Venipak’s Five Tips to Ensure Christmas Gifts Arrive on Time

As the holiday season approaches, Venipak advises Baltic e-commerce businesses to plan carefully to ensure all Christmas gifts reach their recipients safely and on time.

“The Christmas parcel wave historically started in mid-November, but now we see shipment volumes growing already from November 1,” said Venipak's CEO, Andrius Ladauskas. “Each year, online shoppers order their Christmas gifts earlier. Preparing in advance is crucial to make sure every gift arrives in perfect condition.”

Peak shopping days, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, significantly increase parcel volumes, with delivery activity reaching its height during the last weekend of November. To help businesses stay ahead, Venipak recommends focusing on five key areas:

1. Align with your delivery partners

Discuss with your parcel providers how many packages they can handle during the busiest holiday periods. Understanding their capacity helps you plan sales and promotions more accurately. Ask whether your partner is prepared for the holidays and how they plan to handle potential challenges.

2. Package with care

Holiday parcels are handled more intensively than usual. Ensure that gifts are shipped in protective packaging — original boxes should be placed inside a separate cardboard box, and fragile items should be cushioned with bubble wrap or an eco-friendly alternative. Reinforce corners and edges with tape and consider using double-layered boxes for extra protection.

3. Use automation to validate addresses and contact information

Automated solutions can help verify customer addresses and contact details before orders are placed, reducing delivery errors. Include prompts on order forms encouraging customers to double-check their information. Synchronizing your CRM with your delivery partner’s system is also highly recommended to avoid inaccuracies.

4. Confirm your final order cut-off dates

Coordinate with your delivery partner to determine the latest date customers can place orders and still receive their gifts before Christmas. Clear deadlines help you manage customer expectations and avoid delays.

5. Communicate continuously with your delivery partner

Keep in touch to improve delivery time forecasts. For example, Venipak can deliver a package between Vilnius and Tallinn in one day, while delivery between Tallinn and Kuressaare may take two business days. Understanding these transit times allows for better planning and ensures gifts arrive on schedule.

“Proper preparation is key,” added Kaldvee. “By following these five steps, retailers can make sure every Christmas gift reaches its recipient safely and on time, even during the busiest weeks of the year.”