December 2024 - Fulfilment, JEM News
You’ve survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and now it’s the countdown to Christmas!
With an influx of orders over the festive period, swiftly followed by the New Year sales, you need a robust fulfilment service that you can rely on.
As fulfilment experts, we understand how vital it is to stay on top of seasonal delivery cut-off dates. Here’s everything you need to know, to ensure your customers receive their orders on time this festive season, including last order dates for Christmas delivery.
For many businesses, Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. Late deliveries can lead to disappointed customers, negative reviews and potential financial losses.
Planning around the last postal dates and choosing the right couriers will ensure a smoother experience for you and your customers.
From express shipping to tracking updates, knowing your postal deadlines allows for effective communication and improves customer satisfaction.
With Christmas just a matter of weeks away, your business is gearing up to meet customer demands in online shopping as it peaks again, post-Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, with Christmas, there’s the added complication of a very specific deadline to ensure your goods reach customers in time.
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of clear communication with your customers. Informing them about your cut-off dates for guaranteed pre-Christmas delivery is essential.
Clearly communicating Christmas delivery dates to customers via email and on your website and during checkout helps to set expectations and ensure customers choose the best shipping option to suit their needs.
Offering shipping with a reliable order-tracking system will keep both you and your customers informed. Transparency with your customers builds trust and can prevent frustration if there are any delays.
Royal Mail handles a huge volume of packages during the festive period, so – whenever possible – early preparation is essential.
Click for the most up-to-date Royal Mail Christmas delivery dates.
Couriers have gone above and beyond to handle the peak season this year, with longer hours and advanced technology allowing you to track your parcels.
Each courier service we offer has their own specific cut-off dates for Christmas delivery. To make it easier, we’ve linked to the Christmas delivery dates for some of the UK’s main courier services.
For up-to-date information, subject to weather conditions, please visit:
• DPD
For the latest information, please visit DPD’s Christmas guide.
• Parcelforce
Please click on the link for Parcelforce’s last posting dates.
• UPS
Please click for the UPS Holiday Shipping Schedule.
• Fedex
For Fedex Christmas posting dates, please visit their website.
By aligning with these deadlines, you can maintain a smooth run-up to Christmas and create a positive experience for your customers.
For trade, retail and bulk customers – depending on order size and shipment requirements – JEM will continue to dispatch throughout the Christmas and New Year period to avoid disappointment.
If you have any orders that require pre-Christmas delivery, please let us know and we can advise on a per-order basis.
For businesses shipping internationally, customs clearance can add extra days to your delivery schedule, so it is essential to plan accordingly.
In general, we recommend providing international customers with earlier cut-off dates to account for potential delays. Please also bear in mind that we have no control over delays of international postal services:
• Royal Mail International and International Couriers
International posting dates will vary and delivery times will not be guaranteed so please provide us with as much notice as possible.
EU shipments, from despatch, take between 2-7 days on average with ROW shipments between 3-10 days. Some other destinations may take longer. We will advise on postage options at the time of order and do our best to accommodate any request.
We will be packing and despatching orders right up to Christmas Eve. We also open between Christmas and New Year to avoid any order delays as we head into 2025.
Here are our opening hours over the Christmas and New Year period:
| Date | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 24th December | 9.00am – 1.00pm (subject to post collections) |
| Wednesday 25th December | Closed |
| Thursday 26th December | Closed |
| Friday 27th December | Closed |
| Saturday 28th December | Closed |
| Sunday 29th December | Closed |
| Monday 30th December | 8.00am – 2.00pm |
| Tuesday 31st December | Closed |
| Wednesday 1st January | Closed |
| Thursday 2nd January | Normal opening hours |
Courier collections tend to be earlier than normal on Christmas Eve. Our team are in extra early to make sure your orders are despatched.
• Royal Mail
Collections on 24th and 30th December, and then as normal from 2nd January
• DPD
Collections on 24th and 30th December, and then as normal from 2nd January
• Parcelforce
Collection on 24th and no further collections until 2nd January
• UPS
Collections on 24th and 30th December and then as normal from 2nd January
Maintaining a smooth fulfilment process is essential all year round, and especially so during the Christmas holidays when demand is higher, but the festive rush doesn’t have to be overwhelming!
JEM is primed and prepared to handle the Christmas period. Our inventory tracking and seamless fulfilment services help businesses meet deadlines. You can rely on us to ensure your products are carefully managed, packaged and shipped on time to keep your customers happy during the busiest times of the year.
If you require further support with last order dates for Christmas delivery, please call our team on 01483 204479. We’re here to help with your seasonal operations and make this your most successful Christmas yet!
If you've any questions about this article, or just want to get in touch, simply fill out the contact form below.
Alternatively, you can call us on 01483 204479
