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Spooky Parcel Shipping Secrets: Boo-tiful Way of Mastering Halloween Deliveries and Growing Your Bus

Author : Karishma Shikalgar | Published On : 01 Nov 2023

On the ultimate starless, misty night of October, fog cloaks the moon. Amidst the cold and dark, a group of witches and ghouls patrol the streets, asking for candy to quench their thirst for mischief. It is as if the veil that separates the realm of humans and demons has been lifted, allowing two worlds to collide. 

Yes! You guessed it! It's Halloween, one of the most popular holidays across the United States. Scary costumes, boatloads of candies, ghost houses, terrifying lanterns, children, adults, and elderly people seeking delight in spooky supernatural overtones. However, the scariest of them all is a business with inefficient parcel shipping.  

According to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) annual survey, the country is set to spend $12.2 billion (about $38 per person in the US) (about $38 per person in the US) during Halloween in 2023, marking an increase of 15.1% from $10.6 billion (about $33 per person in the US) (about $33 per person in the US) in 2022. With so many bundles of opportunities waiting to be realized, a lack of parcel shipping expertise can haunt you more than any screaming ghoul. So, what's the remedy? 

Let’s look at one of the underrated parcel spend management processes that many companies tend to overlook. Usually, Halloween takes over the world for one or two weeks, but for businesses, it is not a task of weeks. It takes months to plan to ensure that thousands of candies reach stores and households; around 500 thousand tons of pumpkins traverse across the United States alone. Imagine if the pumpkins arrived late or not at all. Families would be without jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin pies at Halloween. 

So, to avoid a premature end to the most popular holiday, here are some crucial factors that shippers should heed:   

  1. Master the "trick of Halloween" deliveries: Halloween is not just a festival and holiday for fun; it comes with a massive treat for businesses. Over $3.5 billion (about $11 per person in the US) (about $11 per person in the US) is spent annually on costumes, more than $3 billion (about $9 per person in the US) (about $9 per person in the US) (about $9 per person in the US) on candies, and don't even bother thinking of pumpkins. Many businesses that rely on parcel carriers for deliveries can lose profits due to failure to optimize their parcel spend. One of the best ways to optimize shipping spending is Parcel Contract Negotiation. 

  1. "Witch" approved packaging: Products usually delivered during Halloween are delicate and require special attention. For example, you need to keep pumpkins, especially during transport, in temperature-controlled containers between 50°F and 55°F. Additionally, customers don't want broken products, which makes packaging even more crucial. However, with great packaging comes a greater price. Try negotiating and optimizing your parcel agreement with your carriers to deliver a pleasing customer experience without deflating your profits. 

  1. "Spooky" last-minute deliveries: With all the advanced orders you receive and the planning you do to fulfill those, you cannot overlook the last-minute orders, and it takes extra effort and money to satisfy those orders. With this cost rising from the dead and your competitors offering competitive services like same-day delivery, you can lose customers. By deploying a sound and well-prepared supply chain, you can ensure customer satisfaction, but what about the cost you will incur? That's where Parcel Spend Management is your way out. 

  1. Empty haunted house/phantom address: Check and confirm each address, because an empty house will not fulfill customer demand, but will cost you. Even a slight error in the address should be rectified and corrected before putting the package in the carrier's network. Additionally, provide a functional contact number for a smooth and hassle-free delivery. People often meet to celebrate the festival in quirky places, which makes delivery challenging. Delivering in the right place makes for a boo-tiful delivery experience. 

  1. Wicked collaborations: The end of October is a crucial time not just for little ghosts, witches, and ghouls, but also for retailers. Seasonal demand is at its peak, and you must communicate and collaborate with your carriers to get the best rates and provide a fantastic customer experience. Treat your carriers as Chief Halloween Officers and trust them to deliver your parcels to the right place at the right time. 

  1. Watch out for storms: Even after all the planning and preparation, you cannot control the weather, which can wreak horror not only for customers but also for businesses. All you can do is be watchful and cautious with packaging. Packaging enhancements come with charges that can force you to scream. That's why you need an expert to negotiate the correct rates with your parcel carriers and streamline your Parcel Spend Management. 

Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season, which is when the demand for most products peaks. Keeping an eye on parcel spending is crucial for businesses to unravel the puzzle and mark the profits. Parcel Spend Management is vital for Halloween, the whole holiday season, and beyond. Thus, it is essential that you trust experts like TransImpact.  

With more than 15 years of experience and having generated more than $1 billion (about $3 per person in the US) in hard savings for our clients, the name TransImpact has become synonymous with parcel shipping cost savings. Halloween is a tremendous opportunity for all businesses, and you certainly don't want to deflate your profit margin in shipping. So, contact our experts to save with TransImpact and make the most of Halloween.