You’re really in the thick of the holiday season right now. Everything you worked so hard to prepare your private label business is now working for you, from your marketing to your shipping. Don’t you wish you could just sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor?
Well, it’s not time to rest just yet. You still have a lot to do in the coming weeks so that you can emerge successful private label business in 2019. Let’s take a look at what you have to look forward to.
Panic Saturday
The last Saturday before Christmas is Panic Saturday, when everyone who hasn’t finished with their shopping list heads out to the stores or hops online in the hopes that something can be delivered in time.
Because Christmas Eve is on a Monday this year, you can expect Panic Saturday to really be more of a Panic Thursday, as shoppers look for one- and two-day shipping options in order to receive gifts in time to get them under the tree. That means you’re likely to experience a higher volume of orders during this time.
If you thought the rush was done after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, then you could be caught off guard. Fortunately, we’re here to let you know that more big sales are coming! Get ready with additional packaging and shipping items, and have extra staff on hand to answer any questions for moms, dads, and grandparents trying to buy the perfect gift for their loved ones.
Boxing Day Returns
The day after Christmas is almost as busy as the days leading up to the holiday, as recipients head back to the stores or hop online to return or exchange the items that didn’t quite fit or were duplicates.
That means you still don’t get to sit and rest for a bit, even after Christmas is over! You can plan now for this busy day, though, and cut down on the work you’ll need to do then. First, make sure your return and exchange policy is easy to find on your website and easy to understand. If you work with Amazon FBA, make sure their return policy is available on your website and social media platforms. Don’t make people search for the information they need. This will cut down on the number of phone calls and emails you’ll need to deal with.
If Amazon handles all your returns, then you don’t have to do a lot of the labor. You’ll need to be prepared to balance all the books, though, and keep your inventory information up to date. If you do handle your own shipments, however, then you’ll need to be ready for an influx of packages. Make sure you have additional inventory on hand so you can easily exchange items. Additional shipping supplies will help you get those exchanges back out and on the way to the gift recipient ASAP.
New Year’s Rush
Believe it or not, you could see a rush for purchases during the New Year, especially if your private label business involves anything that might be part of someone’s New Year’s resolutions. This could be vitamin or diet supplements, fitness equipment or apparel, organizational products, journals and calendars, sleep aids (noisemakers, eye masks, supplements), beauty aids and cosmetics, and hobby and crafting supplies.
Canton Fair
You may get to relax for a minute after all the sales and returns are complete, but don’t sleep too long! The Private Label University trip to the Canton Fair is April 19-27, 2019. We only have two spots left, so you should jump on this opportunity quickly. Will you be joining us? Reserve your spot as soon as possible.
It’s been a busy season so far, with much more hustle and bustle to come, but you can make it! We’re here to help. Give us a call or reach out by email if you need any tips or tricks, or you can also join our private Facebook group.
