As a partner of Pitney Bowes, ConnectShip is proud to present the 2020 Pitney Bowes Holiday Readiness Guide. This guide contains key tips, tricks, dates, best practices, and interesting statistics to help merchants during the holiday season and year-round. Without giving away all the content, here are a few topics that stood out to us:

• Check Your List, Then Check it Again
  Having just experienced the rush of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and the generous spirit of Giving Tuesday, the guide looks toward our next batch of important dates, such as Green Monday and more. Make sure to check out deadlines for Christmas arrivals and useful tips for merchants online during the holidays! As the guide notes, 47% of consumers plan to buy online, then pick-up in-store (BOPIS) this holiday season, so what is your strategy to meet the need?



• Best Practices for Post-Holiday Returns
  Creating clear and easy-to-find return instructions/policies was a big focus in the 2020 guide. Based on Pitney Bowes’ research, 39% of shoppers are not satisfied with their returns experience; and 70% of shoppers’ likelihood to buy again is significantly increased if their refund is received in 24 hours. From this feedback, we can see that returns are a big opportunity to retain customers who will buy from your business year after year.



• COVID-19 Impact on Deliveries and Returns
  It’s no secret that projections for this year’s e-commerce volume have been met and surpassed in many cases. Pitney Bowes and Morning Consult surveyed 2,200 US adults between March and April of this year on purchase behaviors and attitudes. These statistics could inform important actions your business can take to provide a great customer experience. A few interesting statistics: Nearly 50% of consumers surveyed believed their purchase habits have permanently changed due to COVID-19; and less than 1/3 of respondents were tracking their deliveries daily. This gives credibility to free over fast, following the world’s slowed physical travel and increased financial wariness.



• A Merry and Bright Customer Experience
  The guide reminds us to be prepared for specific calendar surges applicable to the business and industry. Testing incentives like free shipping for orders over $49 is a great way to boost cart conversion. The guide also discusses the important choice between using returns as revenue or a retention tool. As always, make sure your post-purchase offerings are easy to find and follow!