Peak sales season is well underway, with many major shopping events yet to come before the end of the year. With the fever caused by Click Frenzy, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day, it pays to be as prepared as possible for Australia’s busiest shopping season to ensure strong business performance.
However, record-high costs of doing business, heavily impacted by the staggering inflation, are hitting Aussie businesses hard, leaving many SMEs struggling. As the peak season approaches, small businesses are most concerned about their customers, with 66 per cent of SMEs struggling to find customers and drive sales growth.
There’s no doubt that the current economic environment is a difficult one for businesses and consumers alike. But tightened purse strings are forcing us all to become savvier and more strategic with how we spend our money. To get the most out of the peak shopping season, here’s my top three tips.
Ensure your business is getting the best deal
We know that nine in 10 of the year’s best-selling days in eCommerce occur during Q4, which goes hand in hand with shipping. For businesses to make the most of the sales campaigns, it’s critical that they’re getting the best deal from their suppliers (including shipping providers).
In fact, almost half (49 per cent) of SMEs already shop around for costs such as shipping deals, so this is a great sign to follow suit and not hesitate to switch a provider should there be a better offer on the table, especially during busy shopping times when every cent counts.
Put attractive incentives in place
We all love a great deal. So make your business stand out from the competition by offering unique and creative incentives for spending with you.
For example, two in five (43 per cent) SMEs have already put plans in place to offer free shipping this peak sales season. Free shipping is a simple but effective strategy that’ll get you noticed by frugal shoppers and help drive sales conversions. Alternatively, think about including free samples with your orders especially during the festive season to show appreciation for your customer, or develop a rewarding loyalty program that will prompt customers to keep doing business with you!
Green shipping
Three in 10 SMEs state sustainability is a high priority for their business. But the path to becoming more sustainable shouldn’t feel overwhelming, it can be as easy as switching shipping providers.
Each year, one billion parcels are sent across Australia alone. And, each one of those parcels has an impact on the environment. In addition to a heap of packaging waste, pounds of CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere with every delivery. To combat this issue, you can implement circular economy practices in a form of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ approach, reusing leftover card boxes from suppliers that are a tad worn down, but still more than sufficient for packaging and shipping.
As shoppers are looking for more sustainable products and services, consider incorporating a carbon-neutral delivery seal into your website, checkout page, or packaging slip to give your customers one more reason to feel good about purchasing from you.
With record numbers of Aussie consumers now shopping online, we’re predicting a spike of up to 25 per cent in parcel volumes over the upcoming peak sales events. To make the most of the sales surge, we’re encouraging SMEs to offer attractive incentives for customers, implement greener shipping and re-evaluate their supplier list to ensure they’re getting the best deal in Q4 and beyond.
