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A Timeline Plan for Small Businesses: Preparing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shipments

Amanda Pharis -

The busiest shopping days of the year—Black Friday and Cyber Monday—are rapidly approaching, and for small businesses, this season represents a massive opportunity to boost sales. However, to ensure that your customers receive their orders on time and without delays, it's crucial to have a well-thought-out timeline for ordering shipping boxes and managing the shipping process.

At CustomBoxes.io, we know how important it is to have your shipping boxes ready to go. Here's a detailed timeline and plan to help you prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shipments in 2024.

Timeline for Preparing Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shipments

Phase 1: Pre-Planning (September - October)

  1. Review Inventory and Sales Forecasts
    • Analyze your product inventory and determine how much stock you need to prepare for an expected surge in orders. Identify your most popular products from last year and assess sales trends to make data-driven decisions.
  2. Order Shipping Boxes Early
    • Ensure you have enough shipping boxes ready before the rush hits. Given our standard production lead times (7-9 business days) and potential delays during the holiday season, we recommend placing your order for standard shipping box sizes before October 18. For special box sizes, consider ordering earlier, with an extended production lead time deadline of October 6.

Phase 2: Preparing for Promotions (Mid to Late October)

  1. Finalize Promotional Plans

    • Plan your Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions, including special offers, discounts, or limited-time deals. Ensure that your marketing campaigns, email, and social media promotions align with your shipping capabilities.

  2. Order Additional Packaging Supplies

    • Along with shipping boxes, order additional packaging materials like packing tape, labels, and void fill materials. This will ensure that you're fully stocked and prepared to handle an influx of orders.

  3. Update Your Shipping Strategy

    • Review your current shipping strategy. If you need to offer express or expedited shipping for last-minute orders, now’s the time to ensure that these options are readily available to your customers.

Phase 3: The Countdown (Early November)

  1. Test Your Fulfillment Workflow

    • Run a test of your fulfillment process by packing and shipping a few sample orders. This will help you identify any bottlenecks or inefficiencies in your shipping workflow. Ensure that your staff is trained and familiar with the fulfillment process.

  2. Finalize Your Shipping Deadlines

    • Communicate clear shipping deadlines to your customers. Let them know the last day to order if they want their packages delivered before Christmas. Posting these deadlines on your website, social media, and email newsletters can help set clear expectations.

  3. Track and Manage Orders

    • Set up systems to efficiently track, manage, and fulfill orders as they come in. Ensuring your e-commerce and inventory management software is in sync will save you time during the busy season.

Phase 4: Black Friday Week (November 24-30)

  1. Monitor Inventory Closely

    • Stay on top of your inventory levels and monitor any products that are selling out faster than expected. Make sure to have your shipping boxes on hand to quickly fulfill orders as they come in.

  2. Ensure Timely Fulfillment

    • For Black Friday orders, it’s best to aim for fast fulfillment so that customers receive their packages as soon as possible. Keeping up with the influx of orders early will reduce the stress of last-minute shipments later in the holiday season.

  3. Prepare for Cyber Monday

    • Cyber Monday (December 2) is just as critical as Black Friday, so have your team prepared for another spike in orders. Ensure that your shipping boxes are organized and your team is ready to pack and ship with speed.

Phase 5: Post-Black Friday and Cyber Monday (Early December)

  1. Check Shipping Box Inventory Again
  • After the Black Friday and Cyber Monday rush, assess your remaining supply of shipping boxes. If necessary, place a re-order by December 2 to ensure you have enough to meet the holiday shipping deadlines.
  1. Manage Holiday Shipping Cutoffs
  • For standard shipping, communicate to your customers that the last day to order is December 17 for UPS and FedEx Ground. If customers need express or overnight shipping, inform them of the corresponding cutoff dates to ensure delivery by Christmas.
  1. Handle Customer Inquiries and Tracking
  • Set up an easy-to-access customer service channel for inquiries about orders and shipping times. Provide customers with tracking numbers and updates to reduce anxiety about holiday deliveries.

Conclusion: Prepare Now to Win the Holiday Season

With the right timeline in place, you can manage the busy holiday season without stress. Preparing early, from ordering your shipping boxes to setting clear shipping deadlines, will help ensure that your customers receive their packages on time and in perfect condition. By following this timeline, small businesses can make the most out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and deliver a smooth, successful holiday shopping experience.

Post-BF/CM Key Deadlines for Small Business Shipping

Critical shipping deadlines for delivery before December 24:

  • USPS Ground Advantage™: December 14
  • First-Class Mail®: December 14
  • Priority Mail®: December 16
  • Priority Mail Express®: December 20
  • FedEx 2Day® & FedEx 2Day® AM: December 20
  • FedEx Express Saver®: December 19
  • FedEx Ground®: December 17
  • FedEx Home Delivery®: December 17
  • FedEx Ground® Economy: December 13
  • UPS® Ground Shipping: December 17
  • UPS 3 Day Select®: December 18
  • UPS 2nd Day Air®: December 20
  • UPS Next Day Air®: December 22

At CustomBoxes.io, we’re here to support your shipping needs. Get started today by placing your order for custom shipping boxes to ensure a smooth holiday fulfillment process!