A retailer’s guide to the 2020 holiday season
The holiday shopping season is the most critical time of the year for most retailers – it can account for up to 40% of annual sales. 2020 has brought a dramatic shift to the way we do business, but small businesses can thrive – not just survive – this year. We've put together some helpful tools and resources to help you make this your best holiday season yet.
A pandemic holiday season means more e-commerce shoppers
Online Sales Are Expected to Soar
In 2019, e-commerce sales made up 14.6% of total holidays sales–up 18.8% from 2018, according to Mastercard. And now that we’re heading into a holiday season in a pandemic environment, online shopping is more important than ever before.
Shipping Providers Are Trying to Keep Up
The expected surge in e-commerce comes with its own difficulties: an already-strained USPS experiencing backlogs and delays and surcharges on shipping with FedEx and UPS, just to name a few.
Good news for small businesses
- With many experiential gifts off the table this year (like concert tickets and cooking classes), consumers will likely be relying on goods more than ever.
- Shoppers are eager to support small businesses this year. 67% of consumers say they’re committed to supporting small businesses more than they did pre-pandemic. Your neighbors want you to be successful – make it easy for your community to support you!
A 2020 survival guide: holiday season delivery for retailers
Planning ahead will be more important than ever for small businesses. Roadie offers a few tips for success in the busy 2020 holiday delivery season, along with a recommended timeline to make the most of the next few weeks.
Know your holiday shipping deadlines
Keep up to date on holiday shipping deadlines across major shipping providers so your deliveries get to where they need to be– on time.
Helpful resources for the holiday season
Here are a few resources to help you navigate the holidays and keep your business competitive in a scrambling market. Learn about tools and tips that could not only make the 2020 holiday season a success, but contribute to the future health of your business overall.