5 Proven Tips for Shipping During the Holiday Rush

Peak season magnifies every small mistake. Winter weather, carrier backlogs, and extra handoffs can turn a routine shipment into a risk. Use these five field-tested tips to keep live animals, plants, seeds, and temperature-sensitive goods safe and on-time—backed by the steady protection of UniHeat warmers.

Tip 1 — Ship Earlier, Build Buffers, Avoid Weekends

Carriers regularly miss quoted ETAs in December. Move all SLAs forward by 1 business day and block Friday ship dates for perishable or live contents.

• Cutoff discipline: Set earlier order cutoffs and communicate clearly on product pages and checkout.
• Transit buffers: Treat “overnight” like 1–2 days; treat “2-day” like 2–3.
• No weekend holds: Monday–Wednesday are safest for cold-weather routes.

Tip 2 — Choose the Right Heat Duration for Winter

During the rush, boxes spend more time in unheated trucks and depots. Match warmer duration to the realistic route, not the optimistic ETA.

• 40-Hour UniHeat — Overnight/mild conditions with buffer.
• 72-Hour UniHeat — Standard for 2–3 day winter routes.
• 96-Hour UniHeat Mega — Long distance, rural, or delay-prone corridors.

Always pre-activate 20–30 minutes, tape to an inner wall or lid (with a cardboard spacer), and add two small vent holes to the outer carton for oxygen.

Tip 3 — Right-Size the Box: Insulate, But Let It Breathe

Holiday instinct says “more insulation.” Careful—over-insulating can suffocate the pack.

• Box volume: One warmer per ~1 cubic foot of insulated space is a reliable start.
• Layout: Foam or liner for stability, breathable void fill (kraft), and a small air gap around the warmer.
• Distribution: For large boxes, place two warmers on opposite sides to prevent cold corners.

Tip 4 — Weather-Smart Routing & Labels

Peak season = more handoffs outdoors. Treat labels like operating instructions.

• Weather check: Monitor origin, hubs, and destination (not just endpoints).
• Labeling: “Temperature Sensitive — Protect From Cold” and “Do Not Leave in Vehicle Overnight.”
• Hold-for-pickup option: For live or very sensitive contents, consider counter pickup to avoid doorstep exposure.

Tip 5 — Set Customer Expectations (and Win Fewer Chargebacks)

Peak-season transparency reduces WISMO tickets and refunds.

• Publish a Holiday Shipping Notice with earlier cutoffs and winter packaging upgrades.
• Offer a “Winter Pack” add-on at checkout (insulation + appropriate UniHeat duration).
• Send an arrival SMS/email reminding customers to bring the box indoors immediately.

Quick Holiday Checklist

• Ship Mon–Wed; avoid Friday departures.
• Upgrade to 72hr or 96hr by default once lows < 45°F.
• One warmer per ~1 cu ft; distribute in large cartons.
• Pre-activate 20–30 min; add two small vents to the outer carton.
• Label “Temperature Sensitive — Protect From Cold.”

FAQs

Is a 40-hour pack enough in December?

For mild routes under 24 hours, yes. In most holiday scenarios, upgrade to 72hr for safety.

Can I skip vents to “keep heat in”?

No. UniHeat is oxygen-activated. Without airflow, packs stall early. Add small vents to the outer box only.

What if my shipment mixes gel cold packs and UniHeat?

Totally fine in winter. Keep gel beneath/behind product and place UniHeat above/side as a freeze buffer—never in direct contact with contents.

Next step: Choose the right duration for peak season and standardize your packout SOP. Explore 40hr, 72hr, and 96hr warmers at UniHeat.us.