Timing Guide: Importing for Holiday ‘09

August 05, 2009 · by Nate Gilmore

Each year I try and put out a list of important dates to help merchants and suppliers get a better idea of when they should be thinking about import and supply chain thoughts. I must admit, this year I'm a bit late to put it out.

The purpose of this guide is to give you a list of things to think about when importing inventory. You could be bringing it into the U.S., Canada or Europe; but, hopefully this will help. It is already August, so Holiday 2009 is literally around the corner.

I've mentioned before that during the first 6 months of the year there is a ton of transportation space available on container ships and trucks; but, typically the later you get in the year there is more merchandise than space as holiday approaches. This may be less of a problem this year; but, it is still something to watch out for. I like to say that "It doesn’t matter if your shipping by boat, train, plane, truck or your having Tom Tuttle from Tacoma Washington hand deliver it for you. The closer you get to September and October the more expensive rates get and the harder it is to meet your delivery time lines." So think it out now (and "yes" I was a fan of John Candy movie)

Clearly, you have to balance the need of getting started early with the business reality that you want to forecast your holiday sales accurately!

Q1 & Q2: Things you already did!

• Work with your suppliers, find new suppliers and look to lock down product costs. Many suppliers will appreciate early orders as it hleps them iron out their own projections and you might get some type of discount.
• When possible, provide purchase orders and payment information (L/C, ACH, Credit Card, Wire transfer) to confirm your commitment.
• Shop around and start lining up freight and logistics quotes and delivery time lines.
• Get confirmations from manufacturers and distributors that you are on their list, you have what contracts you need done and expectations are set.
• Agree on samples. If you haven't used a supplier before or have made product changes, sample - sample - sample. Make sure your suppliers send samples via a reliable small package carrier and get tracking numbers so there is less risk of loss and finger pointing.
• As Q2 closes try to line up final freight quotes, have settled on a customs broker and are scheduling your shipments
• If you are going to sell overseas consider using an outsourced warehouse. Here are import, customs and registration guides to importing to Canada and help import to UK.

Q3:

• Delivery/ship-dates are approaching. Reconfirm your suppliers’ commitments. TOPs (Top of Production) should already have been available and sent to you; get the tracking numbers.
• Dust off your holiday marketing plan and start lining up your pay per click, product descriptions and advertising. Make sure your sourcing team and your marketing team know what you are buying and planning to sell.
• In September ocean containers should be getting filled and booked for sailing. If Bills of Lading were prepared have copies e-mailed/faxed to you so that you can confirm their contents.
• Watch out for surprises at this stage. Freight forwarders and customs house brokers should be the ones you are familiar with, and really no new parties should be introduced at this stage.
• Start marketing and hopefully taking back-orders, especially wholesale, whenever possible.
• If you have outsourced order fulfillment, confirm with your warehouse partner your inventory, packaging needs and shipping business practices (B2B and B2C). This is especially important for your best sellers.

October - December 15:

• Market, Market, Market & Sell, Sell, Sell
• Try not to make a whole lot of drastic shipping changes right before product lands at your warehouse, it gets expensive at this point.
• If you are not using outsourced order fulfillment or have your warehouse well tuned, prepare to pack and ship your orders late into the late night.

I hope this helps you plan out the rest of your year.

Nate Shipwire, order fulfillment in the USA, Canada and Europe. Guides: Import into Canada, Import into UK

Category: Tools, Tips and Suggestions | Tags: Product Sourcing, Shipping and Fulfillment