How online retailers can tackle influx of Christmas orders
E-commerce is thriving and no more so than during the festive period. According to the latest research, more than half of Brits prefer to do their Christmas shopping online, as it offers a quicker and easier purchasing process.
Reports show that in 2016 online sales soared in the week before Christmas, seeing a growth of over 50%. Further findings reveal online spending over the holiday season totalled £25bn that year; more than triple the amount in 2011.
The Christmas season is the busiest time of year for many traders and is an increasingly important period for making sales that can sustain a business throughout most of the following year. It’s not just presents people are ordering for their loved ones: custom Christmas cards sent straight to the addressee without ever having to be handled by the sender, Christmas food delivered right to your doorstep, subscription boxes such as beer and cheese, and many other online services are growing in popularity.
Emily Christian, Sales Assistant at WePack, commented: “The high volume of orders during the month of December can cause online retailers to buckle under pressure and succumb to the stress of getting all the packages ready and shipped on time.”
A lack of suitable equipment, staff and space to cope with the increase in Christmas retail orders puts e-commerce brands at risk of losing customers and damaging their reputation. Outsourcing some of the burdens to a contract packing company can prevent this, and ensure online retailers meet the increased customer demand during the busy Christmas period.
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Getting Christmas deliveries right
Andy Hooper, Chief Executive of Global E-commerce Experts, says: “Online shopping is just less hassle and grief. You can often choose a delivery slot on a date and time that suits you so you don’t have to go out in the cold winter’s night and can instead spend that time with friends and family.”
A survey by WePack found:
- Just over a quarter of people (28%) consider online shopping more convenient than shopping in bricks-and-mortar stores
- Almost two-fifths (37%) said they prefer to browse in physical stores
- One in 10 people said they don’t want to deal with crowds when doing their shopping
- Just over a tenth (12%) of people said they like to shop from the comfort of their home
- Less than 10% of respondents were worried about a Christmas delivery arriving late and damaged when shopping for presents
Andy adds: “A typical mistake made is that the wrong orders are sent to the wrong place. Those mistakes aren’t common because of technology, but they do happen. It’s inevitable.”
Although many start preparations in November or even earlier, findings from a study in 2019 reveal that more than one in 10 people left their shopping until the week leading up to Christmas. But this only adds to the pressure on online retailers not to make errors that could spoil somebody’s Christmas Day.
“The consequences would depend on the customer. But if you’re shipping out an Xbox for a little child’s Christmas present and they don’t get it on time, the customer is probably going to be angry,” Andy continues.
How to protect products from damage
A rushed packaging job could result in damaged goods during transit or compromise the products themselves. This process must be completed efficiently every time to maintain superior quality.
Emily adds: “Primary packaging keeps [the product] airtight to protect it from contamination, keeps it fresh and presents it well so it looks attractive to the customer. This can come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the product it needs to hold.
“It’s important to choose a suitable sized delivery box so that quite a few items can be packed into it. Make sure there isn’t room for the components to move, without them being squashed. Products are often enclosed in a pallet wrap which is waterproof and holds them together.”
Whether e-commerce brands are shipping their online orders to individual shoppers or in bulk to stockists, certain safety measures must be put in place to ensure products reach their final destination safely. Applying corner posts, card dividers in boxes and double-wrapping heavy items can be effective, while bubble wrap can minimise movement within the delivery box and prevent breakages.
Emily commented: “A contract packing company will ensure the products are sufficiently protected and offer advice on how to minimise packaging so more items can be shipped at a time.”
Quality checks should be conducted before items are sent for delivery to highlight any potential problems. This might consist of caps not being tightened correctly, which could result in leaks, or fragile glass bottles not being protected sufficiently.
Damages often lead to the brand having to complete returns or replace the broken items while losing the value of the original product.
Add a festive design
Altering their packaging design during the festive season can help set brands apart from the competition. A unique design can create a fun unboxing experience, resulting in consumers promoting it on social media and generating free publicity.
To incorporate the festive merriment and give consumers a happy surprise when they receive their orders, online retailers should get creative. This could entail incorporating Christmas iconography into the design or giving customers the option to personalise the packaging.
For a touch of luxury, the packaging material could be altered. Glass is often used for premium products. An extra gloss or matte finish could be applied to glass for additional extravagance.
Brands could also use festive colours, glitter or ribbons to evoke the Christmas spirit. It’s also a bonus for consumers if the packaging acts as gift wrap.
Andy adds: “Bigger brands probably have the capacity to add a festive design to their products or packaging because of the volume of stock they ship. However, smaller brands may not be able to because they don’t want to be left with festive packaging after Christmas.
“Retail stores often have Christmas carrier bags but you don’t really get that online because there’s almost no point. The idea of doing it in a retail store environment is so others see people with the bags when walking around the shops, but you don’t need that when you ship from a fulfilment house to a customer. This saves costs for e-commerce companies because they can just use standard delivery boxes.”
Many shoppers use the opportunity of an online sale like a Black Friday special offer when deciding their Christmas gifts for loved ones. Being able to choose home delivery times, avoid long queues and keep out of the cold weather are among the top reasons why customers turn to web stores from November onwards.
E-commerce brands need to be prepared for a sudden influx of orders during the lead-up to Christmas. To ensure the quality of the packaging doesn't fall short, retailers should consider outsourcing the job to experts, allowing them to deliver the best possible all-around service to their customers.
Related content:
- Seasonal packaging: Is it beneficial for businesses?
- How packaging must change to cope with the growth of e-commerce deliveries
- How to create the perfect unboxing experience – choose the right packaging
To find out more about our contract packing services please contact WePack on 0115 852 9000 or get in touch via the form below.