As Q4 draws near and the back-to-school hype tapers off, we need to look ahead to Black Friday and the Amazon holiday rush season. To get ready and make the most of the much-anticipated sales extravaganza, we’ve put together a few more handy tips for you.
Prime Day has taught us that it’s never too early to start planning for the Amazon holiday rush season. In a previous post, we mentioned that purging your inventory and setting up promotions are some of the most productive ways to prepare for Black Friday and the Amazon holiday rush season. Here are some other suggestions that can be used to maximize your selling success this Q4.
1. Work On Performance Metrics
Performance metrics should always take center stage in the lead up to Black Friday. Amazon recently changed its return policy, enabling buyers to return items without prior notice. The change may affect merchants selling electronics and other valuable items considerably. To counteract these effects, you could try some of Elena’s tips.
2. Check Product Reviews
Amazon is likely to carry out another review purge just before Christmas, as it does every year. To make sure things run smoothly, check your product reviews and single out any of them that may seem dubious. You could even try checking competing products’ reviews. A recent guest post from our partners at Efficient Era will help you spot the telltale signs of fake reviews.
3. Lookup Dispatch Deadlines
Amazon released a list of key 2016 shipment dates that applied to FBA sellers. This year’s list has not yet been made available. Still, it’s safe to assume that the delivery cut-off dates this year for Black Friday and Christmas shipments will be November 8th and December 1st, respectively.
But it’s not just FBA sellers who need to keep an eye on shipping deadlines. Private label sellers, in particular, need to make sure that their shipments are timely. For sellers relying on sea freight from Asia, for instance, shipments should be cleared at port by the end of September. For air freight, they have until the end of October.
4. Stock Up in Time
Your inventory storage arrangements will dictate when you should place orders with your suppliers. Whether you stock all your merchandise yourself or use another company’s warehouse, you need to minimize storage time. But you also need to list your items long enough to attract buyers and, hopefully, win the Buy Box.
5. Mind Those Transit Times
Bear in mind that deliveries must be much faster this year than in 2016, as mentioned here. Items sold on Black Friday with standard shipping must be delivered by December 7th. Likewise, customers will order items as late as December 13th with standard shipping, and expect them to be delivered by Christmas Day. If you’re not too thrilled at the idea of spending a fortune on faster couriers, maybe some of Irina’s tips will come in handy.
6. Subscribe
Subscribe to approved or official Amazon Youtube channels, like Sell on Amazon, Amazon Seller Education, and Amazon Seller University. Look for videos on this topic and anything else that’s relevant to your business. While you’re there, why not give our channel a peek?
7. Ask for Advice
Nobody knows everything there is to know about selling on Amazon. But there are people who have mastered some aspects of it. Some online seller groups brings together experts from across the e-tailing industry, and we contribute with advice and tips every now and then, as well.
Are you ready for the Amazon holiday rush?
This concludes our second list of tips on making the most of the holiday season with Amazon, but please follow the blog for next month’s installment. In the meantime, we’re happy to extend our Amazon Business Coaching services to you, if you feel you need a fast-track course into selling on Amazon.
Melanie takes an active interest in all things Amazon. She keeps an eye on the latest developments and keeps Amazon sellers up to speed.