Christmas is just around the corner – which means your ecommerce business should be ready to meet the upsurge in demand the festive season brings.

Get it right and you benefit from a substantial profit boost AND the likelihood of repeat business.

But get it wrong, and the potential for negative feedback from your customers – and plummeting ratings – is a very real possibility.

Consequently, it pays to have a plan in place to make sure your business is prepared for ALL eventualities as the Christmas rush comes hurtling towards us.

Stock levels
It may sound obvious, but it’s vital to ensure you have enough items in stock to meet the seasonal increase in demand. Quite simply, it would be foolhardy to run out of stock during your busiest period. Importantly, if your business’s products come from an outside supplier, acquaint yourself with their delivery times over the Christmas period to avoid disappointing your own customers.

Delivery and returns
For all ecommerce businesses, a reliable delivery partner is essential, especially during your most hectic time. From your customers’ perspective, it’s crucial you manage their expectations effectively by informing them when the last posting dates are for different dispatch services or destinations. In addition, your returns policy must consider Christmas growth AND be very clear, which will alleviate any doubts about returns or refunds, avoiding angry customers and negative feedback in the process.

Forecasting
Over the Christmas period, most businesses will experience a 40% increase in orders, which means space in the warehouse is extremely important. Here at TNT Post, we began forecasting with our customers, based on last year’s volumes, earlier this year – and that’s where our multichannel fulfilment approach is worth its weight in gold. Additionally, keep your supplier and carrier in the loop if there’s a significant spike in volume, as this ensures the extra traffic can be processed quickly and efficiently.

For more information on how we can help your ecommerce business get set for Christmas, get in touch with us – we’d be pleased to hear from you.