An Earlier Holiday Season
November has arrived and with it comes the start to the happiest, and most frustrating time of the year. Thanksgiving is the next major holiday but in the current economic climate we must have the proper foresight and we must begin to think about the gift giving season. In the past we had the luxury of waiting for big sales and deals to begin before we purchase; however, waiting too long this year will almost certainly result in disappointment.
Broken Logistics
It does not matter if you are shopping for shoes, a cute outfit, or even food at a local grocery store prices have gone up and supply has gone down. This is because the national and world freight process and the logistics of product management has been stressed to its breaking point for over a year now. Product is slow to arrive in stores and sometimes is not available at all. Orders that used to be filled in a matter of days now take weeks to arrive to its end user. Different businesses and companies are quick to blame port congestion, truck driver shortages, and other labor issues for the problem. However, placing blame will not fix the current issues and they are unlikely to be resolved over the next few weeks. Business forecasts are predicting the logistical issues and supply shortages to last into 2022 and we must be prepared for what this means.
Reacting to the Times
There are a few ways to still be successful gift giving this holiday season and the first way is the most basic, start early. Product is in short supply and the best way to ensure you get what you want is to buy early before items sell out. Popular gifts and clothing styles usually sell out this time of year and the current economy only ensures that this is likely to happen sooner. That being said, if you see the ideal gift for a friend or family member, buy it now. Its better to sit on it for a month then to scramble at the last minute because the item is no longer available. Additionally, if you start looking now there is still plenty of time to order items online. If a store does not have a certain color or size, odds are they can get it sent to you. However, as we get closer to the holidays the likelihood of these items being available for special order greatly reduces. Finally, be realistic and do not be afraid to settle for a second choice. If an item is truly sold out and unavailable move on to another option when the alternatives still exist. If you wait until Christmas Eve, you are unlikely to find anything of value left at most stores.
Do Not Wait For Sales
We all want to wait for the best price of the season and for items to go on sale but unlike years past the deals are unlikely to be that great. The purpose of sale items is to drive traffic and attention to a store and to bring customers in. The problem that most companies face this holiday season is how do you plan for sales when you are unsure if the product will arrive on time. Many businesses do not know when they will get certain product lines and as a result these companies are reluctant to advertise individual items. The worst thing a company can do is advertise a sale and to not have the product when customers come to buy it. This results in a lost sale and an unhappy client who is unlikely to return to make a future purchase. Sales this season will not be as planned out as usual and we must realize this and react to it. Additionally, buying something at full price to ensure you get it does not mean you will regret it later. Most major companies do have price guarantees and if an item you bought early does go on the sale, they will refund the difference to you. Do not be afraid to ask a store employee about the company’s guarantee. It is likely clearly posted and can be a great tool if utilized properly. So, if you see the perfect gift simply buy it. You can always check a few weeks later to see if the price has come down.
It is annoying to have to start thinking about the holiday season in early November, but the people who plan the best gets the best outcome. Do not hesitate or delay and get a head start on all your holiday shopping. This will ensure you will get everything you need to make everyone on your list happy. Just remember to have some fun shopping. Worrying does not help get the job done sooner.