Wrap It Right and Deliver On-Time

-

A Handmade Seller's Handbook to the 2023 Holiday Season





The twinkling lights, the scent of pine, the joy of gift-giving, a deluge of orders, and customers clamoring to get your products made, shipped, and delivered immediately. Yes, the holidays are upon us! If you find yourself caught up in the whirlwind of holiday excitement and stress, barely able to catch your breath, then this article is for you. Not only will it carve out a precious moment for you, but it will also guide your business through the 2023 holiday season and into the new year.



Communicate Joyfully


Everyone knows that communication is key, but not everyone remembers to communicate joyfully. Even if you aren’t feeling joyful yourself, it is important to keep your communication with your customers upbeat and positive. Start communicating with your customers early. Keep them in the loop by sending out newsletters, updating your website, and keeping a presence on social media. A simple, friendly reminder that your handmade products would be perfect gits can make all the difference. Always include information about your shipping deadlines. It creates a sense of urgency and gives your customers critical information about when their gifts will arrive. Neither them nor you would like their gifts to arrive too late. Your customers will be unhappy and you could end up with a stack of returns.


Dazzle with Express Options

For those eleventh-hour shoppers, provide expedited shipping options if at all possible. You’ll need to add an additional cost for more expensive shipping, but it will cater to the procrastinators that are probably panicking and would be happy to pay more to get their gifts on time. If your products are made-to-order but are not personalized, consider making some in advance so that they are ready to ship as soon as they are ordered. 




Know Your Shipping Deadlines


Time moves fast this time of year. Staying informed about shipping deadlines is the first step to ensuring your handmade treasures arrive in time for the holidays. Here's a quick overview:

  • UPS® Holiday Shipping Deadlines:

    • UPS 3 Day Select®: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
    • UPS 2nd Day Air® services: December 20-21, 2023 (with Saturday Delivery options)
    • UPS Next Day Air® services: December 21-22, 2023 (with Saturday Delivery options)

  • USPS® Holiday Shipping Deadlines:

    • USPS Ground Advantage™: Saturday, December 16, 2023
    • First-Class® Mail: Saturday, December 16, 2023
    • Priority MailⓇ: Monday, December 18, 2023
    • Priority Mail ExpressⓇ: Wednesday, December 20, 2023

  • FedEx® Holiday Shipping Deadlines:

    • FedEx Ground Economy: Wednesday, December 13, 2023
    • FedEx Express Saver: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
    • 2Day & 2Day AM: Wednesday, December 20, 2023
    • FedEx SameDay: Friday, December 22, 2023


Curate Bundles and Exciting Packaging


Boost your sales and offer a hassle-free gifting experience by curating holiday bundles or gift sets. This encourages larger purchases, showcases your products in a cohesive way, and makes shopping much easier for the last minute shopper. Do not forget about the packaging and transform it into a festive experience. If the extra materials and time is cost prohibitive for your business then offer it for a small fee as an add-on service. Stock up on holiday-themed boxes, tissue paper, and ribbon to add an extra touch to your orders. If your customer waited until the last minute to order their gift they probably aren’t going to put much effort into wrapping it. Unwrapping should be as fun and exciting as the gift itself!



Extend a Helping Hand


As the holiday rush intensifies, be ready to provide exceptional customer support. Consider extending your customer service hours to accommodate different time zones and handle any last-minute inquiries promptly. If your business is just you or you aren’t able to extend your hours for other reasons, then be sure to let your customers know how quickly they can expect a response. You can do this with email auto-replies and on the platforms on which you sell. Remember that providing outstanding customer support is not just about addressing issues. It's about creating a positive and memorable experience for your customers, especially during the holiday season. This means that you need to be mentally and emotionally in the right frame of mind to provide excellent support. Schedule time for yourself so that you can unwind and are able to enjoy the season. If you are stressed or unhappy it will come across in your communication with your customers no matter how much you try to hide it. 





Express Gratitude in Every Order


Include a heartfelt note expressing gratitude for your customers' support. A personal touch goes a long way and adds a special touch to your handmade creations. If the gift is being sent directly to the gift recipient, then send a quick thank you to your customer through email or the messaging system on the platform where they placed the order.



Get Ready for Sales After the Holiday


Don't let the momentum fade after the holidays. Many people receive cash and gift cards as presents and will be buying gifts for themselves well into the new year. Others will be returning gifts and using the funds to purchase something else. Plan for post-holiday promotions or sales to encourage customers to continue shopping in the coming weeks and months. Depending on what you sell you might be able to get more regular customers for the rest of the year.



Happy Holidays to You and Your Customers


The holiday season is usually the best time for handmade sellers to keep their business profitable. With a strategic approach, you can make it both joyous for your customers and prosperous for your business. By weaving these tips into your holiday strategy, you'll not only navigate the last-minute hustle but also create memorable experiences for those who choose your handmade creations as their special gifts.



Here's to a successful and joy-filled holiday season for you and your handmade business!




This article is provided by Vendio Handmade, a multi-channel solution designed for crafters, makers and artists and their business. With this fully-featured tool, handmade entrepreneurs will list faster, save money and sell more.


Want to stay connected with us, get the latest handmade news, tips and updates for your business? Follow-us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more.



About the authors

Nathan Wood is the manager of customer support for Vendio Handmade, Vendio and Storenvy. He has over 15 years of experience helping small and medium sized businesses, and is passionate about helping sellers succeed.

Silvia Popa is Product Manager at Vendio and Vendio Handmade

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to transform your crafts business into a luxury handmade brand

-
Image
  Have you noticed that most luxury brands have a lot in common with the handmade industry? They produce and sell beautiful and often unique products, they definitely have part (if not all) of their product made by the hands of an artisan, they pay extra attention to the customer’s experience, the quality of the product is perfect, the product has a high value, they put a lot of passion into defining, creating, and perfecting their product...the list goes on. So… since you already have these things for your handmade brand and business, what is really stopping you from becoming a luxury artisan? How can you transform your crafts business into a successful luxury handmade brand? Here’s our take…. “Luxury is in each detail” … We couldn't agree more with Hubert de Givenchy. From the first thought about your luxury handmade product, you need to focus on its quality and how to make it the perfect product for your clients. Use only premium materials, enhance your production flow, spend ti
Read more

Holiday Selling Guide with Tips and Tricks for Handmade Sellers

-
Image
  When most people think of the word “holiday” it inspires visions of family, friends, food, and often presents and shopping. The details will change depending on the person and the culture from which they come. But it is nearly universal that the word conjures memories and feelings of happiness. Most of us that sell professionally share these feelings when we hear the word “holiday”, but with an overlay of urgency and sometimes stress. It is our job to help bring that happiness to fruition and create those memories for others so that they can look back at them with fondness in the future. Holidays are certainly not about shopping and gift giving. However shopping and gift giving often supports what any given holiday is about. Handmade sellers have the opportunity to bring uniqueness and a personal touch to this aspect of the human experience. As a handmade seller it’s likely you’ve already perfected your art, or at least have progressed to the point where you excel at it above mos
Read more

Master the Art of Capturing the Beauty of Handmade

-
Image
Photography tips for your handmade products In the world of handmade products, where each creation is a labor of love, the power of photography cannot be underestimated. A well-captured image can look alive on the screen, allowing potential buyers to truly appreciate the details and uniqueness of your creations. In this guide, we’ll share photography-related advice that will help you showcase your handmade products in all their beauty and increase your chances of converting visitors into loyal customers. 1. The Magic of Light Light holds the most significance in photography, and is especially important when photographing products. Opt for natural light whenever possible – set up your shooting area near a window that lets in diffused sunlight. This type of light helps reveal textures and colors accurately, making your products look more inviting. 2. The Right Background Choose a clean and simple background that doesn't distract from your product. A plain white backdrop is a classic
Read more