For even the most successful online retailers, just hearing the words “holiday shipping” can throw them into a panic. And international shipping can be an even bigger challenge.
One of our own at Endicia recently shared some advice for e-tailers planning to ship internationally this holiday season. The main takeaway? With a little planning, you can alleviate the stress of the holidays, and even end up growing your business. Here, in broad strokes, are the tips:
1. Stay on top of international holiday shipping deadlines. Make sure your customers are aware of holiday shipping deadlines so that they don’t procrastinate on buying gifts for international friends and family.
Post these deadlines clearly on your website. That way, customers won’t be caught off guard if an item doesn’t arrive in time.
Don’t know this year’s holiday shipping deadlines? Check out the chart below for a list of cutoff dates from the U.S. Postal Service.
international shipping chart
To view the complete list of USPS holiday shipping deadlines, please click here.
2. Get your shipping technology in place. Shipping internationally is always easier when you’re not doing it by hand. There are many international shipping bans that you might not know about. For example, you can’t ship a deck of playing cards to Spain.
Automation technology makes it easy to navigate these bans since it alerts you before you try and ship a forbidden item. Plus, automation technology is an absolute life-saver when it comes to filling out customs forms.
Endicia integrates directly into your product database, fills out customs forms automatically once a label is printed and will pre-alert you if you try to ship a banned item.
3. Pad your package for the long haul. The holidays mean peak shipping season for many businesses, so it’s extra important to make sure your products are packaged properly, especially if they’re traveling around the world.
Make use of bubble wrap and Styrofoam packing peanuts. And if you can work in holiday-themed packaging, your recipients will appreciate the festive touch.
4. Track your shipments. People tend to get antsy when they’re waiting for a package, especially if it’s a time-sensitive holiday delivery coming from overseas. Provide relief to your customers by giving them the option to track their packages from pickup to final destination.
The USPS offers excellent end-to-end tracking services, providing an average of 11 scan events per package.
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