Forget about last year. Expert consensus indicates people are going to be hitting online shopping this Christmas more than ever before. Businesses need to prepare now. Whether you run a retail business or ship freight regularly, shipping lanes, carrier pricing, and sourcing will look a lot different this year.
Some statistics to keep in mind:
4 Intermodal Tips for Successfully Reduced Freight Costs
These higher online volumes coupled with a cloudy outlook on freight market capacity and costs mean shippers need to make preparations now heading into this holiday season.
As we covered in our post Disruption as the New Norm: Coronavirus Impacts on Supply Chains, make your inventory bookings early, consider increasing high volume inventory stock, and find alternative vendors and sources where possible. Having backup plans and being agile will make a significant difference in navigating issues that impact your suppliers and carriers as they come up over the holidays.
Part of your strategy here should also be considering intermodal shipping options for freight if you are not already shipping this way. Although direct shipping is more straightforward, costs and delivery times may be improved using multiple modes. Please see our post outlining the specific considerations and shipping software to use when shipping intermodal.
Due to ongoing media coverage, most of your shoppers know that holiday orders will have longer turnaround times and that COVID continues to impact supply chains. However, over-communicating during the shopping, ordering, and delivery process will help manage expectations, reduce customer service calls, and generally keep your customers happier during this time.
Your communications should include:
Prioritize your clients and customers and plan what you need to do to keep your top performers. Increase marketing to communicate your value, brand initiatives, and special incentives to them during this time. Add a personal touch to messages to engage them, such as handwritten cards, custom emails, and phone calls. And monitor, evaluate, and make improvements as needed during the holiday season.
Lastly, identify your strengths during this time. There may be opportunities you can fill over the holiday period that positions you over your competition. Perhaps there are add-ons or alternative products you do not usually offer that you can quickly arrange that will help you attract more business.
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