It’s beginning to look a lot like… Well, rush orders and next day delivery, if we’re honest!
From a business perspective, Christmas is the time for capitalising on high consumer demand as spending habits temporarily go overboard. As a result, now is the time to prepare your warehouse for the Christmas periods and the onslaught of rush orders.
For those who wish to not let Christmas throw them off their business game, here is a quick guide on how to ensure you are ready for what’s to come.
Early bird gets the delivery in time for Christmas day
Firstly, make yourself aware that your customers will be expecting their orders in time for the big day. This means you must have as much stock as you need ready to send out instead of stocking up last minute.
Clean, tidy, organise
As this is going to be the most active time of year for your business, be sure to give it a complete clean and tidy. Clear all aisles, exits and entrances to ensure space for efficient movement.
Last orders
Carefully plan when customers can make their last orders to ensure delivery before Christmas. Don’t run the risk of making promises you cannot keep.
Temporary assistance
If you find the workload is too much for your team over the Christmas period, it is always worth hiring temporary staff. Work with a local agency to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Packing
Don’t forget to stock up on all the packing materials you require. Don’t be afraid to add a little extra to ensure nothing breaks in transit. And if you buy too much, there will be plenty left over for January!
Deliveries
Speak to those in charge of your deliveries and where you get your products to find out the particular limitations and rules that may be in place over the Christmas period. Don’t make assumptions, as this can and probably will backfire.
Health and Safety
Health and safety regulations must be reinforced at this time of year as your staff will likely be working at a quicker pace to ensure products are delivered on time. As a result, safety considerations can slip, which is why it is important to prevent this from happening.
Contingency
It’s important to put contingency plans in place if you find yourself running into any issues such as energy supplies, IT system failure, broken-down machinery and more.
Have fun!
Finally, try to make the most out of this time of year. After all, it’s only a short amount of time before it’s out of the way and you can prepare yourself for January!
Get in touch with Monarch Shelving for all your warehouse needs.
