As Black Friday approaches, it’s time to make sure your business is ready for one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. From handling a spike in orders to making sure deliveries go off without a hitch, getting your fulfillment strategy in place is vital.

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After years of helping brands make their Black Friday's a success, we know what it takes, and we've put together this checklist to help you prepare and have a successful Black Friday 2024.

Forecast Demand Like A Pro

The biggest mistake businesses make during Black Friday? Not having enough stock. Underestimating demand can lead to frustrated customers, while overstocking ties up cash in unsold inventory.
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Accurate demand forecasting isn’t just about guesswork—it’s about data.

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Start by reviewing your sales data from the past few years. Identify trends in customer behaviour, top-selling products, and any seasonal spikes. Then combine that with external data like market trends or industry forecasts. This can give you a clearer picture of how much stock you’ll need and when.

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Don’t forget to factor in promotional pushes, like early Black Friday deals or VIP events, which can drive up demand early on.

Stay on Top of Your Inventory

Inventory issues during Black Friday can lead to delays, lost sales, or unhappy customers. You need to know exactly what’s in stock, where it’s located, and how quickly you can get it to your customers. Without this, you risk delays, stockouts, or shipping errors. ‍

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Monitor stock levels across all your markets and use automated stock updates so your website reflects real-time availability and prevents overselling.

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At F4E, our inventory management system ensures you have the right products available when and where you need them, minimising any risk of stockouts.

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Go Green and Get Noticed

Shoppers are becoming more eco-conscious, and they’re looking for brands that align with their values. Black Friday is a great opportunity to show your commitment to sustainability by using eco-friendly packaging and offering green delivery options.

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Highlight your eco-friendly options in your Black Friday marketing.

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For example, use recycled packaging materials and offer carbon-neutral shipping as part of your standard service. Not only does this appeal to environmentally conscious shoppers, but it also differentiates your brand from competitors.

Master Cross-Border Shipping

Selling across borders is a fantastic way to reach more customers, but it can also come with challenges, especially when it comes to customs and longer shipping times. Black Friday is not the time to be caught up in logistical delays.

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Work closely with a fulfillment provider that understands the ins and outs of cross-border shipping. Ensure you’re prepared for any customs requirements and have all necessary documentation in place ahead of time.

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Our cross-border expertise simplifies shipping within Europe, ensuring your products sail through customs without a hitch.

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We manage all the logistics for you, from regulatory compliance to ensuring the fastest delivery routes across countries. Why not speak with us today and see if we can improve your operations?

Offer Flexible Shipping Options

Shipping is a dealbreaker for many customers. Offering flexible delivery options like free shipping for larger orders, expedited shipping, or local pickup can boost conversions and reduce abandoned carts.
Offering flexible, convenient shipping options can increase conversion rates and reduce drop-offs.

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Set up a variety of shipping options. Free shipping for orders over a certain amount is a popular choice, but also consider adding express options for last-minute shoppers.

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Offering local pick-up points or "Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store" (BOPIS) can add convenience for customers who don’t want to wait.

Prepare for Returns—They’re Coming!

Let’s be honest: returns are inevitable, especially after Black Friday. But they don’t have to be a headache. A smooth and simple returns process can enhance customer satisfaction and even encourage future purchases.

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Make your returns process as smooth and hassle-free as possible. This means offering easy-to-use return portals and having a clear returns policy prominently displayed on your website. Automating returns can also help ensure products are back in stock quickly for resale.

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Scale Up with Confidence

Black Friday is all about handling massive order spikes. From increasing warehouse staff to ensuring there’s enough delivery capacity, your business needs to expand fast—but without losing efficiency.

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Make sure your fulfillment partner has the capacity to scale up their services on short notice. Keep a buffer of extra resources ready, whether that’s staffing or additional warehouse space, to meet peak demand.
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F4E’s scalable services give you the flexibility to grow as much as needed during peak periods. With additional warehousing and staffing available on demand, we ensure that no matter how big the Black Friday surge, your fulfillment operations run seamlessly.

Keep Customers in the Loop with Real-Time Tracking

One of the top things’ customers want is visibility on their orders. Offering real-time tracking helps reduce anxiety and creates trust, especially during the chaos of Black Friday when delivery times can get stretched.

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Use automated systems to send customers updates about their order status from the moment it ships to when it arrives. Offering clear, real-time tracking links keeps customers informed, cutting down on “Where’s my order?” inquiries.

Monitor, Adjust, and Optimise in Real-Time

Even the best-laid plans can hit snags on Black Friday. That’s why it’s essential to monitor your fulfillment performance in real time and adjust on the fly. Whether it’s a sudden product shortage or a delivery delay, being able to act quickly is key.

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Use data dashboards to monitor key performance metrics like stock levels, delivery times, and customer satisfaction. Having real-time visibility means you can make quick decisions to avoid bottlenecks or delays.

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Our real-time analytics allow you to track and optimise your operations as Black Friday unfolds. Whether it’s re-allocating stock to a different warehouse or speeding up delivery times, we help you stay agile during peak periods.

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Black Friday is a huge opportunity for your business, but only if you’re fully prepared. By following this checklist you’ll be ready to handle the surge in orders, keep customers happy, and make the most of this critical shopping season.

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Ready to optimise your fulfillment? Get in touch with us today.