It’s no secret that the holidays make many small business owners anxious when it comes to distribution and shipping. There’s worry about increased volume, increased costs and possibility of delays from winter weather or driver shortages — all of which can add up to dissatisfied customers. Now is the time to prepare your holiday distribution strategy to mitigate these problems. Your strategy should include:

  • Preparing inventory for holiday orders. Assess what moved from your inventory in years past, how quickly it moved, and whether you met any challenges. Proactive inventory management software can help you avoid shortages.
  • Researching this year’s shipping rates and service fees. Don’t assume that this year’s fees will be the same as last year’s. Shop around for the most cost-effective options, but remember to include reliability and customer service in your assessment of different companies.
  • Reviewing holiday shipping schedules. Don’t forget that many carriers don’t deliver or significantly reduce the hours they will deliver on holidays. They may also suspend their policies for shipping guarantees during peak shipping times, too.
  • Making sure that all pallets are securely prepared. This means making sure you are using pallets in good condition and they are security wrapped to prevent losses and damage. All packages should be taped with reinforced packing tape and clearly labeled.
  • Being honest with customers. Don’t make promises to customers that you cannot keep when fulfilling customer orders. Move quickly to address any shipment problems and keep your customers updated with tracking notifications.
  • Covering your shipments with insurance. Damages from weather delays and other damages are not always covered by carriers. Don’t assume that your shipments are automatically covered, especially perishable shipments.

Including American Western Distributing in your business’s holiday distribution and shipping strategy will put you ahead of the game by reducing costs and streamlining your operations. Call us today for a consultation.