Summer is still baking the city. If you are a smart e-commerce business owner, get your e-commerce store ready for the Fulfillment of the holiday season. Yes, it is only August, but the success starts from today. You should start planning now to make sure that you have the product that your customers want and you are able to deliver them before December 25.

The holiday season has great potential only if you plan ahead. Here are 3 tips for your e-commerce business’s 2016 holiday season fulfillment plan.

#1. Stock up inventory

For many of you, August and september are the last chances to order products for November and December. Hurry up and place the orders. Get the new products that you want to introduce during the holiday season ready but still focus on the the best sellers which represent the top 20% of your products.

#2. Outsource fulfillment

Oftentimes ecommerce stores see extensive orders flood in during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Does your store have the ability to handle the doubled or even tripled orders without upsetting customers? If you are hesitating, then outsource holiday fulfillment to a third-party fulfillment service.

These third-party companies charges a flat rate for packing the orders and offer a better shipping rate with carriers. Some of them have warehouses in the areas that your business does not.

#3. Be ready for packing

Does your store have adequate shipping supplies such as boxes, tapes and other packing materials? Packing is a like fighting a battle against time, so upgrade your weapons like scales, tape guns and so on.

#4. Recruit now

Don’t wait until the last minute to hire temporary staff because you don’t want to train new staff in the middle of the busiest season. An alternative is to hire temporary workers now, train them and let them start while your regular employees are on their summer vacation. If you are concerned about your budget, consider hiring volunteers from nonprofit organizations.

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