Too early to start planning for the holiday season? Nonsense. Due to COVID-19, online purchasing is up 28%, and the landscape of shopping, in general, will look much different this year.
Some of us are always ahead of the game and trying to capture the best deals, while others are the last second gift-buyers. But regardless of whatever category you typically fall under, you’re going to want to be the former instead of the latter this year and we’re here to tell you why.
Shipping. Shipping. Shipping.
From lost packages to avoiding face-to-face deliveries, shipping has been a nightmare during the pandemic. Currently, shipping carriers have announced that they are already delivering at peak holiday numbers and they are estimated to be at a 5% over capacity. So, how do you beat this? Shop early and allow your order time to arrive so you do not unintentionally gain a part-time job tracking your own packages.
Out of Stock Products
Traditionally, Black Friday marks the unofficial start of the holiday season, but it is no secret now that the sale season will be kicking off as soon as mid-October. This means that some of the biggest deals and best-sellers may be short in inventory the longer you wait! If you decide to try and play the dangerous game of buying at the last second, you may end up being the person handing out gifts weeks after the holidays.
Avoiding Busy Shopping Center
For obvious reasons, brick-and-mortar shopping has become a tricky situation and it will only get more challenging when tons of people swarm to the malls around you! Whether it’s in the form of waiting in lines out in the cold or being in uncomfortably packed department stores, there’s so many reasons to avoid or at least limit the amount of time spent shopping at the mall.
The holidays are already a stressful time. With so many additional stressors, do not make the season any harder than it must be! Get ahead with your planning, keep yourself and those around you healthy and enjoy being with your family.
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