Prepare for Peak - Product selection and supply chain optimisation

Every year, the peak selling season seems to get closer and closer, so let’s talk about how we can work together to maximise your business’ efficiency during peak and help achieve your goals.

What is peak sale season?

Peak sale season, often shortened to just ‘Peak’, is the period when a company experiences their highest volume of business. The timing varies between businesses, but for a large number of customers, this time is from the middle of October to the start of December. The largest surge often comes in mid-November and coincides with increasingly popular Black Friday trends.

In recent times, the aforementioned boost in sales has largely been centred around the online market. In retail for example, internet sales continue to grow, representing an increased share of total transactions over the years.

We continue to see the start of peak sales creep forward. What used to be an event that stretched over the week of Black Friday, has become sales campaign that lasts the whole of November, sometimes even starting at the very end of October. Data from IMRG shows the trend of retailers launching campaigns earlier than before, with none launching the day of the event.

With competitor sales pushes launching earlier and a huge increase in potential customers, it is crucial that your logistics operation is ready for peak well before it begins. That’s where our advice on correct product selection can help save you money.

The benefits of correct packaging product selection

It goes without saying that an eCommerce operation needs to use the correct packaging, as it is the first step in the supply chain and a decisive factor that plays into customer satisfaction. Ensuring a package arrives in a timely fashion and perfectly packaged is key for establishing repeat business. One of the best ways to ensure you deliver effectively is to have a slick and efficient operation in your logistics hub.

Our range consists of hundreds of products to benefit any business and some of them provide a considerable advantage for customers who need to process a high quantity of orders. This wide-ranging demand inspired us to look into some of our most notable time-saving products.

When testing, we compared one of our  standard cardboard boxes with the  QuickPack returnable boxes. The price for the QuickPack boxes is slightly higher than the standard, but the benefits they present are considerable. They can be ready to pack within seconds and come with an adhesive strip that makes it easy to seal the box without a need for tape, as well as another strip for easy returns. The video below showcases the speedy, time-saving element as mentioned above.

As you heard in the video, having a more efficient packing process can lead to tangible savings on manpower. We estimate that using crash-lock boxes can be four times as fast as using a standard box and significantly easier to maintain the quality of the pack. The efficiency and improved consistency make them ideal for busier businesses.

Products for peak

Another product type that has a similar effect is book boxes.  These items arrive flat-packed and can be shipped out quickly with easy assembly with low effort, making them ideal during these moments of heavy activity.

Across our envelopes & mailers range, we offer multiple high-quality solutions to optimise shipping, such as the new Jiffy Hexpand expandable envelopes, which remove the need for oversized packages and extra padding.

Our packing benches and workstations help improve efficiency by simplifying your process. No matter the size of your operation, packing stations will make things easier throughout crucial stages of production. You can streamline your packaging activity, without sacrificing on output.

We have seen results in devices also, using a tool like our  water activated tape dispenser makes it easy to dispense just the right amount of tape when sealing up boxes and saves on material waste, as well as time.

By using the right products, you can fine-tune processes that lead to real, game-changing savings, as well as providing the best service to your customers.

Organise your supply chain for peak

Providing a range of options for delivery is another way you can ensure your customers receive the best service possible over peak. It’s something we aim to provide as well with Next Day Delivery as standard so that we can provide the products our customers need as soon as possible, as well as collection options for local businesses. Making sure you have everything you require in advance, or a partner who can provide what you need when you need it, is one of the core ways you can manage the increased demand as it comes in.

We cannot give specific advice on when to begin holding a sale, although the above data will hopefully give a good indication of when the market as a whole is beginning to move. We would encourage anyone planning a Black Friday sale to get in touch with our team and make sure you have everything you could need, in anticipation and hope of a spike in sales. We can help you you free up space for your own goods, so you can service more customers!

In the words of Mandy Radford, Sales Director here at RAJA UK

“We stock hold our products for next day delivery, whether you need single packs or full pallets, to ensure you can use your space for your products. Security of supply is a major factor in a highly effective workplace. The critical nature of having a reliable packaging supply chain to get your products out of the door on time means partnering with a dedicated supplier like RAJA is essential.”

UK supply, European leader

By combining the scale, stability and innovation of a European market leader with the speed, reliability, and local expertise of our UK-based team, we’re uniquely positioned to help businesses stay ahead during peak season. With 82% of our products sourced within the UK, we ensure reliable stock access during even the busiest periods through our national supply chain.

We actively support local manufacturers and suppliers, strengthening the British economy while helping our customers meet their own sustainability and supply chain goals. From fast delivery and robust stock availability to responsible packaging solutions and expert guidance, our focus is on making sure businesses have the confidence and resources they need to manage surging demand efficiently.

Failure to prepare is preparing to fail..

Being ready for the sudden surge of orders as peak arrives is crucial. Whether you plan to have a dedicated sale or not, purchasing activity will likely be higher and being able to keep up with demand presents a great opportunity.

Contact us for help selecting the perfect products to make your packaging chain as smooth and efficient as possible – why not check out our best prices selection for a look at some top performers, as well as exploring which of our products is the one for you?