Proudly Canadian 
The holiday season can be a hectic time for small businesses, especially when it comes to shipping. But don’t let holiday shipping stress you out! With FlagShip, you have a convenient online shipping solution that makes holiday shipping simple, efficient, and most importantly, affordable.
The holiday season should be a time of strong sales and happy customers for your small business—not a logistical headache. But as order volumes increase and carrier networks get busier, holiday shipping can quickly become more complicated and expensive.
With the right preparation, your business can simplify holiday shipping, control costs, and keep customers informed. FlagShip gives Canadian businesses access to discounted rates from leading couriers, an easy-to-use online shipping system, shipment tracking, and dedicated customer support—all in one place.
Don’t have an account? It’s easy and free to sign up!
Simply click here to get started
Quick Summary: How Small Businesses Can Save on Holiday Shipping
- Compare courier rates: Shipping prices can vary considerably between couriers and services for the same package.
- Use right-sized packaging: Oversized boxes can increase dimensional-weight charges.
- Enter accurate dimensions and weight: Accurate shipment information helps reduce billing adjustments.
- Choose the right service: Avoid paying for expedited delivery when a lower-cost ground service can still meet the required timeline.
- Ship earlier when possible: Planning ahead gives you more cost-saving service options.
- Watch additional charges: Residential delivery, remote-area, oversized-package and seasonal fees can affect the total shipping cost.
- Compare before you ship: FlagShip allows Canadian businesses to compare discounted rates from multiple leading couriers in one place.
Why Choose FlagShip for Your Holiday Shipping Needs?
During the holiday season, small businesses need a shipping process that is efficient, flexible, and cost-effective. FlagShip helps simplify holiday shipping by bringing multiple courier services together through one online shipping platform.
Instead of managing separate shipping accounts and systems, businesses can compare available courier rates and services, create shipments, print labels, schedule pickups, and track packages through FlagShip.
Access Discounted Courier Rates and Services
FlagShip partners with leading couriers including Purolator, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Canpar, and GLS, giving businesses access to discounted courier rates.
Through our online shipping system, you can compare available rates, courier services, and estimated transit times to find an option that works for your shipment.
Whether you’re shipping within Canada, to the United States, or internationally, comparing your available courier options can help you make a more informed decision during the busy holiday season.
Streamline Your Holiday Shipping Process
FlagShip’s online shipping system makes it easier to manage your holiday shipments from a single platform.
With just a few steps, you can:
- Enter your shipment information
- Compare available courier rates and services
- Create your shipment
- Print shipping labels
- Schedule pickups where available
- Manage and track your shipments
Keeping these shipping activities together in one system can save valuable time during the holiday rush and make it easier to manage higher order volumes.
Pack Holiday Shipments Carefully
Proper packaging is important throughout the year, but it becomes especially important during the holiday season when carrier networks are handling higher shipment volumes.
Here are four practical ways to help protect your packages:
- Use sturdy boxes: Choose packaging that is appropriate for the weight, dimensions, and contents of your shipment. Heavier items may require stronger or double-wall corrugated boxes.
- Add proper cushioning: Use suitable protective materials to help prevent items from shifting inside the package during transit. Fragile items should receive additional protection.
- Seal packages securely: Use strong packing tape and make sure the package is properly closed before shipping.
- Position labels clearly: Place the shipping label on a flat, visible surface and avoid placing it over seams, edges, or areas where it could become damaged.
Good packaging helps reduce the risk of damage and gives your products additional protection throughout the shipping journey.
For more advice, read our guide to holiday shipping tips.
Plan Ahead for Timely Holiday Deliveries
Customers want their orders to arrive on time, particularly when they’re purchasing gifts. During the holiday rush, planning ahead can help reduce the risk of missed delivery expectations.
Here are three important steps:
- Ship early: Allow additional time for packages to move through busy carrier networks. Review current carrier holiday schedules and cutoff dates before promising a delivery date to a customer.
- Choose the right service: If an order is time-sensitive, compare available express or expedited services. FlagShip’s online shipping system lets you compare available service options and estimated transit times.
- Track your shipments: Monitor your shipments throughout transit so you’re aware of their progress and can respond quickly if an issue occurs.
For additional advice, see our tips for getting holiday packages delivered on time.
Make holiday shipping easier for your business. Compare discounted courier rates and manage your shipments in one place with FlagShip.
Create your free FlagShip account
Get Support When You Need It
The holiday season can bring unexpected shipping questions and challenges. If you need help with a shipment, FlagShip’s customer support team is available to assist.
Instead of managing your shipping alone, you can reach out to our team for help with shipping questions and shipment-related issues.
With FlagShip, your business can compare courier options, access discounted shipping rates, manage shipments through one platform, and get support when needed.
That means you can spend less time managing the logistics of holiday shipping and more time focusing on your customers and your business.
Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Shipping
Small businesses should begin preparing before holiday order volumes increase. Review your packaging supplies, shipping processes, carrier options, customer delivery messaging, and holiday schedules early so you’re not making major operational changes during the busiest weeks of the season.
Start by comparing available courier rates instead of automatically choosing the same carrier or service for every shipment. Accurate package dimensions and weights, appropriate packaging, and choosing a service that matches the shipment’s urgency can also help control costs. FlagShip allows businesses to compare courier rates through one platform.
Ship as early as reasonably possible, particularly as major holiday dates approach. Exact shipping deadlines depend on the courier, origin, destination, and service selected. Always review current carrier schedules and estimated transit times before promising customers a specific arrival date.
There isn’t one shipping service that is best for every holiday package. The right choice depends on factors such as destination, package size and weight, urgency, value, and budget. Comparing available courier rates and services can help you choose the most appropriate option for each shipment.
Express or expedited shipping can be useful for time-sensitive orders, particularly as holiday deadlines approach. However, availability, pricing, and estimated delivery times depend on the carrier, service, origin, and destination. Compare your available options before choosing a service.
Use packaging that is appropriate for the shipment, add sufficient cushioning, prevent items from moving inside the box, seal the package securely, and place the shipping label on a clear, flat surface. Fragile and high-value items may require additional packaging and protection.
Yes. Shipments created through FlagShip can be managed and tracked through the FlagShip online shipping system. Tracking information helps businesses monitor shipment progress and keep customers informed during the busy holiday season.
FlagShip provides access to courier services for domestic, U.S., and international shipping through carriers including Purolator, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Canpar, and GLS. Available services depend on the shipment’s origin, destination, package details, and carrier.
Holiday shipping doesn’t have to become a logistical headache. Preparing early, packing shipments properly, comparing courier options, choosing appropriate services, and tracking your packages can help your business navigate the holiday rush more efficiently.
With FlagShip, you can compare discounted courier rates, create and manage shipments through one online platform, and access support when you need it.
Ready to simplify your holiday shipping? Create your free FlagShip business account.
For personalized shipping assistance, contact our shipping specialists at 1-866-320-8383 or email [email protected].
Stay connected with us for more shipping tips, updates, and support:
