Tariff unpredictability has thrown a proverbial wrench in peak season planning for 2025. Earlier this year, retailers rushed to frontload inventory in anticipation of shifting tariff deadlines, only to face another challenge: consumer sentiment. After trending downward through much of the spring, demand rebounded unexpectedly in June, leaving analysts and retailers alike scratching their heads. If there’s one thing retailers know about the 2025 peak season, it’s that they have to prepare for the unpredictable. 

There are some bright spots for opportunity, however. Not unlike those early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, agility always wins during uncertain times. The retailers who will thrive this holiday season are those who maximize flexibility, not just in pricing and promotions, but also in fulfillment. That’s why it’s more critical than ever for you to ensure that your same-day delivery offerings don’t leave big and bulky items behind.

Why big & bulky can’t be an afterthought

Traditionally, oversized items like TVs, fitness equipment or small furniture have been excluded from same-day delivery programs. After all, they’re a pain to deliver, so many retailers treat them as logistical outliers, limiting delivery options and adding friction to the buying process. And yet, recent Roadie research shows that nearly 37% of retailers who say big and bulky products make up 20% of their catalog still restrict same-day delivery of these items.

That gap is risky. If a shopper can get a flat-screen TV or treadmill delivered today from a competitor but has to wait three to five business days with you, you just lost a customer. During an unpredictable holiday season where every sale matters, failing to offer same-day delivery on these categories could mean losing both revenue and customer loyalty.

Oversized items are also often higher-margin goods — yet another reason to give them same-day priority. Excluding them from expedited delivery options can stifle your profitability at precisely the time your business needs it most. With tariffs and shifting demand clouding forecasting models, leaving money on the table just isn’t an option.

Same day, without the headaches

The good news is that big and bulky doesn’t have to mean complex or costly. In fact, you can leverage a mix of solutions, such as Roadie and UPS, for a more flexible way to fulfill all your peak season orders. RoadieXD™, for instance, helps retailers expand same-day delivery to include their entire catalog, from small accessories to oversized goods, without hidden fees or operational headaches.

Unlike traditional delivery networks that struggle with oversized items, RoadieXD™ leverages a flexible, on-demand delivery model that scales to fit products of all shapes and sizes. In other words, that must-have sneaker model, newest fitness equipment or gaming system can make it to its final destination in record time before the holidays. That’s thanks to drivers in the Roadie network who show up for the delivery with the right vehicle and the right equipment needed to handle these often-awkward or exciting goods. 

Using RoadieXD™ gives you the ability to provide a consistent same-day experience across your portfolio, ensuring customers don’t face confusing exceptions or unnecessary delays, particularly during peak season. 

The result for your end customer? A positive, seamless delivery experience of the goods they want, when they want them — without surprises at checkout. For your business, it means competitiveness without compromise.

Competing in an uncertain peak

This holiday season won’t reward rigid playbooks. With tariffs in flux and consumer sentiment shifting quickly, the ability to adapt will be the deciding factor. By offering big and bulky same-day delivery, retailers not only meet rising consumer expectations but also unlock new revenue streams when demand patterns are at their least predictable.

Excluding oversized items from same-day might feel like a safe or cost-saving measure, but it’s actually the opposite. It risks losing sales and undermining your profitability at a critical moment.

As 2025’s peak season ramps up, retailers of any size can’t afford to hold back parts of their inventory when consumer preferences are anything but predictable. And by using RoadieXD™, retailers can offer same-day delivery for their full product portfolio — big, bulky and everything in between — ensuring they stay agile, profitable and customer-first during the most unpredictable peak season yet.