APS Fulfillment, Inc. (www.APSFulfillment.com), one of the nation’s leading cost-effective fulfillment and integrated direct mail marketing companies, comments on expected strong holiday sales and what merchants can do to increase sales and improve customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

“During the 2014 holiday season, which includes November and December, retail sales increased 3.6% to $838.85 billion. More specifically, retail e-commerce holiday sales climbed 14.4% to $69.68 billion and accounted for almost a quarter of total annual retail e-commerce revenue and a whopping 75% of fourth-quarter sales,” says Charles Aultman, President of APS Fulfillment, Inc. “This year, holiday retail sales are projected to be even stronger.” (Source: “A Happy Holiday Season Expected for Retailers,” emarketer.com, August 24, 2015; http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Happy-Holiday-Season-Expected-Retailers/1012898).

U.S. holiday retail sales in November and December 2015 are expected to surge 5.7% year-over-year to $885.7 billion. That’s an upward adjustment from the 3.2% increase projected earlier in the year. And the highest since the 6.3% increase in 2011. E-commerce holiday sales are projected to soar 13.9% to $79.4 billion. On top of that, one in four U.S. shoppers is already planning for Black Friday. (Source: “One in Four Shoppers Already Planning for Black Friday,” emarketer.com, October 29, 2015; http://www.emarketer.com/Article/One-Four-Shoppers-Already-Planning-Black-Friday/1013168).

“Geography is no longer a barrier. Thanks to the Internet and mobile devices, consumers can purchase whatever they want whenever they want. And when it comes to the holidays, they’re starting to research what to buy earlier than ever,” Aultman adds. “They also want to receive their purchases as soon as possible. To increase customer satisfaction and build brand loyalty, retailers need to outsource their warehousing and fulfillment services that meet or exceed their customers’ expectations.”

Aultman explains that APS Fulfillment, Inc. is located in South Florida, just minutes from Interstate 95, 20 minutes from the Port Everglades and the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and 40 minutes from the Miami International Airport and Port of Miami.

“Because of our convenient location, merchants that use APS Fulfillment, Inc. can have their products received, inventoried, and shipped in just two days,” Aultman concludes. “Further, APS Fulfillment Inc.’s state-of-the-art facility and fast and accurate pick-and-pack rate can keep up with seasonal demand. We also use real-time shipping that receives orders as they’re placed; this prevents backlogs and ensures orders are shipped as soon as possible. This is extremely important as we head into the holiday season.”

For more information on APS, visit the company’s web site at www.APSFulfillment.com.

APS Fulfillment, Inc. is one of the United States’ leading cost-effective fulfillment and integrated direct mail marketing companies, offering affordable and real-time fulfillment services to small, medium, and large companies. Its state-of-the-art technology provides turnkey solutions for high-volume perfect-match mailings, personalized direct mail, snap-pak mailers, postcards, and triple-tabbed booklets. More information on APS Fulfillment, Inc. is available by visiting the firm’s web site at www. APSFulfillment.com or by calling 954-582-7450.