Latest news with #GregHewitt
Forbes
28-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Christmas In July: Why E-Commerce Retailers Must Prepare Now For Peak Season Demand
Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S. While most consumers are still focused on summer, retailers—particularly those in e-commerce—know that the busiest time of year is fast approaching. For them, the holiday season begins now. In fact, planning for peak season is a year-round discipline, and by July, that planning needs to accelerate. Last year, U.S. holiday e-commerce sales reached $241 billion, an 8.7% increase from the previous year, according to Adobe Insights. Globally, sales totaled more than $1.2 trillion. While broader economic factors may influence 2025 outcomes, industry forecasts continue to point to growth. What's certain is this: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular must be proactive. The holiday period brings heightened competition, increased customer expectations and significant logistics challenges—especially for those expanding into international markets. By focusing on key areas now, retailers can position themselves for a successful peak season. Start promotions early and align supply accordingly. The holiday shopping window is beginning to shift. Last year, as many as 8% of consumers started their holiday purchasing as early as September. Launching promotions in advance can help businesses meet demand and stay ahead of the curve. This requires thoughtful inventory planning. Now is the time to evaluate supply forecasts, secure stock and ensure fulfillment capabilities are aligned with projected volume. Additionally, consider strategies to increase basket size, such as bundling or cross-selling, so each customer interaction yields stronger returns. Leverage AI to enhance support and marketing. AI has become a valuable resource for businesses seeking to improve efficiency and customer experience. AI-powered chat tools, for example, can assist with customer inquiries, personalize product recommendations and guide users through the shopping journey. On the marketing front, AI plays an increasing role in search and product discovery. As consumers rely more heavily on AI-enabled platforms to compare prices and find products, it's important to explore how it can enhance your digital strategy. For those who have not yet integrated AI into their operations, now is the time to consult with experts and begin building a road map. Prioritize a strong mobile experience. Mobile commerce continues to grow at a rapid pace. In fact, mobile is expected to account for 59% of all global e-commerce sales in 2025, according to SellersCommerce. In the U.S., more than three-quarters of adults shop via smartphone, and mobile shopping apps account for billions of hours of engagement worldwide. Ensuring your mobile site is optimized, intuitive and capable of handling volume is critical—not just for domestic sales, but also for international shoppers. An investment in mobile usability now can directly influence performance during the busiest time of the year. Offer transparent, customer-centric shipping options. Today's customers expect clear, competitive shipping policies—especially during the holidays. That often includes free shipping or returns above a certain threshold. As you refine your peak-season offer, determine whether free or expedited shipping will be part of your value proposition, and whether that will extend to international markets. These policies should be easy to find—clearly displayed on both desktop and mobile platforms, as well as in marketing communications. In addition, be sure to publish accurate holiday shipping deadlines in advance. A trusted shipping and logistics partner can assist in mapping out transit times by region and identifying cutoff dates that ensure on-time delivery. Plan ahead for cross-border commerce. International expansion remains a compelling growth opportunity for e-commerce sellers. Advancements in shipping technology now make it easier to manage international deliveries, offer real-time tracking and provide customers with transparent payment of duties and taxes at checkout. If your business is targeting global markets this holiday season, develop a plan that clearly communicates shipping costs, delivery expectations and tax implications. Your customer support team should also be prepared to answer questions related to tariffs or customs processes. Proactive communication builds trust and repeat business. Preparation Is The Best Strategy Black Friday and Cyber Monday may feel distant, but for e-commerce businesses, they are just around the corner. The companies that succeed during peak season are those that plan early, act strategically and keep the customer experience at the forefront. By taking the right steps today—around promotion, technology, logistics and service—you'll be better positioned to meet demand, exceed expectations and grow your business during the most important quarter of the year. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Small Businesses Are Preparing For Potential Global Volatility
Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S. Companies across the country and around the world are facing rising operational costs and economic uncertainty, including concerns about tariffs and consumer confidence. While this combination of factors may not seem like a recipe for growth and bold action, many U.S. small businesses are doing just that—seizing new technologies, tapping into global markets and using their agility to adapt and succeed. Results from a recent survey by my company of hundreds of U.S. small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may offer some encouragement and strategic direction for your own business as you navigate a complex economic environment, one largely defined by the uncertainty of ongoing global trade negotiations and the threat of rising tariffs. What The Survey Says Not surprisingly, most SMEs point to operational costs as the top challenge this year, with 57% of respondents citing increasing costs as the biggest issue, and 10% cited talent acquisition and management as the greatest concern. But instead of hunkering down and waiting for market outlooks to improve, most small businesses said they were taking concrete, proactive steps to scale up and manage forward to achieve growth. Those steps include laser-focused cost control (28%), smarter supply chains (15%) and market expansion efforts (18%). In fact, 68% of responding SMEs say they are meeting or beating their financial expectations today, even in a difficult economy, by embracing these tactics. Despite trade policy changes and tariffs presenting difficulties, most small companies are still planning to pursue global trade as part of their overall business strategies. In other words, they are mitigating risks by diversifying their market presence. European markets are considered key for a majority of those surveyed (35%), followed by Asia (28%) and Latin America (25%). At the same time, data shows that India, Vietnam and the Philippines are expected to lead global trade growth, and so these markets offer critical opportunities for SMEs looking to de-risk their domestic dependency. What Small Businesses Can Do Next Since cost control and operational efficiency are so critical, many small businesses are researching how they can better use technology to enter new markets with minimal expenditures. They're prioritizing three key areas: low-cost but reliable international e-commerce platforms; AI integration to enhance customer service and fulfillment; and logistics technology to manage shipments, navigate customs complexities and calculate duties and taxes more accurately. In fact, for your company, sound research and due diligence can make all the difference on multiple fronts. When it comes to technology, your business should examine how new tools, including AI-powered solutions, can help meet the e-commerce challenges that come with global markets. Looking Beyond U.S. Borders This includes the language needs of international customers as well as the creation of marketing and website content that is culturally appropriate to the country where you are doing business. AI-powered chat services and AI-powered product research could also provide assistance in meeting customer service needs more efficiently. It has always been true that entering or expanding into new international markets requires careful planning and research. Today, this core business principle is more applicable than ever. By carefully examining the cross-border markets you aim to target, understanding how your products align with these markets and analyzing specific barriers to trade (including potential new tariff threats), your company can minimize costly moves into unprofitable regions. Your in-depth research should look at market conditions, consumer (or business customer) demand or interest in your products, competition, e-commerce usage trends and current or pending trade rules and regulations. Tap Into Trusted Resources While the issues involved are complex, multiple resources are available to help small businesses acquire and interpret relevant information. The U.S. International Trade Administration, the United States Census Bureau and the U.S. Small Business Administration each offer access to detailed market intelligence, strategic guidance and new market trends. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provides information about importing and exporting, including explanations of current free trade agreements and foreign regulations. Choosing The Right Transport Mode For The Job Your business will also need to thoroughly research logistics options in order to achieve efficiency, avoid costly compliance errors and meet customer expectations. An experienced logistics partner can provide support and information on specific regulations by country, offer smart warehousing options and provide tools to track shipments, calculate duties and taxes that keep customers informed in real time. Whether exporting or importing, it's critical to understand what mode of transport will be best for certain products. Your logistics partners can assist in making this determination, which will depend on time constraints and needs, as well as budgetary considerations. For e-commerce companies exporting directly to consumers, offering expedited shipping options will be critical to compete and meet the growing demand for quick delivery. In the face of big economic changes, small businesses across the U.S. are looking to adapt and grow with a focus on global trade. To keep up with the competition, it's time to explore your own international trade options. 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