• For Buyers
    • Retail News
    • Products & Suppliers
    • Ecommerce
    • Marketing & Management
    • Trade Show News
  • For Suppliers
    • Supplier News
    • Marketing & Management
    • Importing
    • Manufacturers
    • Warehousing
    • Finance
    • Show Exhibiting
  • Wholesale 101
  • Trade Show Calendar
  • Wholesale Products
  • New Suppliers
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Thursday, March 23
  • Subscribe
  • Submit Content
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Advertise
    • Display Advertising
    • Email Marketing Campaigns
    • Newsletter Advertising
    • Sponsored Content
    • Lead Generation Services
  • Top Product Sources
Facebook Twitter Instagram
WholesaleCentral.com Blog
  • For Buyers
    • Retail News
    • Products & Suppliers
    • Ecommerce
    • Marketing & Management
    • Trade Show News
  • For Suppliers
    • Supplier News
    • Marketing & Management
    • Importing
    • Manufacturers
    • Warehousing
    • Finance
    • Show Exhibiting
  • Wholesale 101
  • Trade Show Calendar
  • Wholesale Products
  • New Suppliers
WholesaleCentral.com Blog
Home»For Buyers»Marketing & Management»5 Tips to Improve Holiday Shipping Processes
Marketing & Management

5 Tips to Improve Holiday Shipping Processes

PublisherBy PublisherOctober 2, 20123 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

For many independent retailers, the holiday season is the “make or break” time in terms of revenue. If they do not ship enough products throughout the holidays, then projections for annual sales and the potential for next year’s growth can be stunted. Consumers demand on-time delivery, and won’t accept any excuses from retailers who are overwhelmed by a rush of orders. Despite the challenges of providing quality shipping services, top retailers can succeed by implementing various initiatives, according to Jason Hodges, founder and president of Auctane LLC, a provider of cloud-based shipping solutions. Hodges, who has been building ecommerce software since 1996 for small and large retailers, suggests sellers consider implementing the following five strategies to ensure that their shipping processes run at peak efficiency during the busy holiday season.

1. Batch printing for more efficient shipping.

Batch printing of labels is infinitely more efficient than printing them one at a time. Labels also can be customized to include order numbers, or SKUs, which allow shipping staff to better identify products.

2. Software solutions to consolidate orders.

Retailers that rely on various channels for the distribution of products gain the benefit of reaching a wide net of customers, but they also introduce complexity into their shipping processes. Instead of keeping a login and password for each marketplace or shopping cart, some retailers are turning to software solutions that properly consolidate orders. Top software providers will feature tools that allow timely tracking and one-click labels for maximum efficiency.

3. Shipping deadlines are vital.

Every year, major carriers announce their holiday shipping deadlines which provide retailers with set times for order drop off. Retail managers should hold meetings with staff members to ensure everyone is aware of these deadlines and how each of their actions affects the company’s ability to meet those deadlines.

4. Thermal printers for speed and ease of use.

Thermal printers provide retailers with a clean and fast method of producing large volumes of barcodes and labels. While thermal printers might have a greater upfront cost than typical laser printers, the savings due to no ink cartridges and the device’s reliability make it a smart long-term choice.

5. USPS SCAN form for better tracking.

The SCAN (Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice) form from the United States Postal Service puts shipments together under a single barcode. By consolidating the shipments together, tracking information can appear for all packages, allowing retailers to share tracking information more easily. Customers who wait until the last minute to order their holidays gifts will appreciate shipping confirmations. With the USPS SCAN form, all batched orders will appear as “Shipment Accepted” along with time and data markers.

For many retailers, the timely and efficient fulfillment of orders is of utmost importance to the viability of the entire business. At no time is quality shipping more important than during the holidays. Retailers that are proactive in setting up their shipping procedures will be best positioned to earn significant revenue and grow a base of satisfied customers.

Auctane’s premier solution, ShipStation, integrates with marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon, Sears, Etsy, and Buy.com as well as numerous shopping cart platforms to provide a seamless shipping process for online merchants.

holiday sales shipping
Share. Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleSnap Capp
Next Article Couch Commerce New Purchasing Trend

Related Posts

Retail Success with 2022 Black Friday & Cyber Monday

December 5, 2022

Creating a Top Tier Loyalty Program

November 29, 2022

How to Prepare for Holiday Returns

November 28, 2022
Sign Up for Buyer Updates
WholesaleCentral.com

Join the Buyer's Network

Get news & updates only for retailers.

Latest Posts

Amazon Return Pallets For Sale: How to Profit

March 20, 2023

2023 Wholesale Apparel Trends

March 14, 2023

Top Wholesale Easter Products

February 27, 2023

The Future of Sustainable Manufacturing is a Hybrid Approach

February 23, 2023

Make Money with Foreign-Trade Zones

February 22, 2023

Overstock Liquidations

January 25, 2023
how-to
Wholesale 101 for Buyers

Amazon Return Pallets For Sale: How to Profit

March 20, 202311 Mins Read

A big trend among some online sellers is buying Amazon return pallets and overstock and…

Product News

Overstock Liquidations

January 25, 20236 Mins Read

Overstock inventory refers to the excess goods or merchandise that a retailer has on hand…

Retail News

5 Essential Tax Season Preparation Tips

January 24, 202310 Mins Read

Are you ready for tax season? April 18 is approaching quickly, and many day-to-day decisions…

Wholesale 101 for Buyers

How to Create a Google Business Profile

January 18, 20236 Mins Read

Looking for new ways to get your brand noticed? Creating a Google Business Profile can…

  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Find Wholesale Sources
WholesaleCentral.com

Join the Buyer's Network

Get news & updates only for retailers.

Follow Us:

Copyright © 2023. Sumner Communications, Inc..

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.