Have you prepared your business logistics for the last quarter of the year?
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, New Year’s Eve… there is a whole series of events that move the market a lot. That’s why you need effective logistics strategies. Strategies that can have a positive impact on the results and success of your business.
How would you like to work with a dedicated partner that understands your business? Get ready for the e-commerce boom. Read this post to find out more.
Year after year, the frenzy of discounts, promotions and opportunities grows. Right after the summer, when some people are still on holiday, the preparations for the peak season – the high season for international trade and, consequently, for transport and logistics – begin. This is, after all, the time of year when sales are at their highest.
What are the main EVENTS in the last quarter of the year?
Golden Week
- During this time, production in China stops and goods are not delivered.
- In the run-up to Golden Week, freight rates skyrocket.
- Due to the lack of space on ships, air freight is in high demand.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
- These are some of the days of the year with the highest sales.
- Before these two dates at the end of November, retailers must have a sufficient quantity of goods in stock.
Christmas and New Year
- In addition to the need to increase production capacity to meet the increase in demand, bookings should be made as far in advance as possible, taking into account possible increases in freight rates, available space/equipment and potential supply chain disruptions.
- Immediately after Christmas, in January, the Chinese New Year begins and the logistics processes for the FEWB/EU trade are even more intensive.
Chinese New Year
- Celebrated at the end of January/beginning of February, most employees are on holiday this week.
- Orders should preferably be placed at the end of last year for goods which are due for delivery in Europe in February, March and April.
- Bookings should also be booked as far in advance as possible to avoid delivery delays and excessive costs.
What are the best practices during Peak Season?
- Prepare a few months in advance to manage the increase in demand. Analyse the history, the seasonality of the goods and the best selling products.
- Plan and organise production in advance to optimise stock levels.
- Due to possible delays, interruptions and cancellations, consider other alternatives to pre-arranged transport.
- Choose a destination other than the one planned. This will allow the rest of the transport to be carried out by truck or plane.
- By establishing a partnership with a logistics company such as OLIGARGO, you can significantly reduce your worries about the collection and delivery of goods, the completion of customs documentation and the transport of goods to their final destination.
Sources:
Forto. (2022). Peak Season: How to prepare your logistics for the peak season. Consulted on October 3, 2023, at: https://forto.com/en/blog/peak-season/
Kardinal (2022). What is peak season? Consulted on October 3, 2023, at: https://kardinal.ai/what-is-peak-season/
Royale International (2021).Peak Season Challenges for International Shipping. Consulted on October 3, 2023, at: https://www.royaleinternational.com/2021/11/peak-season-challenges-for-international-shipping/
USA Today Money. (n.d.). Black October is here: Transport delays, labor shortages slow supply chain as holiday shopping begins. Consulted on October 3, 2023, at: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/10/10/supply-chain-issues-holiday-shopping-season/8233775001/
