5 Things Retailers Should Remember as They Ready for Holiday

Retailers call the day after Thanksgiving Black Friday because it is one of the most profitable days of the year (the Philadelphia Police Department originally coined the term because the volume of shoppers on that day caused traffic jams and overcrowded sidewalks). But planning for Black Friday — which marks the start of holiday shopping season and the biggest opportunity of the year — can also cause extreme stress. The best way to mitigate any pitfalls from an operational perspective is to anticipate and plan. The key to a successful holiday season is to plan, plan and plan some more. But here’ s the reality. We all should have been planning since June, but there are always conflicting priorities, especially at a fast-growing company. Sometimes, you find yourself in a panic a few weeks out. But it’s not too late. Here’s a last-minute checklist to ensure that your bases are covered from Black Friday all the way through Christmas and the January returns rush. Understand Your Forecasting Forecasting drives all logistics planning. What do you expect to have in terms of your order and unit volume? Typically, retailers will see three to four times growth over their normal periods from Black Friday

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