Selling Through the Holidays Without Burning Out
The holiday season can double a small seller's annual revenue — or wreck their reviews if they aren't ready. Here's how to prepare.
Stock and cut-off dates
Set clear cut-off dates for holiday delivery on each listing, and stop taking orders that can't reasonably ship in time. A missed Christmas delivery is worth ten five-star reviews of damage in bad reviews.
Have help lined up
Even one afternoon a week of another person packing orders can be the difference between shipping on time and drowning. Line it up in October, not on December 15.
Update your processing time
Extending stated processing time by a day or two in November is not defeat; it's honesty. Buyers accept honest lead times; they resent broken promises.
Rest before, during, and after
Sellers who work eighteen-hour days from Black Friday to Christmas Eve usually take January off, not by choice but by exhaustion. Sustainable pace beats heroic sprint.
This article is part of the Suliit editorial series on online commerce for independent sellers and buyers. Suliit is a U.S.-based marketplace operated from Prince Frederick, Maryland.