Preparing for Peak Season: E-Commerce Fulfillment Tips for Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) remain the biggest online shopping period of the year, with many brands seeing months’ worth of volume condensed into just a few days. While strong marketing drives traffic, successful brands know that fast, accurate fulfillment is what keeps customers happy—and returning.

Whether you manage fulfillment in-house or partner with a third-party logistics provider (3PL) like 3G Warehouse, preparation is key. Here are the most important steps to ensure you’re ready to meet peak-season demand without bottlenecks.

1. Forecast Demand Early and Accurately

The most effective peak-season strategies begin with strong forecasting. Look at:

• Historical sales volume

• Product trends year-over-year

• Upcoming promotions

• Inventory sell-through velocity

• Lead times from suppliers

Once you understand potential volume spikes, it becomes much easier to plan inventory, allocate staff, and coordinate with your fulfillment partner.

Brands that forecast proactively typically experience fewer stockouts, minimized rush costs, and faster turnaround times.

2. Build Inventory Before the Surge

Waiting too long to replenish is one of the biggest peak-season risks. Your warehouse partner needs time to:

• Receive inventory

• Confirm accuracy

• Store & scan into systems

• Stage products for outbound

Aim to have inventory delivered at least several weeks before BFCM, especially if your products require kitting, labeling, or bundled packaging.

3. Streamline Product Listings & SKUs

The more organized your SKU catalog is, the faster fulfillment can move. You can simplify operations by:

• Consolidating low-velocity SKUs

• Improving product naming so pickers can easily identify items

• Finalizing holiday bundles well in advance

• Updating product images and dimensional profiles

This reduces picking errors and helps optimize storage space.

4. Prioritize Clear System Integration

Fast fulfillment requires real-time data. If you aren’t fully integrated with your warehouse or 3PL, now is the time.

Check that: 

✅ Orders flow automatically from your e-commerce platform 

✅ Inventory updates in real time 

✅ Tracking numbers send automatically 

✅ Bundling rules are accurate

These steps prevent avoidable backlogs and reduce manual intervention during the busiest days of the year.

5. Pre-Plan Promotions & Packaging

Both marketing and operations teams should know what’s coming.

Plan ahead:

• Which products are discounted

• Expected order volumes per promotion

• Whether bundles need pre-assembly

• Any special packaging, inserts, or gift messaging

Pre-kitting bundles dramatically speeds up pick & pack and ensures consistency in customer experience.

6. Strengthen Pick & Pack Workflows

With order volume surging, accuracy becomes everything. Some tips:

• Organize high-velocity items closer to pack stations

• Pre-kit anticipated bundle orders

• Add additional quality-control checkpoints

• Consider temporary labor

3PLs like 3G Warehouse proactively prepare by training seasonal support and pre-staging products for faster throughput.

7. Keep Shipping Carriers Top-of-Mind

During peak season, carriers face enormous volume pressure. To safeguard your delivery timelines:

• Know cutoff dates for ground + expedited

• Use multiple carriers to offset capacity issues

• Offer guaranteed delivery options

• Track average delivery performance

• Communicate changes to customers proactively

Leveraging a warehouse with existing carrier relationships often yields better rates and more predictable delivery timing.

8. Have a Returns Plan in Place

Holiday returns are inevitable—and an opportunity to improve customer loyalty.

A strong returns strategy includes:

• Clear return instructions

• Fast RMA processing

• Immediate reinventory when possible

• Customer notifications at every step

A 3PL can streamline returned-item processing so inventory gets reshelved faster.

9. Create Contingency Plans

Even the best plans face curveballs—supplier delays, carrier slowdowns, inventory miscounts, etc.

To protect your operations:

• Identify backup carriers

• Monitor SKU velocity daily

• Prepare overflow storage or staffing

• Realign promotions if inventory changes

• Communicate with customers before issues escalate

Proactive communication prevents lost trust and reduces strain on support staff.

10. Work With a Fulfillment Partner Who Prepares Alongside You

Peak season can overwhelm internal fulfillment teams. A strong 3PL partner gives you: ✅ Operational support ✅ Fast & accurate pick/pack ✅ Scalable storage & shipping capacity ✅ Inventory visibility ✅ Kitting & VAS support ✅ Returns processing

If you lack space, labor, or infrastructure, partnering with an experienced warehouse can provide the stability needed to grow through BFCM rather than bottleneck under pressure.

Final Thoughts

Peak season success goes beyond great marketing. The brands that win BFCM are the ones who:

• Plan ahead

• Stage inventory early

• Streamline operations

• Coordinate closely with their fulfillment partner

A proactive approach ensures faster shipping, happier customers, and more repeat business—turning Black Friday into long-term growth.

If you’re looking to optimize your fulfillment strategy for the holidays, 3G Warehouse can help you scale confidently through the busiest time of the year and beyond.