It’s almost time to ship holiday freight. Are you prepared?
The holiday season brings a surge in consumer spending, which can make or break annual sales targets for many businesses. Ensuring freight is available for the holiday rush is critical for meeting demand and maximizing profits. But with specific deadlines and rising customer expectations, meeting your goals can quickly become difficult. With the right strategies, you can navigate the busy season with confidence and efficiency.
Peak holiday shipping season occurs October through December
Because holidays come with built-in deadlines, knowing the dates they’ll be observed is the first step in preparing freight. Here’s what the season looks like in 2024:
- 11/28/2024: Thanksgiving
- 11/29/2024: Black Friday
- 12/2/2024: Cyber Monday
- 12/24/2024: Christmas Eve
- 12/25/2024: Christmas Day
- 12/26/2024-1/2/2025: Hanukkah
- 12/26/2024: Boxing Day
- 12/31/2024: New Years Eve
- 1/1/2025: New Years Day
But you don’t just need goods available the day of the holiday. According to the National Retail Federation, 43% of shoppers generally start making holiday purchases before November. And retailers will have specific timelines for when items need to be available to hit the shelves. This leaves minimal time after the back-to-school season to prepare, but competing in the retail race means maintaining an agile supply chain that can get freight where it needs to be.
If you need products available for Black Friday sales or other key dates, it’s time to start thinking through your shipping strategy. Proactively communicate any warehouse deadlines and must-arrive-by dates (MABD) or on-time, in full (OTIF) requirements from retailers with your transportation provider. This can help them vet the best transportation option and reduce the risk of missed or late deliveries.
2024 poses some unique challenges
Some current disruptions may persist into 2024’s holiday shopping season, requiring workarounds to avoid complications. While you’re likely already navigating these, here are two issues you may need to consider before shipping holiday freight:
Port congestion could cause shipment delays
Several factors — from low inventories to new trade partners — are impacting international imports. Combining these factors with the surge in international shipments pre-holiday could lead to port congestion that delays shipments.
Work closely with your transportation partners to monitor updates on port congestion and potential delays. Consider diversifying shipment routes and using multiple ports to avoid bottlenecks in your supply chain. Learn more about what’s happening with maritime transportation.
Labor shortages may impact warehouse staffing
Some industries are still dealing with labor shortages post-Covid-19, including warehousing staff. Retail shippers will want to plan for delays due to these labor deficiencies and delays in shipment processing. Lean on technology like TMS and online tracking to stay aware of any issues or delays to keep your customers prepared.
Tips for shipping holiday freight
Here are some tips that pertain to any holiday shipping season:
Manage your inventory based on past data
Many retail shippers struggle with keeping goods in stock or running out of products during the holiday season. Increase your safety stock or high-demand items to avoid stockouts, and rely on your inventory system to ensure you have what you need when needed. Implementing just-in-time inventory systems may reduce excess stock and the associated costs of holding onto these goods.
Communicate clearly with your customers
Keep your customers informed about any potential delays and provide accurate delivery estimates. Delays and disruptions can significantly impact customers and transparency helps improve customer satisfaction even in the face of delays.
Be prepared to manage returns
Easy and efficient returns can help enhance customer loyalty, so it’s important to have clear return policies in place and ensure your staff is trained to handle returns properly. Maintaining an efficient reverse logistics process can also help.
Use ArcBest to deliver on time
If you’re a shipper preparing for this year’s peak holiday season, bolster your supply chain using ArcBest. With various solutions available, including planning and optimization through our retail logistics solutions, we can help you have your best holiday shopping season yet.