For maximum impact, combine sales and shipping promotions during the holiday season
During the holiday season, shoppers are on the hunt for the best possible deals. By strengthening sales promotions with shipping offers, particularly free shipping, forward-looking merchants can cut through the noise and stand out from the competition.
We know that shoppers routinely compare prices across merchant sites before making a purchase, and that shipping costs are always top of mind. So much so that free shipping has moved from a nice-to-have to a need-to-play tactic during the holiday season.
READ ALSO: 2017 Holiday plan: Even out peaks and valleys to maximize sales
Since 2013, Canada Post has been monitoring the biggest e-commerce merchants in Canada during the holidays to evaluate how promotional activities impact e-commerce volumes. The verdict is clear: To satisfy their shoppers and remain competitive, merchants need to offer some type of free shipping during the holidays.
Here's a detailed guide to how you can leverage free shipping without breaking the bank. The key takeaway: Merchants can expect a boost in sales when free shipping is an option.
Interested in reading more from Canada Post? Visit the Canada Post Shipping Solutions Blog for more articles to help you operate your e-commerce business more effectively.
Combined offers lead to higher volumes
Holiday shopping is starting earlier and lasting longer, and savvy shoppers are always on the lookout for free shipping offers. The good news: Merchants that paired sales and restriction-free shipping promotions during Cyber and Boxing Week benefited from greater lift in volumes compared to the previous week.
Maximize Cyber Week with free shipping
During the 2016 holiday season, merchants raised the bar when it comes to promotional free shipping. Year over year, the number of merchants offering free shipping with no restrictions on Black Friday and Cyber Monday jumped sharply.
By removing this purchase barrier, merchants can win over new customers during this critical shopping period. Free shipping promotions can also help shift volumes from in-store to online during the Black Friday rush.
Be more competitive during the crowded holiday season
Recognizing that free shipping is always on customers' minds, smart retailers are enhancing their shipping offers during the holidays. When paired with a timely sales promotion, free shipping can increase overall sales. The result: Greater customer satisfaction and the promise of higher profitability in the long run.
Should every merchant be offering year-round free shipping? Maybe not, but you clearly need to leverage it at strategic times to capture as much of the holiday spend as you can.
For more insight on attracting shoppers to your business during this key season, you'll find our latest Holiday Guide here.
* Source: 2016 Canada Post Parcel Insights
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