Mothers Day is one of the busiest gift-giving holidays. If you’re not prepared, you could run into a lot of shipping or stocking issues, which could lead to lost revenue and trust from your customers. To help prepare you for the influx of online orders due to the pandemic, we’ve made this list so you can stay ahead of the game during the Mother’s Day rush.
Map Out Your Delivery Process
Do you know what steps are in your shipping and delivery process? If the answer is no, you should figure that out immediately so you can reach the demand of your customer base. Everyone’s delivery process will look different, but it will usually involve preparing the order, organizing the delivery method, and shipping out the parcel.
For example, Bouqs flower delivery understands every little nuance of their process to get their products out on time consistently. Even within these steps, there are little nuances that can clog up the process. Start preparing ahead by printing shipping labels in bulk or setting up a local delivery service.
Stock up on What you Need
If you know a busy season is around the corner, start stocking up on packaging and shipping supplies early, so you don’t run out during a rush. During the holidays’ everyone is busy, and the last thing you’ll want to do is run out for more supplies at this time.
Figure Out Shipping Deadlines
Your website may state that you offer next-day shipping, but if the carrier you’re using can deliver on that promise, you’ll be stuck holding the bag. Look at all local and international shipping deadlines during the holidays and prioritize orders that will take longer to reach their destination. Often a discount if you can’t meet your said deadlines.
Have a Shipping Strategy in Place
During a busy holiday season, you’ll almost always recoup your losses, so prepare a shipping strategy in place that will turn window shoppers into buyers. For example, you could offer free shipping, flat rate shipping, exact cost shipping, local delivery, and international shipping. International shipping can be tricky, so always check how much you’ll pay at customs.
Use Weight to Calculate Shipping
Calculating shipping by weight is the most reliable way to determine how much an item will cost. If you know the weight of every single product in your store, it will take the guessing out of the customer experience. You also won’t have to pay extra taxes or dues on your products.
Speak Plainly About Delivery Options
More often than not, your customers are more concerned about the delivery time and not the price. Add a banner about shipping options, fees, and timeliness in your store, so they’re prepared if the item doesn’t reach them on time. You can also create a new page on your store that outlines tracking shipments, options, times, returns, refunds, and other info.
Have a Return Policy in Place
Some of your customers won’t be satisfied with their products, or they want to return something gifted to them. You need to calculate the cost of a returned item and whether or not you’ll offer exchanges. Outline these terms somewhere in their receipt or email.
Set up Tracking
Every single business should have order tracking if it’s available because then your customers know that if there is a delay, it isn’t on your end. Your customers will also know precisely when their item will arrive, so they can be home to answer the door. It’s also less likely your customers will ask you about shipping times if they’re already available.
Prepare for Customer Questions
No matter how much prep work you’ve put into your shipping process, you’re still going to get questions from your customers. Since shipping delays can’t be controlled, you’ll have to troubleshoot and support your customers when they happen. Prepare a general email in advance and add or subtract from it depending on the situation.