
As the holiday season approaches, eCommerce businesses across Canada are gearing up for what is…
MIKAEEL DEWJI
8 mins read
4 mins read
Riz-Datoo
January 18, 2024Every year, people across China and other countries in Asia celebrate their biggest holiday of the year—Chinese New Year— leading to widespread office and factory closures that can range from a few days to 3-4 weeks.
While Chinese New Year (CNY) is an important cultural celebration, the impact of this festive season extends far beyond the borders of China and comes with notable implications for businesses across the globe.
That’s why it’s crucial for eCommerce businesses in Canada to put in the strategic planning necessary before the Lunar New Year holiday begins.
If you rely on selling products manufactured in China, you’ll find yourself having to navigate shutdowns that inevitably cause production and shipping delays. To handle this pivotal event in the global economic calendar, businesses need to take steps in advance to prepare for delays and avoid stockouts.
This year, Chinese New Year falls from February 10 to February 24. To ensure that your eCommerce business thrives during this significant holiday, you’ll want to implement some strategies to help with shipping optimization, international fulfillment, and supply chain efficiency.
To mitigate the impact of the CNY shutdown and ensure you start the Year of the Dragon on the right foot, you need to plan your holiday logistics ahead of time.
This involves:
Because Chinese New Year shutdowns lead to halted production and seasonal shipping backlogs, savvy business owners recognize the importance of doing everything they can to reduce the possibility of unplanned delays and maintain smooth business operations.
You can minimize CNY supply chain disruptions through:
Due to CNY closures, you can expect slowdowns in customs clearance processes as well as increased congestion along shipping routes.
You can manage international fulfillment effectively at this time by:
eCommerce businesses can get blindsided by factory closures in China, and so it’s crucial for online retailers to prepare for CNY effectively and well in advance of the nation’s observance of the Lunar New Year.
Optimizing your shipping, improving supply chain efficiency, and managing your international fulfillment effectively can make all the difference at this challenging time, setting you up for success and winning you customer loyalty.
Once the festivities come to an end and operations resume, you can work to get back to normal as soon as possible by reestablishing communication with suppliers and logistics partners—and of course, tackling any festive season delivery backlogs.
In the meantime, you can focus on identifying the challenges you face this CNY, assessing your response to them, and planning ahead with effective strategies for your holiday logistics next year.
Reach out to us here at eShipper to see how we can make sure your business continues to thrive throughout, and after, the Lunar New Year celebrations.