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How to Prepare Your Ecommerce Business for Black Friday in Canada
Bio: Purolator Inc. is a leading integrated freight, package, and logistics solutions provider. With over 60 years of delivering its customers’ promises, Purolator continues to expand its reach and renowned service levels and reliability to more people, more businesses and more places across the country and around the world. Purolator is proud of its Canadian heritage and is focused on sustainably positioning itself for future growth and success.
As we approach Black Friday 2024, merchants are facing a unique challenge—a shortened holiday shopping season. With Black Friday falling later in the year, retailers have fewer days to move inventory, fulfill orders, and meet customer expectations before the holidays. For ecommerce vendors, this condensed timeline amplifies the pressure on supply chain and shipping operations. As a trusted partner with over 60 years of experience in Canadian shipping, particularly in the retail vertical, Purolator understands the intricacies of peak season logistics.
With fewer days between Black Friday and the end of the holiday season, shoppers will likely order with heightened urgency. The demand for express shipping will increase, making it crucial for merchants to choose a shipping provider that offers reliable, scalable solutions. Purolator is positioned to support these elevated needs with an extensive network, residential pick-ups, and the capacity to handle peak shipping volumes efficiently. Make peak 2024 a success for your business.
Quick Facts:
- Approximately 40% of Canadians plan to go shopping this Black Friday, compared to about 43% of U.S. shoppers.
- Black Friday in Canada has 24% of shoppers planning to shop both online and in-store, while 17% plan to buy products in-store only and 9% aim to shop primarily online.
- Both Canadians and Americans are planning to spend the most on clothing and electronics compared to any other products during Black Friday Cyber Monday.
How to prepare for Black Friday with the right shipping partner
Regardless of whether your customers are based in Canada or the U.S., or whether you run an ecommerce business or brick-and-mortar store, Black Friday Cyber Monday is a sales opportunity you can’t afford to miss. But how do you overcome Black Friday shipping delays and other peak season challenges? And is your ecommerce site ready for it? By working with a North American shipping partner like Purolator, you’ll be able to:
- Prepare your ecommerce store for the holiday rush
- Access a robust supply chain that can deliver your packages to Canada, the U.S. and the world
- Manage transportation costs with flexible shipping options
- Offer an exceptional customer experience for Black Friday shoppers
- Streamline returns with hassle-free reverse logistics services
Here’s what you need to consider to make sure you’re prepared to deliver on the biggest shopping experience of the year.
Key takeaways
- Be ready for a rise in traffic as Black Friday deals go online
- Have a process strategy to handle influxes and avoid Black Friday shipping delays
- Prepare for Black Friday shipments with a robust packaging process
- Prepare your team for Black Friday Cyber Monday 2024 questions
- Don’t let transportation costs eat into your increased sales from Black Friday deals
- Why Purolator is the ideal shipping provider for Black Friday in Canada and beyond
- Elevate your Black Friday shipping strategy with Purolator
Be ready for a rise in traffic as Black Friday deals go online
This year has seen a huge rise in ecommerce sales. Global ecommerce sales are expected to hit $6.33 trillion worldwide, an 8.8% increase compared to last year—making it the third-fastest ecommerce growth rate since 2021. And online sales are still predicted to keep rising year after year.
With more consumers choosing to shop from the comfort of their own home, it’s important to ensure your online store is ready to handle the wave of visitors hunting for Black Friday electronics or Cyber Monday sales in 2024. Review your website well in advance to make sure you have enough time to address any issues before the big weekend.
- Is your website loading at adequate speed?
- Are prices up to date?
- Are shipping options accurate?
- Have you updated policies for Black Friday deals?
TIP: Work with a carrier who offers seamless integration, improving your ecommerce shipping efficiency from checkout to order fulfillment.
Have a process strategy to handle influxes and avoid Black Friday shipping delays
Consider your busiest weekend and double it to be safe—do you have the stock, manpower, space and processes in place to deliver your promises despite Black Friday shipping delays? If you don’t think you do, you need to create a strategy now.
- Check your stock beforehand to ensure you’ve got enough time to order additional items.
- Bring on some temporary workers.
- Rent out additional warehouse space and work through any bottleneck processes.
- Have a DSV model? Choose a carrier like Purolator to deliver your products.
- Don’t forget about returns. A solid returns strategy and process are essential to your supply chain and your customers’ experience.
If this seems easier to say than do, and you’re worried about getting orders out, there’s a simpler solution: Partner with a leading logistics provider with a robust supply chain.
Be ready for a rise in traffic as Black Friday deals go online
This year has seen a huge rise in ecommerce sales. Global ecommerce sales are expected to hit $6.33 trillion worldwide, an 8.8% increase compared to last year—making it the third-fastest ecommerce growth rate since 2021. And online sales are still predicted to keep rising year after year.
With more consumers choosing to shop from the comfort of their own home, it’s important to ensure your online store is ready to handle the wave of visitors hunting for Black Friday electronics or Cyber Monday sales in 2024. Review your website well in advance to make sure you have enough time to address any issues before the big weekend.
- Is your website loading at adequate speed?
- Are prices up to date?
- Are shipping options accurate?
- Have you updated policies for Black Friday deals?
TIP: Work with a carrier who offers seamless integration, improving your ecommerce shipping efficiency from checkout to order fulfillment.
Have a process strategy to handle influxes and avoid Black Friday shipping delays
Consider your busiest weekend and double it to be safe—do you have the stock, manpower, space, and processes in place to deliver your promises despite Black Friday shipping delays? If you don’t think you do, you need to create a strategy now.
- Check your stock beforehand to ensure you’ve got enough time to order additional items
- Bring on some temporary workers
- Rent out additional warehouse space and work through any bottleneck processes
- Have a DSV model? Choose a carrier like Purolator to deliver your products
- Don’t forget about returns. A solid returns strategy and process are essential to your supply chain and your customers’ experience.
If this seems easier to say than do, and you’re worried about getting orders out, there’s a simpler solution: Partner with a leading logistics provider with a robust supply chain.
Reduce Black Friday shipping delays with Purolator’s vast logistics network
Purolator’s shipping network uses the latest technology to manage warehouse distribution, inventory, and reach. If you predict that your business will be flooded with an influx of orders this coming Black Friday or Cyber Monday, our logistics network can help ensure that you don’t run out of stock and that your customers receive their shipments on time.
- Regional warehouses: Purolator’s shipping network uses regional warehousing, so your products are never out of reach for your customers.
- Cross-border and international shipping: Regardless of whether you need to ship within Canada or to the U.S. and the rest of the world, Purolator’s network can help your promises reach their destination.
- Ship to remote regions in Canada: Purolator delivers to 100% of all Canadian postal codes.*
- Cutting-edge sorting technology: Our National Hub triples our shipping capacity and uses world-class automation to ensure your shipments are always on the move.
- Efficient freight and courier solutions: Whether you’re looking for express deliveries, freight services or shipping consolidation options, Purolator ensures your Black Friday Cyber Monday deliveries are fast and reliable, no matter the destination.
Prepare your team for Black Friday Cyber Monday questions
An increase in sales will likely have a direct correlation with the volume of inquiries to your customer service. Customers may contact you with questions such as the following:
- The deals you’re offering
- How to navigate your website
- If out-of-stock items will be replenished
- The status of their delivery
Take the time to prepare your staff accordingly, so you make a positive lasting impression on new and returning customers. Arrange staff meetings to review expectations, procedures and predicted questions so they’re ready for specific inquiries that relate to the holiday. If they’re prepared with the right answers, your customer service team will be ready to resolve customer needs while under pressure. If you’re highly likely to receive a lot more traffic, consider hiring temporary staff and creating a dedicated channel to field questions that are specific to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This will keep your regular (non-holiday-specific) queries unaffected from timely waits.
Three ways Purolator can enhance customer experience this Black Friday in Canada
Another way to minimize queries is to provide shipping solutions that enhance the overall delivery experience for customers. With Purolator, you can provide personalized deliveries and sustainable returns to work out any gaps and deliver a seamless customer experience.
1. Customized delivery options
With Purolator Your Way, you can offer customers personalized deliveries and tracking, ensuring they receive their packages when it’s most convenient for them. Additionally, your customers can opt to receive Photo Proof of Delivery for peace of mind that their shipment is at the right place, at the right time.
2. Sustainable shipping
More environmentally conscious customers are likely aware that peak season shipping can lead to increased waste from packaging and transportation emissions. However, with Purolator, your Black Friday shipments can become more environmentally friendly. We reduce waste through our electric fleet to minimize emissions. By partnering with us, you can reduce the environmental impact caused by holiday shipping, which can resonate well with customers prioritizing sustainability in their purchasing decisions.
3. Returns management
Implement hassle-free returns for your customers with Purolator’s streamlined returns management process. Your customers can return items label-free and at their own convenience at more than 2,900 shipping locations and access points throughout Canada.
Manage Black Friday Cyber Monday transportation costs with Purolator’s flexible shipping options
Purolator offers a variety of flexible shipping options that can help you keep Black Friday logistics costs under control. Not only will this help keep your Black Friday Cyber Monday transport costs manageable, but Purolator can also support your business for the rest of peak shipping season, too.
- Choose the right service: Purolator offers various courier shipping services, including express and other ground options. Assess your delivery needs and choose the most cost-effective service for your packages.
- Consolidate shipments: If you have multiple packages going to the same location, consider consolidating them into one shipment to reduce costs. By combining all the items into one shipment, you’re saving on transportation costs by decreasing the amount of manpower, processing, and drop offs required. Purolator’s less-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload (TL) freight shipping services are ideal for more cost-effective bulk shipments, with the option to consolidate courier parcels alongside palletized goods as well.
- Optimize packaging: Use the right-sized boxes and packing materials to avoid additional charges for oversized packages. Efficient packaging solutions can also reduce shipping weight, while also minimizing waste and contributing to more sustainable shipping.
- Plan for peak times: Anticipate delays during peak shipping times like Black Friday Cyber Monday and plan your shipping schedule accordingly. Shipping early can help avoid higher fees for last-minute deliveries.
Why Purolator is the ideal shipping provider for Black Friday in Canada and beyond
To make the most of Black Friday, your business needs a shipping partner like Purolator who offers technology integration, a vast network, flexible solutions and an exceptional customer experience. By partnering with Purolator, you can streamline your shipping operations, enhance customer satisfaction and navigate the complexities of Black Friday with confidence.
- Expand your shipping options with express services and returns
Purolator offers various shipping options to meet your customers’ needs, including Purolator Express®, next-day and weekend delivery options, and Mission Critical for your most urgent shipments. Additionally, our reverse logistics solutions can simplify the returns process and improve customer satisfaction with a package-free and label-free returns experience.
- Ecommerce technology solutions
We provide integrated technology services and ecommerce shipping software. Manage your ecommerce supply chain more effectively and gain better visibility and control over shipments this coming Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
- Access a large delivery network to support your increased deliveries
With Purolator, you can reach 100% of Canadian postal codes, giving your business the flexibility to scale and grow your operations throughout the country. If you’re looking to expand to the rest of North America, or the world, Purolator’s network has extensive geographic coverage including cross-border and international reach.
- Closed loop network
Get peace of mind that your packages will be delivered without unnecessary hand-offs to third parties, decreasing the risk that deliveries will be late or damaged.
- Work with a trusted shipping provider
Purolator is one of the most trusted brands in the delivery service category.‡ We offer faster and more reliable delivery options so your business can continue to meet customer expectations even during peak shipping season.
- Sustainable shipping solutions
Purolator is committed to environmental sustainability. We are the first Canadian courier company to launch all-electric vehicles, and continue to reduce emissions and waste, allowing you to access exceptional eco-friendly shipping services.
Elevate your Black Friday shipping strategy with Purolator
As Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 approach, it’s essential to prepare effectively so you can maximize sales and ensure customer satisfaction. Partnering with Purolator not only simplifies logistics, but also enhances the overall shopping experience for your customers. By leveraging Purolator’s robust shipping solutions, you can navigate the challenges of peak season shipping, minimize shipping, and manage transport costs efficiently. Embrace the opportunities of Black Friday in Canada, North America, and beyond with a trusted logistics provider that prioritizes reliability and sustainability, setting your business up for success during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
Get help beyond the Black Friday rush. Learn how your delivery provider can help your business grow, year round. Learn More.
*Purolator Inc., Service Directory, 2024.
† Canadian Courier & Parcel Total Market Volume Revenue Analysis (2018). Brampton, ON, BGR Coaching & Strategic Solutions.
‡Gustavson 2023 Brand Trust Index conducted by the Gustavson School of Business surveyed 9,200 Canadian consumers aged 18+. Ranked and evaluated trust in over 400 brands. Purolator ranked 3rd within the ‘Delivery Services’ category after FedEx and Canada Post respectively.
