FBA Holiday Prep Series #2: What to do 7-9 Weeks Out

The holiday season is fast approaching, and we want to make sure you are ready! In our last post, we introduced the holiday preparation timeline, and focused on necessary to-dos 10-12 weeks out from the holiday window. This post will focus on what you need to do 7-9 weeks out from the holiday season to give you ample time to prepare.

7-9 weeks before: Stock and Ship

The emphasis on this window is all about staying on top of what’s in demand for your inventory, and working with your suppliers to ensure you have enough inventory in the network to cover the holiday demand:

• Restock or remove inventory: Tracking the days of supply for best-selling products will help you plan and reorder to avoid running out of stock and losing potential sales. Stocking popular products can also help your business earn or maintain profitability and grow. Look to remove or liquidate slow-moving product, and keep the emphasis on best sellers.

• Ship to a Fulfillment Center: Remember, it’s important to plan your shipment ahead of time! Allow enough time for supplier lead times, carrier lead times, or both. It may take longer to ship inventory to fulfillment centers during the busy holiday season, so give yourself ample time.

• Clear overstock using the Amazon outlet program: One option to trim down inventory in advance of the holiday season is to use the Amazon Outlet program. You can review Outlet deal recommendations in the FBA Inventory tool and create deals to be featured on the Outlet page once approved by Amazon. This option can increase sell-through, improve cash flow, optimize inventory levels, and reduce total storage fees.

• FBA inventory dates for holiday deal events: Review this Seller Central Help Page for key holiday deal events, and additional linked resources with best practices for the holiday season.

If you have any other Holiday best practices for FBA sellers, let us know in the comments!

- Bryce