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Remember that time you looked at the calendar, saw it was already November, and felt a cold sweat break out as you realized you were way behind on your e-commerce christmas prep? Yeah, me too. But not anymore. Welcome to your stress-free guide to crushing the holiday season, starting right now in September.

The September Shift: Why Early E-commerce Christmas Prep Matters

When I first started in e-commerce, I thought November was plenty of time to get ready for the Christmas rush. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. I’d find myself scrambling to set up promos, update my site, and plan email campaigns while watching my competitors count their holiday cash.

But here’s the thing: the most successful e-commerce businesses aren’t just ready for Christmas; they’re already selling before Black Friday hits. And that preparation? It starts now.

5 Must-Do Actions for Your September Christmas Prep

1. Design Your Christmas Website Banner

Don’t wait until December 1st to add some holiday cheer to your site. Design your Christmas banner now and schedule it to go live in mid-October. This early visual cue gets your customers in the holiday spirit and thinking about their Christmas shopping well in advance.

Pro Tip: Create a few variations to rotate throughout the season to keep your site fresh and engaging.

2. Set Up an Email Capture for “VIP Christmas Offers”

Start building your Christmas email list now. Create a special opt-in offer for “VIP Christmas Deals” or “Early Bird Holiday Specials.” This not only grows your list but also identifies your most interested holiday shoppers.

Action Item: Set up a pop-up or banner on your site today inviting customers to join your VIP Christmas list.

3. Plan Your Upsells and Downsells

Map out your product relationships now. What goes well with your best-sellers? What’s a great alternative if a popular item is out of stock? Planning these connections early allows you to set up your site for maximum sales when the rush hits.

Brainstorm: List your top 5 products and identify 2 potential upsells and 1 downsell for each.

4. Create Bigger “Gift Packages” of Your Products

Bundle products together to create attractive gift packages. This increases your average order value and provides easy gift solutions for your customers. Win-win!

Example: If you sell skincare, create a “Complete Pampering Kit” with cleanser, moisturizer, and a luxury face mask.

5. Schedule Your Promo Emails for Early November

Don’t wait for Black Friday. Plan and schedule your early bird offers for the first two weeks of November. This gets your customers shopping before the big sales hit and can lead to repeat purchases during the peak season.

Key Dates: Aim to have your first holiday promo email out by November 7th at the latest.

The Early Bird Gets the Sales

By tackling these tasks in September, you’re not just preparing for Christmas – you’re extending your selling season. This approach allows you to:

Beat the rush and stand out before your competitors flood inboxes
Create multiple touchpoints with customers throughout the season
Test and refine your offers before the peak shopping days
Reduce stress and enjoy the holiday season yourself!

Your Next Steps

Ready to get started? Here’s your immediate action plan:

Block out time this week to design your Christmas banner
Set up that email capture form on your website
Start your upsell/downsell brainstorming session
Sketch out ideas for 2-3 gift packages
Draft the outline for your early November promo emails

Remember, the goal isn’t to stress you out in September instead of November. It’s to spread out the work, so you can approach the holiday season with confidence and a solid plan.

Want to make sure you’re not missing anything? Grab my complete “Christmas Prep Checklist” for free [insert link here]. It’s got everything you need to sleigh your sales this holiday season.

Here’s to your most profitable Christmas yet!