As consumers we’re expected to spend a huge £5bn* over the 5 day cyber extravaganza ahead of Christmas. We’re using digital means to avoid the mass panic of the high street, therefore it’s expected that internet retail channels will continue to be increasingly strained during peak. As we start to look towards this busy time in the packaging industry, here are three ways you can prepare for the 2016 peak:
Be aware of the latest trends expected to hit during peak
Information provided by organisations like the IMRG and Salmon can be invaluable in helping you prepare. Click and collect services, for example, are expected to see an upturn in usage this year, so don’t forget about your packaging in this area.
Identify any pressure points
Knowing where your supply chain may experience issues will allow you to take remedial action. The IMRG and Salmon have identified that returns services in particular can be a cause for concern when considering the customer experience with 74% of consumers citing a good returns service as a buying factor.
Provide packing guidelines to your distribution centers
Unboxing research conducted by our parent company, Macfarlane Packaging, showed that 41% of retailers used too much packaging. Providing guidelines to packers can help minimise excess packaging usage, add to a consistent customer experience and reduce waste.
If need support throughout peak our Smartpack internet retail packaging team is here to help. The team was developed to provide solutions specifically for fast paced multi-channel retailers and 3PL businesses. We can help with issues such as continuity of supply and help alleviate any challenges you might be facing.
Simply call the Smartpack team on 01902 496666, email us or complete our contact form to start preparing for peak.
* Source: Internet Retailing http://goo.gl/pw0Uzd
