Last minute requests on the rise?

Is it me or are customers waiting until the last minute to order gifts? We've been watching our metrics and we're seeing a trend in same day deliveries, next day pick ups, overnight shipping and they're certainly on the rise. I needed to understand why it's happening, change some operational processes and be prepared.

My opinion of why its happening is two fold. First, I think people are busy and easily forget what's on their plate. Although they don't mean to forget that special birthday or anniversary, it happens. Second, people are trying to save money and not shop but when the day comes, they regret not doing something. Where else can you get a birthday present delivered the same day? A gift basket company.

In terms of our operational processes and being prepared, we've made some changes.

First, we factor in a pit stop back at the shop for our drivers. Instead of packing their schedules with solid deliveries, we do leave some time for them to return back to pick up additional deliveries. If we don't have them, its ok - they get off early.

Second, we're keeping stock of our top 10 gifts - just two each but it helps - it doesn't interrupt our regularly scheduled production and allows us a head start on the gifts our customers are asking for - all we have to do is customize it (if they want), wrap and off it goes.

Lastly, we take our shipments up to UPS at 11am and then they pick up at our shop at 4pm. Before, we just shipped out once a day.

One last comment - we started marketing the fact that we do same day deliveries and you'd be surprised what that did for us - it absolutely brought in more business, the problem - we needed to be more specific on WHERE we do same day deliveries. Once we learned that lesson - it's been just fine.

Here's to last minute orders, unorganized clients and our ability to help everyone AND make money too!