Retailers Move Up Shipping Dates to Avoid a Repeat of Last Year's Problems

"It's important to remember that the 2013 holiday season was impacted by a multitude of factors that affected the supply chain in the days leading up to Christmas, including bad weather and a shortened holiday calendar," said Shop.org Executive Director and NRF Senior Vice President Vicki Cantrell, in a company press release. "That said, retailers and their delivery partners this year are proactively planning to make sure they meet customer expectations for delivery and customer service. In addition, many companies have ramped up their online promotions earlier to entice customers to start shopping earlier in the season."