It’s Time to Start Planning for Holiday Shipping (Yes, Already)
The kids are barely back in school. Nobody has carved a pumpkin. And somewhere, someone is already putting out Christmas decorations.
Annoying? Maybe.
But when it comes to holiday shipping, they may be onto something.
For businesses that experience a fourth-quarter rush, August and September are exactly when packaging planning should begin. Waiting until orders start piling up to think about boxes, tape, and shipping supplies is a little like shopping for a Christmas tree on December 24. You might find one. You just may not like your options.
Planning early gives you time to get the right supplies, in the right quantities, at the right price—before everyone else needs them, too.
Start with Last Year’s Numbers
Before placing orders for holiday shipping supplies, take a look at last year’s fourth quarter. What did you use? What ran short? What did you have way too much of when January rolled around?
Then look at what’s changed.
If sales are up 20 percnt this year, ordering the same quantity of shipping supplies you used last holiday season probably isn’t going to cut it. New products, different package sizes, additional sales channels and promotional plans can all affect what you’ll need.
Historical data gives you a starting point. What you know about this year’s business helps you build a better forecast.
Don’t Just Count Boxes
Boxes may be the most obvious part of holiday shipping, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle.
Think through the entire packaging process. That includes corrugated boxes, poly mailers, tape, labels, bubble wrap, stretch wrap and any other materials your team uses to get products out the door safely.
Running out of boxes is an obvious problem. Running out of labels can stop a shipping line just as quickly.
And don’t forget about the less noticeable supplies that suddenly become very noticeable when they’re gone. If employees have to improvise because you’ve run out of the right tape or protective packaging, you’re adding time and potentially increasing product damage during the busiest part of the year.
Buying in Bulk Can Pay Off
Once you have a solid forecast, ordering shipping supplies in bulk can offer several advantages.
Larger orders can help reduce per-unit costs and freight expenses while giving you a cushion when volume spikes unexpectedly. More importantly, you’re not scrambling to find whatever happens to be available when demand across the industry increases.
That doesn’t mean filling every available corner of your warehouse with six months’ worth of bubble wrap.
Good planning balances inventory with available storage space and expected usage. The goal isn’t to have the most packaging. It’s to have enough of the right packaging when you need it.
Holiday Packaging Is Part of the Customer Experience
The holidays also bring an opportunity to think about how your packaging represents your business.
For many customers, the package arriving on their doorstep may be their only physical interaction with your company. A crushed box held together with an excessive amount of tape doesn’t exactly scream, “We have everything under control.”
The right holiday packaging protects what’s inside while helping orders arrive looking professional. Properly sized boxes, dependable tape, protective bubble wrap and secure labels all contribute to a better delivery experience.
And when your shipping team has the correct supplies readily available, they’re able to work faster without sacrificing quality.
Plan for the Unexpected, Too
Forecasts are helpful. Crystal balls, unfortunately, remain unreliable.
A promotion could outperform expectations. A product could suddenly take off. A large customer might place an unexpected order. Weather and carrier disruptions can also affect shipping schedules.
Building some flexibility into your packaging inventory helps you respond without turning every surprise into an emergency.
That’s also where working with an experienced packaging supplier makes a difference. At Pinnacle Packaging, we help businesses look beyond today’s order and think about what’s coming next, from anticipated volume and lead times to storage and product selection.
Because the best time to discover you’re short on shipping supplies is not when 400 orders are waiting to leave the warehouse.
The holidays may still feel a long way off, but your shipping operation will be here before you know it. Start planning now, and when peak season arrives, you’ll be ready to pack, tape, label, and ship without the last-minute scramble.
Need help getting ahead of your holiday packaging needs? Contact Pinnacle Packaging today at (773) 235-6060 to make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need to keep holiday orders moving.