Peak Season E-commerce Sales Calendar 2024

As Peak Season approaches, there are numerous factors your business needs to consider, such as Christmas delivery and effectively managing seasonal inventory. Use our sales calendar to help you prepare for the rush. Happy selling!

Whilst not as big an event as others in our list, the spookiest day of the year should still be in your sales calendar. More than a third of Halloween sales now take place online¹, meaning e-commerce businesses selling candy, costumes and decorations have a great opportunity to take a slice of the (pumpkin) pie.

Singles’ Day first emerged in China in the 1990s as an unofficial holiday to celebrate those not in a relationship. It has since grown to become the biggest shopping day in the world. Millions of consumers head online looking for bargains, and with Chinese buyers’ fondness for foreign brands, there are many lucrative opportunities for cross-border e-commerce businesses. 

A key priority for your e-commerce sales strategy. This event originated in the US, where the Friday after Thanksgiving traditionally marked the start of the Christmas shopping season. It has since become a global phenomenon, with retailers offering huge deals and discounts to lure bargain hunters in.

Back when home internet was slow, many Americans, “fresh off a Thanksgiving weekend of window shopping”², would use the Monday back at work to jump online and shop. Today, internet speed is not a problem, but the day remains a key sales season event, with many businesses using the opportunity to shift leftover Black Friday stock at further discounts. 

Also known as “Panic Saturday” – for obvious reasons – this is the final Saturday before Christmas when all the last-minute shoppers suddenly realise they can’t put off thinking about the big day any longer. Other savvy shoppers wait until Super Saturday to do their holiday shopping with the expectation of deals. Be clear about final Christmas delivery shipping times on your website so customers don’t miss the deadline. 

Not to be outdone, some last-minute shoppers wait until the Monday to squeeze in their gift buying. Only online retailers offering next-day delivery will be able to cash in here, so be sure to shout about your speedy shipping on your e-commerce website and across your socials to attract them to your store.

With the big day over, the sales bonanza begins. It’s a great opportunity for your business to shift any excess seasonal inventory – just be sure your online store is optimised for mobile, ready for shoppers having a lazy scroll on the sofa during the post-Christmas slump!

Worried about the holiday rush? Get support from the logistics experts with a DHL Express Business Account.