your coffee (or something stronger!) and let’s dive in!

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