Five Tips for Planning Your eCommerce Promotions for 2023

Man in a warehouse smiling by boxes ready to ship out.

Now is the ideal time to start planning your business goals for 2023. Whether you’re interested in improving your online store’s performance by partnering with a fulfillment warehouse or looking for ways to boost business, the following tips can help you plan your eCommerce promotions for this year.

Customer Loyalty

Focusing on customer loyalty helps ensure repeat business for your eCommerce store. Loyal customers can also bring more business to your store by telling others about what you have to offer. Consider starting a rewards program, sending out newsletters, or taking other steps to encourage customer loyalty.

Specific Incentives

Come up with specific incentives for your customers based on their shopping habits and interests. Using customer analytics can help you discover this information. Offering incentives targeted toward your customer base can help you improve your chance of running successful promotions in the new year.

Engagement

Staying engaged with customers through social media and email can help you spread the word about upcoming promotions for 2023. Set up email and social media campaigns that focus on letting customers know about promotions ahead of time and reminding them just before they start.

Cross-Selling

Offering two or more items at a discount or promotional rate can encourage customers to purchase from your store more often. Cross-selling can also help your customers learn more about different kinds of items your online store offers.

Micro-targeting

Customizing promotions for smaller groups of customers, also known as micro-targeting, can help boost business for your online store. Examining data about your customers can help you determine which groups to target and what kinds of promotions to offer.

Your #1 Solution for East and West Coast Fulfillment Services

The shopping holiday crunch may be over, but your need for effective fulfillment services doesn’t end. Medallion’s comprehensive programs are specifically designed to accommodate the ebbs and flows of your particular company.

Consider our robust Amazon replenishment warehousing services meet Amazon’s standards at a more cost-effective price.

If you’re looking for a fulfillment warehouse that offers reliable service, please contact Medallion Enterprises. We also offer a wide selection of services to help your online business grow.

Christmas and New Year’s Hours

Holiday table setting

The holidays are here! We wanted to take a moment to say thank you for your business and to share with you our holiday hours for Christmas and New Year’s.

Medallion and Sprocket Express’ 2022-2023 December and January Closures

Our holiday season hours are as follows:

Christmas: Closed Monday December 26th

New Year’s Eve: Monday January 2nd

Thank you again for allowing us to be your warehouse and fulfillment partner.

Thanksgiving and December Holiday Hours

Close-up of African American man carving roasted Thanksgiving turkey.

Medallion and Sprocket Express’ 2022-2023 Holiday Season Closures

Our holiday season hours are as follows:

Thanksgiving: Closed Thursday and Friday November 24th and 25th

Christmas: Closed Monday December 26th

New Year’s Eve: Monday January 2nd

Thank you again for allowing us to be your warehouse and fulfillment partner.

Offer Free Shipping the Smart Way for the 2022 Holiday Season

Learn how to offer free shipping the smart way.

Today’s savvy consumers have come to expect free shipping as a perk of spending their money online. But as the retailer on the other side of that equation, it may sound not so great. Turn free shipping for customers from your fulfillment warehouse into a win-win proposition this holiday season with these helpful tips.

How to Offer Free Shipping the Smart Way

Shopkick is a shopping app company that partners with major retailers such as Target, Old Navy and Disney Stores. According to their survey of holiday shoppers, free shipping was the top benefit expected by 94 percent of respondents.

So, the question is not if you’ll offer free shipping, but how. You can resign yourself to accepting it as the cost of doing business, or you can use these creative suggestions from experts to offer free shipping without sacrificing your profit margins.

1. Build shipping costs into the sticker price.
This is the easiest and most common way to cover free shipping. When you factor the costs into the sale price of your products, the difference is negligible and greatly outweighed by the perceived benefit of free shipping.

2. Optimize packaging.
When is the last time you reviewed your packaging standards? Elements like oversized boxes and excessive filler can unnecessarily drive up your shipping costs. Proper packaging keeps shipping expenses manageable while reducing your carbon footprint for additional savings.

3. Boost average order value.
If a customer can be enticed to increase the dollar value of their order, you realize a greater profit with only an incremental change in shipping costs. There are a few ways to accomplish this:
• An order includes multiple purchases of the same item
• Free shipping kicks in at a specific minimum order threshold
• Offer free shipping on a select number of items with higher profit margins

4. Tie free shipping to customer loyalty programs
Amazon Prime launched its growth to more than 200 million subscribers with the promise of free shipping. But you don’t have to confine this strategy strictly to paid membership services. You can simply offer free shipping as a perk for repeat customers.

5. Offer additional shipping options.
It is said that time is money, and for some people, that means they are willing to pay for it. Yes, most people are in a position to wait for standard shipping if it means getting it for free. Others are in more of a hurry, whether they have a pressing need or they’re just impatient. Expedited shipping options provide flexibility as well as another way to offset the costs of free shipping.

6. Offer event-based free shipping.
Instead of blanket free shipping, consider using strategic timing. Create a set schedule on certain days and times or run flash sales where you “randomly” announce free shipping for sales during a limited period of time. Both plans will build excitement in shoppers and encourage return visits to your site.

7. Partner with an experienced fulfillment warehouse.
Let’s face it. Selling is what you know and love. An experience fulfillment warehouse can offer advantages, such as good relationships with carriers, that keep shipping costs down while providing superior service to your customers. In the meantime, you’re free to work on building your business.

Medallion: a Fulfillment Warehouse for All Seasons
‘Tis the season of the most lucrative time of the year, but your business doesn’t end when the holidays do. Keep your eCommerce shop running on all cylinders 24/7. Contact us at Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics to learn more about our innovative, cost-effective solutions that can be customized to fit your particular needs.

Ecommerce Store Owners’ Top Ten Challenges – How to Overcome Them and Succeed Online

Consider Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics for your Fulfillment Warehouse

With more consumers turning to online stores for their purchases, this is a great time to run an eCommerce business. However, online store owners face certain challenges that can make or break their business. From protecting consumer information online to finding better ways to fulfill orders, such as with help from a fulfillment company, these are some of the top challenges eCommerce store owners face.

1. Building Customer Loyalty
With so many online stores to choose from, having customer loyalty can be tough. Encourage customers to be loyal to your business through online interaction, loyalty programs with rewards, transparency, and content marketing. Taking these steps can help you engage with your customers and build a rapport with them.

2. Labor Shortages
Labor shortages have been making it harder for online stores to find staff to handle orders, customer service, and other aspects of keeping businesses up and running. Making improvements to your recruiting process and offering good benefits can help you find employees to help you with your online store.

3. Problems with Logistics
Global supply chain issues have led to logistics problems for online stores, especially when it comes to tracking inventory. Hiring a reputable fulfillment company can help your eCommerce business keep track of products that are in stock, so that you’ll know when it’s time for you to restock.

4. Lack of In-Person Contact Before Purchasing
Customers aren’t able to examine products physically before buying them when they purchase goods online. This can cause some customers to avoid shopping online. ECommerce store owners can make use of newer technology, such as virtual realty or augmented reality to make up the inability to physically try on or feel or hold merchandise.

5. Low Conversion Rates
Conversion rates can be a problem for online store owners, especially for those who are just getting started. Focusing on driving conversion through search engine optimization, calls-to-action, and the targeted messaging can help you increase your online store’s conversion rates.

6. Fraudulent Transactions
Fraud can easily happen in online stores when secure payment methods aren’t being used. This can lead to financial and legal problems while also discouraging customers from doing business with your eCommerce store. Watch for signs of suspicious activity with customer purchases, and use software solutions to make the payment process as secure as possible.

7. Customer Support
Although you can use chatbots for convenient customer support, many consumers would rather talk to customer service personnel on the phone, especially when dealing with complex issues. Offering phone support that allows customers to speak to someone can help improve customer support.

8. Customer Experience
Customers have raised their expectations in recent years when making online purchases. Ensuring that customers receive their orders promptly is crucial for your online business. A fulfillment company can provide you with peace of mind while also meeting the higher expectations that today’s customers have.

9. Cybersecurity Threats
Cybersecurity threats can put customer data at risk and harm your online business in other ways. To lower the risk of these threats, you should update your online store platform on a regular basis, back up data routinely, and use security solutions.

10. Product Returns
Online stores have a higher risk of fraud or other issues when it comes to product returns. Having clear return and refund policies can help lower this risk. Giving customers different options for returns or refunds or offering coupons for those who aren’t satisfied with their purchase can help encourage customer loyalty.

Ready to Get a Price Quote for Our Services?
If you need a fulfillment company to help overcome challenges with your eCommerce business, please contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics today. We offer dependable, quality fulfillment services on both the East and West Coasts.