As with 2022, this year there are multiple stressors on shipping carriers and the supply chain in general. This season we strongly recommend that you 1) over-communicate with your customers regarding orders, and 2) create a plan with the below in mind.

How to Prepare

Here are some thoughts, best practices and ideas based on what we commonly see:

Planning

• Stay nimble and expect some changes to your plan due to other external factors like inclement late fall/winter weather (storms, wildfires, etc.)
• For any anticipated inventory shipments or project requests through December, share plans with Airhouse ASAP so that we can monitor and notify you of any changes
• Offer Expedited shipping speeds as an additional option, or restrict to Ground classes only for better tracking consistency and delivery timelines
• Ensure appointments are scheduled at least 48 hours in advance for all inbound shipments and outbound wholesale orders

Marketing and Communications

• Over-communicate with customers about shipping delays and, if helpful, provide additional context about widespread strain on the global supply chain. We recommend placing these notifications in as many places as possible to set customer expectations:
  • Banner on website header
  • In cart
  • On your order confirmation page
  • In your order confirmation emails
  • In your shipping notification emails
  • On your shipping policy page
  • On product description pages before adding to cart

Key Dates

All Services

• October 2023 - January 2024 is peak season with shipping carriers (USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.). As of September, Airhouse is already noticing and you will see: 1) some tracking inaccuracies either upon pickup or delays in scans throughout shipping carrier networks that make delivery estimates unreliable, 2) delays vs. advertised delivery times. This is not unique to Airhouse, given all warehouses and self-fulfillment options utilize the same shipping carriers. The best course of action as a business owner during this season is to notify your customers to expect delays and order early.
• Monday, November 13 - Friday, December 29 is peak season for warehouses. Guarantees and SLAs are suspended for all services: receiving, returns, projects, and order processing. Services cannot be expedited for receipt in time for the holidays, with no exceptions. Projects will also be delayed and potentially paused during this time. Delays in responses throughout peak season are expected. All hands on deck in warehouses will be focused on packing and shipping outbound holiday orders.
• Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving Day): Airhouse and warehouses are closed
• Monday, December 25 (Christmas Day): Airhouse and warehouses are closed