For most people , it is the hap-happiest season of the year. For retailers, a Holiday shopping season is a heady mix of exponential increase in online sales and incessant slaving to get their orders across to their customer. If you are intimidated by the latter, don’t worry. Just follow these 5 holiday shipping tips to hold on to your holiday spirits while doling out staggering sales.
1. Pack like a pro - Most of the times retailers go overboard planning their inventory, orders and temp staff all the time zipping past the packaging part. Packaging is the most essential part of your order especially when they happen to be sole means by which the customer connects to your brand. Make sure the packaging is compact and light so that it is economical to store and transport. Add a fun creative wrap to make the unboxing experience for your customer a truly memorable takeaway this holiday
2. Track your orders real time - When you have had a door bursting holiday sales and send out thousands of packages for delivery , you cannot afford to ride on faith. You need to constantly monitor every twist and turn in the package journey to the customer’s door step before you can heave a sigh of relief. It is important to integrate your shipping carrier account to a real time tracking system to get the first hand info on predicted delays, suspected lost and number of returns.
3. Land before Santa - Irrespective of the benefits your program offers or how aesthetically your gift is wrapped, when you promise to deliver it in a day’s time, it has got be there in a day. Your customers are gonna be sorely disappointed if it is delayed. Though the shipping carriers like FedEx and UPS are pulling all stops to deliver the packages on time, you can beat the holiday rush by scheduling the package delivery earlier than usual.
4. Make returns simple, not simpler: Convenient hassle free return policies are key to successful online retail sales. Having said that, processing returns, transferring refunds and finding a replacement could stretch the limits of the small business retailer who is otherwise willing to bend backwards to make their customers hit the “buy” button. Frame a return policy that is simple but also keep a check on frivolous shoppers who would like to own stuff temporarily and then return for no reason at all.
5. Think past holidays : You have had a stupendous sale this holiday. Awesome! Time for a vacation? Not yet. Don’t forget to re-market to your holiday customers nudging them gently to make more purchases. Successful businesses work on building an everlasting bond with their holiday customers.
Did you enjoy your holiday shipping this season? Tweet with #happyholidayshipping to share your experience.
