How To Prepare For Shipping at Christmas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year but for those in the freight and logistics industry, it’s also the busiest time! With Christmas on the horizon, businesses are busy building up their stock to cope with demand, whilst also shipping out purchases to their customers. It’s therefore safe to say that this time of the year is the peak season of freight shipping.

Peak season can lead to shipping delays, an increase in freight costs and other interruptions, therefore it’s imperative that you’re prepared for importing and exporting goods during the holiday season to avoid these issues. We’ve put together a handy guide for how businesses can prepare for this season and what they need to consider.

Plan Ahead

As this is such a busy time of year for shipping, the best thing that any business can do is to plan ahead. Naturally, you want to ensure that your shipment is going to arrive at its destination in time, but there are a lot of factors that can end up causing delays. The main factor that can cause delays is the weather, which can be very unpredictable at times. In the past month alone we’ve experienced 3 storms, which caused significant shipping delays in some areas. 

We recommend keeping an eye on the freight and logistics market so that you’re aware of any developments that could affect your shipment whilst also ensuring that you ship your cargo with plenty of notice, giving 3-7 days of leeway to account for possible disruptions.

Use Online Tools and Resources

In today’s digital world there is an abundance of tools and resources available at your fingertips to allow you to monitor your shipments progress in real-time. At Jenkar, we offer our own cargo tracking tool so our clients can log in and see updates on the progress of their shipments and ensure they’re always kept in the loop.

Alternatively you can communicate directly with your freight provider for updates and progress on your cargo. Our friendly team is always happy to help our clients with any queries they may have. Simply get in touch to speak with a member of our team.

Account For Extra Stock

The Christmas period can begin in August for some businesses, carrying all the way through to the new year and the January sales. This means having to take into consideration the amount of stock you’ll need to cope with consumer demand and where this will be stored. This could require hiring extra space, such as a warehouse, for a short-term period. We offer a flexible warehousing storage solution from our 35,000 sq ft warehouse, based in Wakefield. Our warehousing service includes a complete stock management solution and collection and delivery services, making it the perfect option for businesses looking to acquire some extra storage space during the winter season.

Choose The Right Shipping Method

When preparing to ship internationally, you need to take into consideration the shipping methods available and which will be best for your cargo. If you’re working on a time limit and need something to be delivered quickly, then we highly recommend choosing air freight shipping. Shipping via air with Jenkar means that your cargo will arrive swiftly and reliably thanks to our streamlined operations and industry connections.

As everyone is hurrying to ship their goods worldwide as fast as they can, sometimes transit options that offer the fastest shipment times can be booked up pretty quickly. If you know you have a bit of wiggle room with your shipment, then perhaps choosing a slower transit method, such as sea freight, could be a better option for you as your cargo is less likely to be rolled over due to there being less demand.

Preparing for shipping during the holiday season can be stressful, but it is necessary to make sure that your goods are delivered on time, securely and reliably. To guarantee that this happens, you’ll also want to ensure that you’ve chosen the right freight shipping provider to provide you with a seamless service. 
At Jenkar, we can do just that. Whether you’re shipping by air, sea or road, we can assure you that your goods will get to wherever it needs to be in time. To start your journey with us and discover which shipping option is best for your business during peak season, get in touch with a member of our team.