It’s not time to panic about the holidays…yet.
See part one about holiday planning here
In early September I sat down to order all of my packaging for the holidays and crossed my fingers. My normal timing is to wait until October to order shipping supplies for the holidays.
It’s one part a cash flow issue (September can be a slow sales month) and one part space considerations – in a downsized studio space, I run out of storage for the bulkier containers pretty quickly.
But this year is different, so I moved up my ordering dates to September.
I couldn’t deny that I needed all of my packaging and I needed it soon. I was down to barely enough gift boxes to limp through to the end of the year, a half a spool of my favorite ribbon, and I did not have enough of my very specific cardboard shipping boxes left.
I’m one of the luckier ones – my ribbon was only backordered for 2 weeks, my shipping boxes had only gone up by 5%, and the specific gift box that I order was no longer available in the color that I had been using for more than 6 years, but I was able to find a color that would work well enough to get me through the holidays.
Scroll down to see your holiday prep checklist
Who else is seeing delays?
The disruptions in the worldwide supply chain amount to some minor changes and inconveniences to my business, for others the disruptions have created even bigger issues.
Alana Rivera, CEO of Etta and Billie – a handmade soap company, told me about her shortages over the past year:
“Pump tops! Our lotion and body wash bottles were fine, but there was a huge shortage of the pump tops that we used. I found a source for new tops, but then had to change our bottles. In the long run, this wound up being a positive change, but it was a change that I wasn’t expecting to have to deal with and we had to make choices on the fly.”
There’s another advantage that the jewelry industry has – our raw materials are small, and don’t necessarily require large shipping containers to transport.
For Alana’s company, her raw materials are shipped in from overseas and in bulk. Lots of it was stuck in a cargo container or otherwise delayed because her raw materials (think shea butter) need to be processed after harvesting.
And since a lot of supply chain issues are actually labor issues, labor shortages and shut downs anywhere can disrupt global systems.
On top of supply chain disruptions, extended shipping times for USPS first class mail have already been announced, and this is the shipping method that so many of us rely on in order to be able to offer free or low-cost shipping to our customers. This leaves us with the possibility of even slower than normal shipping and delivery times for the upcoming holiday season.
The good news – It isn’t all doom and gloom
It is not too late to organize for the holiday season and beyond. I would never leave you hanging and panicking. Following along with the news about supply chain issues, and planning for them is how we get through this. So it’s mid-October, what can any of us do?
I asked Alana what she does to keep from scrambling in uncertain times:
“Start planning for 6 months out, and not just for the holidays. Supply chain issues will be with us for a while and you want to be able to make choices from a place of calm and not make choices reactively.”
One of Alana’s top tips when hit with a hiccup like this is to consider which items are non-negotiable (for jewelry designers, think metals, gas, oxygen and gemstones) and which items can be changed if needed (pouches instead of gift boxes, different colored packaging).
It’s all about priorities
The question of what would happen if you can’t get the metals that you need is much more dire than whether or not your gift boxes are the right color. Think about what you can do to satisfy your customers.
You might find yourself using your back up choices instead of your first choices for packaging, shipping labels and more- this is OK!
Your customers are concerned with getting their gifts in time for the holidays. They love the nice packaging you use, but will they be disappointed if they get a different colored gift box? Probably not. This holiday season I chose different color gift boxes, ones that are a little outside of my normal branded colors, but I think that my customers will like them anyway.
Even more importantly, I think that my customers will like the jewelry that’s inside of them.
Looking for where to start with your holiday prep?
Here is a short list of ways that you could have a smoother, less stressful holiday season:
Production
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Check in on your packaging and gift wrap supply – make some choices and order it today!
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Decide on your order cut off dates for your customers
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Do a quick metals inventory and place your orders.
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Order soon! And allow an extra week or two to receive your metals orders.
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Check on all of your suppliers this week!
Marketing
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Plan for a banner or notice on your website about your shipping cut off dates starting in November.
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Add the same language into your customer’s order notices – most eCommerce platforms like Squarespace, Wix and Shopify allow you to customize and modify your order notifications.
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Start softening up the ground by referencing shipping delays in November in your email blasts and on social media – encourage earlier orders.
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Write up a quick message now to send to any customers who order after your cut off date (it happens!)
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Doing this won’t guarantee their order arrives in time for the holidays, but sending a personal email keeps them in the loop and helps them know that you are on it.
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And lastly – be encouraged! Surveys are already showing that shoppers are more receptive this year to the idea of placing their holiday orders earlier. If you have packaging supplies and metals on hand, you’ll be prepared to fulfill the early orders too. Crossing even one of these items off of your list will ensure a smoother and more easeful holiday season
What are your biggest concerns about the upcoming holiday season? Drop a comment below and let me provide you with support!
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