Shipping and fulfillment. Sounds straightforward. Package the product, apply a label, and send it off. Simple, right?

As a marketing, training or human resources professional who’s been asked to perform this task dozens of times, you know better. This seemingly simple process—arguably the most critical component of the supply chain—can actually be quite challenging and costly, especially when scores, if not hundreds, of recipients are involved. 

Fortunately, there are businesses that specialize in shipping and fulfillment. They’ve reduced the process to an efficient and practical science. Best of all, hiring these experts to assist with your shipping and fulfillment needs is much easier and more affordable than you might think. 

It’s certainly no secret that the global supply chain is experiencing some significant disruptions at the moment. Between increasing mobility restrictions, tightening border controls, a shortage of supply and an ever-growing demand for goods, the situation is causing a serious concern for both manufacturers and consumers alike. If you’re planning on purchasing some promotional items for your company, here are a few key tips to help ensure a smooth, timely and uneventful delivery.

There are some great solo musicians out there, but they are not a band. A band practices together, collaborates regularly and works in tandem to hone their craft.  

Similarly, staying engaged with your customers and employees is not an individual effort. You may love your Shopify site, your printing company, your promo provider and your fulfillment vendor. They all work really hard to meet your requirements. But the truth is, four individuals simply cannot match the power of a team working together to ensure that your project stays on budget and on time so it can ultimately produce the results you’re anticipating. 

It’s certainly no secret that the supply chain is currently under some serious stress. A combination of multiple factors, including supply and demand issues as well as growing staffing shortages, are already wreaking havoc, causing shipping delays and fulfillment problems. These disruptions are impacting everything from consumer electronics and paper goods to toys, automobiles and more. And one area where experts believe will see a significant shortage is in name-brand products.

By now, you’ve probably heard about the disruption in the global supply chain causing massive delays and shortages around the world. Unfortunately, this is all occurring just in time for the holiday season, which means there will almost certainly be some changes in the way we plan.

Simply put, if you haven’t started ordering your corporate gifts by October, you are playing a risky game. Here are a few helpful tips to avoid the holiday headaches and improve the odds of a smooth, timely delivery experience.