The Ultimate Peak Season Shipping Playbook for Furniture Retailers
The retail peak season represents an opportunity like no other. But if you're a furniture retailer, it's not as simple as sitting back and reaping the rewards. To thrive, you'll need to jump a few unique hurdles, and preparing early is your best bet.
One of the biggest problems is that it's tougher to ship furniture during peak season. With so much retail competition, space comes at a premium. What's more, you won't have the leeway for mistakes — rescheduling is difficult and costly.
So, what should your game plan entail? Consider these fundamentals.
How to Get Your Head in the Game for the Peak Season
No matter whether you're a retailer or you make custom pieces in-house, you need to be ready to fulfill orders:
Be sure you've got the inventory.
Having to put things on backorder should be a rarity. If you're smart, you'll stock up on the items you plan on selling most — the great deals and popular seasonal products.
Forecasting product demand is also a must. Look at your history and your competitors' offerings to determine what sells during this time of year. If possible, use predictive analytics to get a numerical feel for what to expect, and adjust the model in real time.
Build out your logistics framework in advance.
Your logistics framework needs to be running smoothly before you come to depend on it. Don't wait until peak season to get set up!
At a bare minimum, your system needs to include:
Intelligent order tracking and management that integrates with your warehousing and shipping partner systems.
Service-oriented implementations that set clear customer expectations and communicate delivery times.
Customer feedback mechanisms that seamlessly handle reviews, returns, exchanges, and questions.
Strive for Warehouse and Fulfillment Center Readiness
Your warehouse needs to run like a well-oiled machine. But having the right facilities and equipment is only half the battle. Are you getting the most from your human capital?
Focus on efficient warehouse management.
Never neglect operational efficiency. Train your team members on how to place orders, query inventory, and field customer questions. Revamp your onboarding programs to cover topics like safe handling and proper packaging. By building workforce competency, you'll reduce the odds that disasters might sink you midstride.
There's another advantage to building a robust onboarding and training system. If you have to take on more workers to meet demand, you'll have an easier time showing them the ropes.
Partner With a Specialized Shipping Provider
No furniture retailer can do it all alone. Finding a reliable shipping partner is integral to your success, especially during the busy season.
Evaluate furniture shipping carriers.
Know the difference when it comes to shipping provider types. For instance, LTL and parcel carriers both offer terminal drop-off options and expedited services, but they're not equivalent!
LTL is better for heavy-weight items that require sturdier packaging. On the other hand, parcel shippers are more cost-effective when you're only shipping a few packages, and you get more frequent tracking updates. It may be wise to find multiple partners specializing in both options.
Don't be afraid to negotiate good rates.
Many carriers are willing to bargain with retailers. If you can provide the order volume, you may be able to strike a deal, so don't just settle for the sticker price! If you don’t have the volume to negotiate the rates you can partner with a shipping platform like Freight Club.
Find a partner that supports your technology stack.
Don't settle for finicky technology — during peak season, you won't have time to adjust your processes. Fine-tune your eCommerce integrations now. It may also be worth considering AI and automation tools to minimize inefficiencies — just ensure you create quantifiable metrics to measure your progress.
Master Proper Packaging and Furniture Protection
Peak season is hectic, so minimize your risks.
Safeguard your shipments with sturdy double-corrugated cardboard, foam inserts, and bubble wrap for lighter items. Where bending is a risk, secure items to rigid pallets with bands or straps. Always protect upholstery and fine materials using waterproof, scratch-resistant packaging.
When shipping large or high-value items, pallets are a must. The good news is that there are plenty of sustainable packaging options that do the job and make your brand look better to eco-conscious consumers. Considering flat packing for DIY assembly items is also a smart move for saving shipping space and reducing risk.
Remember Labeling and Documentation
Different carriers have different labeling requirements. As a general rule, cover the basics: your branding, weight, dimensions, and contents. You may also wish to include QR codes and other scannable marks that make life easier for your warehousing team.
Before shipping anything, always document its condition. This is especially true with antiques and upcycled pieces, but it's a good rule no matter what you ship. Establishing a paper trail keeps you covered if something goes wrong in transit!
Process Orders and Ship Furniture More Efficiently with Freight Club
You need capable order tracking and management systems but implementing them from scratch is a massive task. Automating order processing tasks can help you run more smoothly — but you have to get the system off the ground first.
This is where Freight Club can help. With our all-in-one shipping platform, you can effortlessly manage everything from quoting, booking, and tracking to complete claims management and shipping protection – all on one platform with zero subscription fees. Compare and access 40+ top LTL carriers at enterprise rates with no volume requirements. With our best-in-class analytics dashboard, Freight Intel, you can access in-depth data on your carriers’ and shipments’ performance at your fingertips, allowing you to make smarter decisions and reduce your shipping costs.
Conclusion
Peak season is a make-or-break opportunity for furniture retailers. If you want to get ahead and sustain your business for months to come, you'll do everything possible to capture revenue now. Boost your profitability by partnering with Freight Club, the all-in-one shipping platform. Speak to one of our shipping experts to learn more!
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