Planning for peak retail season logistics

Peak retail season is make-or-break for many suppliers. With holiday sales, back-to-school shopping, and major retail events all packed into a few short months, supply chains are under immense pressure. 

Missed deadlines or late deliveries can mean lost revenue and strained relationships. That’s why it’s essential to understand when peak retail season begins, the challenges it brings, and how to plan for success. 

When is peak retail season?

The peak retail season typically runs from late summer through the end of the year, peaking around November and December, coinciding with the holidays and key retail events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

But other peak retail seasons include spring product launches and the back-to-school period in late August/early September.

Suppliers shipping to big-box retailers often face earlier delivery deadlines because they need to send goods to stock distribution centers before consumer-facing promotions begin. This means that thorough retail seasonal planning is crucial.

And in recent years, the peak retail season has gotten even longer — now it starts in early autumn instead of November and December. Today, businesses must have their peak season retail logistics in order by the end of summer.

Challenges of peak season retail logistics

Businesses in different industries face a wide range of unique shipping challenges during peak season. But having a solid grasp of the most common issues can help you mitigate risk and stay on target. Key challenges include:

• Capacity constraints: Carriers are booked up, making it difficult for businesses to find a shipper (especially on high-volume lanes).
• Tight delivery windows: Major retailers have strict compliance programs, such as Walmart’s On Time, In Full (OTIF) requirements and Target’s vendor scorecard system. Deliveries arriving late or incomplete can result in chargebacks, penalties, or loss of shelf space.
• Higher costs: During peak retail season, high demand can cause key costs to spike — affecting surcharges, fuel, and accessorial fees.
• Inventory pressure: Suppliers must balance production with fluctuating retailer demands. This can make effective inventory management and meeting demand more difficult.
• Operational risks: Labor shortages, port congestion, and weather can all disrupt retail seasonal planning. Suppliers must anticipate and prepare for these and other potential issues.

6 Tips for retail seasonal planning

To keep shipments running smoothly through peak season, planning ahead is key. Here are some tips for proper retail seasonal planning.

Secure capacity early

Lock in space with trusted carriers or a third-party logistics (3PL) team (like DTS) before demand peaks. Securing a place for your goods on trucks well in advance will make for smoother peak season retail logistics.

Align with retailer requirements

Retailers have strict rules in place for suppliers — fail to comply and you could be cut loose.

Take the time to understand OTIF requirements, vendor compliance scorecards, and distribution center delivery schedules. Show retailers that you have what it takes to work with them.

Take advantage of diverse shipping options

Carriers offer a variety of shipping methods, including:

• Full Truckload (FTL)
• Less than truckload (LTL)
• Expedited
• Intermodal

Combining different shipping options in your peak season retail logistics plan will help you stay flexible. If you restrict yourself to just one method, you could miss out on opportunities to maximize efficiency.

Improve your shipping visibility

Leverage the latest tracking and reporting tools to monitor your shipments and ensure proof of delivery. This gives you peace of mind that all freight has been received and is ready for sale.

Work with an experienced partner

Peak retail season planning can be a complicated and exhausting process, whatever the scale of your business. However, working with a seasoned and reputable 3PL will make the process easier.

A trusted 3PL can manage the heavy lifting involved with peak season retail logistics, including:

• Negotiating capacity with carriers
• Optimizing shipping mode selection to fit your needs and budget
• Managing compliance paperwork to avoid disruptions and delays

A 3PL will also offer shipping advice and professional insights to keep your operations running smoothly.

Have a backup plan

Some things might not go to plan with your peak season shipping — and that’s why you always need to have a contingency plan.

Whether it’s extreme weather, traffic-related delays, or even unexpected surges in retailer demand, consider all the possible hurdles that might appear. Allow yourself extra time to put your backup plans into action and ensure your freight arrives on time.

Build your peak retail season plan with DTS

Retail seasonal planning brings its fair share of challenges for any business, but you can beat them if you prepare and adapt. And working with DTS will make your shipping simpler than ever — in every season.

For 35 years, DTS has supported suppliers across various industries, including consumer goods, apparel, electronics, and seasonal products. To learn how we can transform your shipping process, get your custom quote today.