Warehouse tips for seasonal sales promotions

Without a solid warehouse management system in place, the success of Black Friday or any seasonal sale, could be a disaster.

Figures just released by IMRG (Interactive Media Retail Group), for the 2017 Black Friday sales promotions, record over £1.39 billion in sales generated in the UK. The report also showed that most sales were via the internet, with around 40 percent by smartphone alone. The use of mobile devices for generating sales is increasing year on year, but despite this growing trend, the mainstay of any successful sales promotion is the warehouse.

Flash promotions and one-day specials can put an operational burden on a distribution centre; it is far more efficient to hold the sale over a few days. The extra workload can be spread more evenly, resources won’t be stretched and it could encourage repeat purchases from consumers too.
Informing customers of different shipping terms can also relieve pressure, especially removing a ‘next day’ delivery promise where possible. Having the most effective technology and clear procedures in place helps pickers and packers quickly fulfil orders. This is especially important if temporary staff are brought in to help at busier times. Clearly defined areas with sturdy packing benches and sortation tables make life easier, and safer, for warehouse staff. Health and safety inductions are key when using temporary staff.

Taking advantage of the technology available, and having real-time updates, can help co-ordination and collaboration between warehouse teams and ensure order completion levels can be monitored by management. Hands-free and speech recognition software is becoming increasingly popular too, and our warehouses and distribution centres are now more efficient than ever because of it.

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