The holiday season means gift buying, eggnog imbibing… and a seriously busy time for retail businesses. Because of the increased workload, companies need to boost efficiency among their warehouse staff or risk losing potential sales opportunities to the competition. Here are some expert tips to keep your warehouse running smoothly through the holiday season and beyond:
Staff Up Before the Big Season
While most retailers increase sales staff before the holidays, they may not think to do the same with their warehouse crews. However, the fact is that adding seasonal employees to the warehouse floor can help make the holiday season go considerably smoother. A great way to get a feel for how many workers you’re likely to need this December is to take a look at last year’s sales figures.
Update Your Layout
Although your current warehouse layout might be fine for the off-season, a poorly organized setup can spell disaster during the holiday months. At BGSF, we recommend increasing the receiving area as well as creating a designated space for packaging. Preparing your warehouse for an influx of products can help you avoid complications come December; making necessary repairs and adding resources like storage trailers and racks for example.
Prep Your Returns’ Process
The holidays aren’t just the season for gift-giving, but also for returning ill-chosen gifts for cash. Yes, when it comes to the retail industry, returns are an unpleasant fact of life. However, optimizing your warehouse returns’ processes can save you valuable man-hours during this crazy time of the year. By including return address labels in the original packaging materials, you can help ensure that rejected goods wind up in the right place. Just make sure to discuss any policy changes with your customer service and marketing teams ahead of time to ensure everyone is on the same page!
Kommentare