A recent Supply Chain Brain article by Helen Atkinson highlights an unexpected early start to the retail peak season. Major ports are seeing surprising summer surges, while consumers are opting for slower, cheaper shipping options.

ePost Global's VP of Strategic Sales & Administration Helaine Rich weighed in on these changes:

“People during the pandemic weren’t getting their holiday gifts in time, so they’re buying earlier, and the retailer is selling earlier to make sure everyone has what they need for the holidays. The pandemic changed people’s behaviors completely, coupled with the fact that the supply chain changed, too.”

As retailer’s last shipping dates for Christmas get moved further and further back, even into late October - Helaine notes that retailers “want to manage the customer service department, so they won’t get bombarded with where’s-my-stuff queries. So, they’re managing the expectations of the consumer, but that’s coupled with supply chain changes and with considerations of the cost.”

These changes suggest an evolving landscape in holiday season logistics. Read the full article to explore how these trends might impact your business strategies.