Get All Access for $5/mo

An Entrepreneur's Guide to Shopping and Shipping This Holiday Season (Infographic) Be prepared for the annual race to send packages to all corners by doing the proper advance legwork.

By Harry Whitehouse Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

With Thanksgiving eve here, the holidays have arrived, which means shoppers are in crunch mode to get their shopping done and retailers are as well to keep up with it.

Like last year, this holiday season is a short one, with only 27 days to shop between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That means consumers might feel the pressure to shop earrly and will likely turn to the Internet for support. The National Retail Foundation is predicting 56 percent of consumers will shop online this holiday season, a new record.

Related: Implement These 5 Strategies to Avoid Holiday Shipping Snafus

Carriers are already making big plans to avoid a repeat of last year's fiasco. FedEx and UPS are encouraging retailers to hold their sales in mid-December, while the U.S. Postal Service is introducing seven-day delivery to meet the rush.

It isn't purely up to the shipping carrier to ensure the holiday is merry and bright. Businesses have a part to play in the success of the season as well.

Make sure you know the holiday shipping cutoff dates for FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service and communicate them clearly to customers to help them avoid nasty surprises or missed deliveries.

Do your part by relying on a mix of shipping carriers, instead of just one to ensure customers will always receive the best price.

Don't overlook the U.S. Postal Service, which introduced lower rates for Priority Mail on Sept. 7, making it an excellent option for packages weighing more than five pounds or traveling from one coast to another in just two days.

The infographic below, prepared by Endicia, has the lowdown on shipping deadlines and costs by carrier, as well as popular gifts. You'll be ready take the holiday shopping season by storm.

An Entrepreneur's Guide to Shopping and Shipping This Holiday Season (Infographic)

Harry Whitehouse

Co-Founder and CTO, Endicia

Harry Whitehouse is chief technology officer and co-founder of Endicia, a company offering shipping technologies and services to small and large e-commerce businesses across the United States. A former Stanford associate professor with more than 35 years of industry and management experience, Whitehouse has led Endicia since its inception in 1982.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

How to Spot Trends and Anticipate Market Shifts Before Your Competition

Discover how to identify disruptive trends before your competitors by mastering the art of anticipating market shifts. Learn strategies for staying ahead and gaining a competitive edge in business.

Leadership

As a Leader, Take These 5 Steps to Bridge the Gap Between Innovation and Execution

Companies that want to turn ideas into action must align their people and listen to their customers.

Business News

Macy's CEO Confirms Employee Made Accounting Errors Worth $151 Million, Though Not for 'Personal Gain'

The company announced its third-quarter earnings Wednesday after a delay.

Business News

Apple Is Adding ChatGPT to iPhones This Week. Here's How It Works.

ChatGPT will take over questions that Siri can't answer.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

McDonald's Announces the Return of the Snack Wrap in 2025 — Here's What to Expect From Its Comeback

The decision comes after years of persistent customer demand for the portable snack, which debuted nearly two decades ago.