Holiday shopping has begun
Amazon’s “Prime Day” which traditionally is held in mid-July, was delayed this year and ran instead from midnight October 13th through the 14th. Their mega-sale gave third party retailers a much needed opportunity to make up for lost revenue due to coronavirus closures. It also generated mind blowing sales for online retailers, who were already seeing a boon due to more consumers shopping online.
By holding off having “Prime Day” until the fall, Amazon triggered rival big-box retailers like Walmart, Kohl’s and Best Buy to offer their own sales in October in order to compete. In one day, thanks to Amazon, the 2020 holiday shipping/shopping season just got kicked off before Halloween!
What does this mean for retailers?
In their recent 2020 holiday survey, global consulting firm AlixPartners discovered consumers plan to shop earlier and for longer than just November through December. Meaning typical in-person door-busters ‘are not likely [going] to be a thing’ (Source). “To prepare for the changes,” says AlixPartners senior vice president in the retail practice, Alexa Driansky, “retailers must focus their efforts on boosting supply-chain agility, breaking down organizational silos, and speeding up their ability to glean insights into demand from data.” (Source)
Third Party Logistics (3PL)
Since Amazon is also tightening capacity which is resulting in increased restrictions and fees (depending on product type, size, how quickly things sell, and other variables), retailers are seeking out ways to still list with the retail giant but maintain control of their product. 3PL warehouses are a viable option. They can handle receiving, pick/pack, shipping, and reverse logistics – all to specification using company specific branding (packaging, tape, materials placed into boxes, etc.). In this way business owners can pivot quickly, adjust and adapt their order fulfillment while staying compliant with Amazon’s stipulations.
At UCanTrade logistics is our business. We maintain well-managed, secure warehouses staffed with logistics professionals capable of meeting an individual company’s order fulfillment needs. We specialize in cross-border logistics and distribution to large retail locations throughout the USA. Please get in touch and let us know how we might be of service.
(Source: The Old Holiday Retail Season Has Become Meaningless)
(Source: Retail Viewpoint – Get Ready For A Holiday Season Unlike Any You’ve Seen Before)
