Best Practices for Holiday Shipping

Black Friday is here and that means holiday shopping is offically here. For our partner carriers like USPS and Canada Post the next few months are the busiest time of year with millions of parcels being mailed, shipped and delivered. Here are some holiday shipping tips to help you navigate the season.

Check your website

Year over year trends shows that more purchases are made on mobile devices than computers. It’s a good idea to see how your website works when viewed on a phone or tablet. Can your customers easily make a purchase on it with their phones?

Google offers a quick and easy evaluation of your retail website whether you sell online or in-store.

In addition, make sure your site is loading quickly. Walmart found that every second they cut off their load time resulted in a 2% increase in conversions!

Finally, customers crave clarity. A clear return policy, accurate product descriptions and transparency on shipping times will make transactions smoother for all.

Know your holiday shipping deadlines

Prepare for sales to pick up early. While many shoppers wait until the last minute to buy gifts, the majority of online purchases happen early in the season.

• 76% expect to spend the same amount or more this year as they did in 2022.
• Consumers also said they’re looking for frictionless experiences at each step of their purchasing journey with high importance on purchasing convenience, delivery speed (85%) and the brands with which they shop (63%).
  • Source
• Adobe released their online shopping forecast for the 2023 holiday season and cite holiday sales to increase nearly 5%

Find our recommended deadlines to get your shipments in before the holiday carrier cut-offs.

Check your inventory and supplies

Know your bestsellers. Stock inventory on popular items so that you can prepare. Stock up on packaging materials to get you through the holiday season and avoid last-minute rushes. Find discounted supplies on our online store: Chit Chats Supplies.

If you’re a Chit Chats client, preset your common package weights and dimensions in your account. Presets help you prepare shipments quickly and easily, and can be set up in just four clicks.

Prepare your shipments

Our branches (and those of every shipping provider!) become busier during the holidays. Dropping off packages earlier in the day can help you avoid crowds. Make sure all labels are easily readable and that your packaging is in good condition and the right size. While holiday gift wrapping is a nice touch it is not recommended as it can lead to shipment delays. Read more about our packaging and labeling tips to ensure your shipments get to where they need to go.

If you’re a Chit Chats client, remember to create batches when dropping off multiple shipments. And if you don’t already connect your ecommerce platform, learn how to connect eBay, Etsy, ShipStation, or Shopify store with your Chit Chats account to make adding shipments easier.

Compliance: Don’t ship your cookies

Holidays usually means an abundance of chocolate, cookies and candy, but remember that most carriers will have tight restrictions on shipping food.

Food of any kind cannot be shipped with Chit Chats when shipping to the U.S. or internationally.

Need a refresher on what can and cannot be shipped? Review our prohibited items and the Shipment Compliance Declaration.

Consider Opting for Insurance

More orders are always fantastic, but higher shipping volumes can also lead to more opportunities for an unexpected shipping update. Prior to shipping any of your packages, consider purchasing Chit Chat Insurance or opting for a postage option that includes some coverage from the carrier. Depending on what insurance your package falls under, you will be compensated for the value of the eligible shipment should a package go missing or arrive damaged. 

During the holidays, the possibility of items arriving damaged or getting lost in transit can be slightly higher than the rest of the year simply due to the higher volumes. Come January, stores will be fielding requests for refunds for undelivered packages. Purchasing insurance is an extra layer of protection and peace of mind for sellers who cannot afford to pay out of pocket for circumstances beyond their control. 

It is also important to communicate that this time of the year can be associated with longer delivery times. So while your package may have entered into the standard waiting period for filing a claim, consider waiting an extra 14 days before filing a claim. This will help give your shipment more time for delivery in the case there is an extended delay due to inclement weather or carrier delays.

Note: In the event that your package is delivered while the insurer is reviewing your claim, it may not be honored. 

Get started right away

It’s never too early to start prepping for the holiday season. The coming month will be busy for everyone but a little organization and with Chit Chats to help, it can be the best holiday season yet.

If you have any questions, contact us or dive into our Help & Support to find useful resources for making the most of our services.