The John Lewis advert is out and the Fortnum & Mason windows are decorated. Christmas has arrived in the UK and with it, the need for online retailers to prepare for the rush of holiday shopping. You've probably been planning your campaigns and preparing your inventory for months now. But if you want to ensure your orders reach your customers in time, you'll want to be aware of the last posting dates for the UK and make sure your fulfillment processes can keep up with the holiday demand.
With the high street shops getting packed out during the holiday season and shoppers getting pressed for time, it's no surprise that British consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping to make their Christmas purchases. eCommerce retail generated £7.9 billion in sales in 2011, a figure which soared to £25 billion in 2016. Additionally, 41% of holiday spending was done online in 2017. That's why it's so important to know the last UK posting dates ahead of the holidays. And if you need help managing couriers, Easyship is here make sure your fulfillment solutions are prepped and ready for the holiday rush.
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2020 Holiday Delivery Cutoffs in the UK
During the holiday season, you'll probably need to get deliver your customers' orders by key dates, like December 25. Of course, that means everyone needs to be aware of the last posting dates possible with each courier. So once you've updated your website with holiday shipping rates and methods, don't forget to make sure to tell your customers the last posting dates for Christmas.
What are Royal Mail’s Last Christmas Posting Dates for 2020?
The UK's Royal Mail last posting dates for Christmas are pretty generous, but if you're going to cut it that close, there's no room for error.
| Service | Holiday Ship By Date |
|---|---|
| Royal Mail 2nd Class | December 18, 2020 |
| Royal Mail First Class | December 21, 2020 |
| Royal Mail Tracked 48 | December 21, 2020 |
| Royal Mail Tracked 24 | December 22, 2020 |
| Royal Mail Special Delivery (Guaranteed by 9am) | December 23, 2020 |
Parcelforce Worldwide Last Posting Dates for Christmas 2020
For last-minute shoppers, Parcelforce will make sure any panic orders will be sitting under the Christmas tree before the big day even, as their last day for Christmas post is two days before the holiday.
| Service | Holiday Ship By Date |
|---|---|
| Percelforce Two Day Service Express 48 | December 22, 2020 |
| Parcelforce Timed Service - Express AM, Express PM, Next Day Service, Express 24 | December 23, 2020 |
Related: What are the last posting dates to Australia for Christmas 2020?
Hermes Last Posting Dates for 2020
Earlier orders make your job as an eCommerce retailer much easier. If you can encourage customers to place their orders well before the last day for Christmas post, you can use Hermes' Courier Collection to have all your orders picked up and shipped off with minimal hassle to you. Just remember to meet the UK last posting dates for 2020.
| Service | Holiday Ship By Date |
|---|---|
| Hermes Courier Collection | December 19, 2020 |
| Hermes Standard Parcelshop Dropoff | December 21, 2020 |
| Hermes Next Day Parcelshop Dropoff | December 23, 2020 |
2020 Domestic and International Holiday Delivery Deadlines
Now that you're aware of all the last posting dates in the UK, we've also put together a handy holiday shipping deadlines infographic of UK send-by dates that shows you what services are available both domestically and internationally from the US and how to schedule your own shipping cutoff dates.
The holiday season is the busiest — and most profitable — days for every business. Do you have your holiday logistics ready? If not, we're happy to help. We've got a shipping checklist ready for you to tick off, so you're all ready to give your customers a memorable Christmas.
Happy shipping, and happy holidays!
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