EAF Logistics

Happy Presidents’ Day! Whether you’re observing George Washington’s Birthday or just another workday as usual, the world continues to spin; consumers continue to make purchases and expect their online orders to be shipped and delivered. As an online retailer, how can you prepare for modified holiday shipping services while still meeting customer expectations?

Do your research. Aggregate a schedule of your shipping providers’ observed holidays. Most major shipping providers will post their annual observed holiday schedule at the end of the prior calendar year. Here are the 2023 USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL schedules. In addition to understanding their corporate shipping schedules, you’ll want to talk to your local representatives; here are a couple of questions you may want to ask:

• Will your delivery drivers be driving their routes?
• Will your pick-up drivers be driving their routes?
• Will your local depot have modified hours?

Once you’ve collected the pertinent information, decide how you want to handle order fulfillment. Do you operate with a fulfillment deadline? Frontloading fulfillment and shipping before your standard deadline will mitigate delayed delivery. Are your business’s holiday observances different than your shipping providers’? Fulfilling your open orders per your regular operating practices, and holding the shipments until your shipping providers resume operations, will demonstrate your commitment to your customers. Are your business’s holiday observances the same as your shipping provider, and do you intend to fulfill orders upon resuming normal operations after the holiday? Communicate this to your customers. When placing orders, consumers are often unaware of holiday shipping schedules. Posting your business’s observed holidays or a banner on your website can help reduce customer complaints and establish obtainable customer expectations.

In summary, do your research, make a plan, and communicate effectively. Now go chop down a cherry tree, eat a slice of cherry pie, or do whatever you’re supposed to do on Presidents’ Day, with the peace of mind that your business’s order fulfillment is operating smoothly.