How you prepare today will determine whether you merely survive this season or come out stronger on the other side.
Stock Smart: Forecast Demand to Win
Start by digging into last year’s Q4 top sellers and your performance so far this year. Fashion and on-demand groceries are leading growth this year, so make sure your fastest movers are well stocked. Don’t forget to identify local alternatives for items with long shipping times from overseas. Build in a safety net for high-traffic days like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the December rush. Stagger your restocks to avoid bottlenecks in your supply chain.
Make Mobile Your Priority
With over a third of purchases made on smartphones, a clunky mobile experience means lost sales. Audit your site’s load speed, compress images, and implement lazy loading. Test your checkout flow on entry-level devices and slower networks to ensure smooth sailing for every customer. Product pages should be easy to scan, clear prices, delivery estimates, return policies, and a quick pitch on why they should buy from you. Mobile optimisation isn’t optional this Q4, it’s essential.
Streamline Checkout and Embrace Local Payments
South African shoppers still trust EFT and debit or credit cards, but interest in instant EFT, mobile wallets, and Buy Now Pay Later options is growing. Keep your checkout simple: minimise form fields, offer guest checkout, upfront shipping costs, and multiple trusted payment methods. If you can accept instant EFT or popular mobile wallets, test them well before the peak season to avoid headaches later.
