How to Blogs - From Forms Plus Ltd

25th September 202629th September 2026

Preparing for Peak 2026: Five Shifts in Christmas Shopping Every Online Seller Should Know About

Peak season is almost upon us. Many shoppers are already researching their gifts. By the time Black Friday deals go live, most will have already made their decisions. We have had a look at what the research says about UK shoppers and Christmas 2026, and what it means for how online sellers can prepare.

How Much Will Shoppers Spend in the Run-Up to Christmas 2026?

UK Christmas gift spending held steady in 2025, rising to £374 per shopper from £357 the year before, as households were determined to have a better Christmas than 2024 despite continuing inflation (Mintel). Black Friday played a significant role, with 72% of shoppers buying gifts during Black Friday promotions, making November the most important month for festive spending.

Black Friday itself was more mixed than the run-up suggested. Nationwide recorded 11.9 million transactions on the day, just under its forecast, while NIQ found tech and durables sales fell year on year, the first such decline across nearly all categories. Shoppers wanted to buy, but did not always find the value they were after.

Looking ahead to 2026, Salsify’s research reveals that 26% of UK shoppers plan to spend more than last year, with 51% expecting to spend about the same. One estimate puts total Christmas spending, not gifts alone, at £500 to £520 per person. November again looks set to be when the big decisions, and most transactions, take place.

What Types of Gifts Will People Be Looking for in 2026?

This year, comfort looks set to be a major influence on gift-buying as much as celebration. Research mentions the trend for “Doom Spending”, when stressful news drives demand for cosy, reassuring gifts such as home decor and nostalgic, familiar present ideas.

Shoppers are also buying fewer gifts, with more consideration going into each one. Versatility, longevity and thoughtfulness are increasingly valued over novelty, with growing interest in personalised items, and gifts from independent brands that will be kept rather than passed to a charity shop in January. People are also a lot more open to buying and receiving second-hand or refurbished gifts in 2026. Finally, pets have earned a firm place on the list, with several retailers now treating them as household members who deserve something to unwrap!

How Will Shoppers Choose Who to Buy From This Festive Season?

This year there are more factors influencing buyer choice than ever. Shoppers move between social media, marketplaces, in-store browsing, group chats and reviews before deciding where to buy. Around two-thirds plan to “webroom” this year, researching online before buying in store, while just over half plan to “showroom”, which is the reverse.

Delivery and returns offers make a real difference in who shoppers choose to buy from. UK research from Ingrid found that 82% of shoppers have reconsidered a purchase over unexpected delivery costs, and 65% say loyalty can be won or lost on delivery alone. A clear returns policy matters as much as the offer, and free or guaranteed delivery are an effective way to win repeat custom.

Is AI Going to Be Ordering for Us This Year?

Artificial intelligence is edging into holiday shopping, though it is not yet doing the ordering for most people. UK research suggests around 59% of shoppers have already used AI somewhere in their shopping journey, with adoption highest among younger shoppers. Checkout.com found that close to half of UK shoppers plan to use an AI agent for Christmas shopping this year, though most are using it for inspiration, gift ideas and shortlists rather than handing over the purchase itself. Around seven in ten Millennials feel comfortable letting AI buy on their behalf, compared with a quarter of shoppers over 55. Concerns about losing control over purchases, and a lack of transparency in how AI decides, remain the main factors holding people back from handing over the shopping task entirely. We also read about one shopper who gave AI a budget and his credit card details and asked it to buy a surprise present for himself. It made quite a good choice! (Eliot Prince)

As an e-commerce seller, the most important thing is to ensure you have clear, accurate and full product information on your site, since that is what both your human and AI customers will be looking for and using to compare you to competitors.

Christmas Packaging Supplies for E Commerce Sellers

How Can E-Commerce Sellers Get Ready?

With key decisions increasingly made in November, hopefully your preparation for the season ahead is already underway. Just in case you are falling behind, here are some practical tasks to make sure you have on your list:

Update your customer lists across email, Google Ads and Social Ads, so you are reaching everyone who has given you permission to market to them.
Get your product and collection pages in order, with gifting collections ready, Black Friday offers set up in advance, and clear shipping and returns information.
Plan your social media content for the season, including gift guides and video for platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Watch which channels your audience is engaging with, such as TikTok Shop, and consider working with niche influencers to extend your reach.
Make sure you have everything you need for your despatch and packaging, from Integrated Labels to protective packaging such as Flexi-Hex®, enough to help you cope with a sudden rise in order volume without slowing despatch down.

The businesses that do well at peak tend to be the ones that are most useful to their customers at the moment they need it, whether that is through sending a well-timed email, curating and sharing a clear gift guide or simply having stock that can be delivered right away.

At Forms Plus, we have been helping sellers through Christmas for 45 years. If you have any questions or would like any help putting an order for labels or packaging together, do get in touch.

View Our Christmas Packaging Solutions Page

Sources

5th August 20267th August 2026

Amazon FNSKU Labels: What Every FBA Reseller Needs to Know

Since 31 March 2026, Amazon has required every unit that a reseller sends into Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) to carry its own Amazon-issued FNSKU barcode, even when the product already carries a manufacturer barcode such as a GTIN, UPC or EAN. If you sell on Amazon as a reseller, this changes how you prepare your stock. In this blog we explain what the requirement means, and how to meet it.

What Is an FNSKU, and Why Have the Rules Changed?

FNSKU stands for Fulfilment Network Stock Keeping Unit. A manufacturer barcode identifies what a product is. An FNSKU goes further by also identifying which seller it belongs to.
Amazon no longer holds identical items from different sellers together in the same inventory. Labelling every unit means Amazon can trace each individual item, which makes it easier to prevent counterfeit and non-compliant goods being sold, to attribute defects and returns to the right seller, and to give customers more confidence in what they are ordering.
The requirement only applies to resellers. If you are a brand owner enrolled in Amazon Brand Registry, you can continue to use your manufacturer barcodes without applying an extra label.

What Your FNSKU Label Must Show

Every label needs to carry four things:
• Your Amazon-issued barcode
• The product’s ASIN or FNSKU
• The product name
• The item condition

Amazon also requires clear white space, both around the barcode and between the label content and the edges of the label: 6.35mm at the sides, and 3.18mm at the top and bottom. Without that margin, the barcode may fail to scan.

Amazon FNSKU Label Sizes and Materials

Amazon barcodes must be printed in black on white, non-reflective labels. Each label must measure between 25.4 x 50.8mm and 50.8 x 76.2mm. The barcode format is CODE128. The minimum barcode height is 6.35mm and there must be a clear “quiet zone” of 2.5mm or greater each side of the barcode.

If you print from a laser printer, Amazon generates a PDF built to a fixed A4 grid. Your label sheet has to match one of those layouts, or the barcodes will not line up with the die-cut labels.

The supported A4 layouts are:
• 21 labels per sheet: 63.5 x 38.1mm. These are very common for FNSKU because the height allows comfortable barcode placement and readable text. These are our LL21 Labels or our EL21 Labels.
• 24 labels per sheet: 63.5 x 33.9mm, 63.5 x 38.1mm, 64.6 x 33.8mm, 66.0 x 33.9mm, 70.0 x 36.0mm or 70.0 x 37.0mm. These are slightly wider, so are useful when product titles are longer or when you want more horizontal space for scannability. We sell these as our LL24 Labels, our EL24 Labels, or our EL24S Labels.
• 27 labels per sheet: 63.5 x 29.6mm. These give you more labels per sheet. They are good for small items but ensure your barcode height remains ≥6.35 mm as required.
• 40 labels per sheet: 52.5 x 29.7mm. These are a compact format. They work for small packaging but may be tight for long product names.
• 44 labels per sheet: 48.5 x 25.4mm. These are very small so are only suitable when products are tiny and text can be abbreviated. You must take care that you still meet Amazon’s minimum barcode size (25.4mm x 12.7mm). We sell these on request, do contact us for details.

LL24 Label for Amazon — Some of our Amazon Labels

Printing Your FNSKU Labels

You can print labels from the Send to Amazon workflow, or at any time from Manage Inventory. In Manage Inventory, select your products, choose Print item labels from the group actions menu, then choose your paper or sticker type.

The tools in your seller account are optimised for thermal printers, laser printers are also supported. Do not use an inkjet printer. Every label has to stay readable and scannable for 24 months, and inkjet print is prone to smudging and fading. Use a printer with a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi) or higher and set your printer scaling to None or 100% so that the PDF is not resized.

Alternatively, if you do not want to print the labels yourself, you could ask your supplier to label your products for you, or Amazon will do it, for a fee.

Applying Your Labels Correctly

Place the label on a flat area of the packaging, never on a curve, corner or seam, and allow 6mm between the edge of the label and the edge of the packaging. Cover any other visible barcodes so that they cannot be scanned by mistake, with the exception of serial number barcodes and Transparency authentication codes, which do need to be readable to Amazon.

Take particular care with food, drink and supplements. Your label must not cover any information required under the Food Information Regulations. That includes the legal product name, the ingredients list, allergen information, the Quantitative Ingredient Declaration, net quantity, best before or use by dates, storage conditions, country of origin and the nutrition declaration.

What Happens If You Get It Wrong?

A product that arrives at a fulfilment centre without a required barcode is marked as defective. Amazon applies a label itself and charges you an unplanned prep fee, and the defect is reported on your Inbound Performance Dashboard. Repeated non-compliance can lead to inventory being refused, returned or disposed of, and to future shipments being blocked altogether.
The problems Amazon reports most often are missing barcodes, units labelled with a barcode that does not match the product, and barcodes that will not scan because they are smudged, placed around a curve, or printed onto a reflective surface.

Amazon FNSKU Labels from Forms Plus

If you are labelling units yourself, your label stock has to match one of Amazon’s layouts.

We hold a range of A4 die-cut laser label sheets and thermal labels that are suitable:
• LL21 Die-Cut Laser Labels: 21 labels per A4 sheet at 63.5 x 38.1mm, matching Amazon’s 21-up layout, with a selvedge stripon the top, bottom and each side.
• LL24 Die-Cut Laser Labels: 24 labels per A4 sheet at 63.5 x 33.9mm, matching Amazon’s 24-up layout, also with a surrounding selvedge strip.
• EL21 Labels: 21 labels per A4 sheet at 70mm x 42.5mm, matching Amazon’s 21-up layout, but taking up the full sheet of paper, with no selvedge strip.
• EL24 Labels: 24 labels per A4 sheet at 70mm x 37.3mm, matching Amazon’s 24-up layout, but taking up the full sheet of paper, with no selvedge strip.
• EL24S Labels: 24 labels per A4 sheet at 70mm x 35mm, matching Amazon’s 24-up layout, but taking up the full sheet of paper, with a selvedge strip top and bottom.
• Direct Thermal Labels 2″ x 1″: Thermal labels for use in direct thermal printers, that measure 50mm x 25mm and meet the FNSKU label requirements.
• 44 labels per A4 sheet: these are available on request, contact our team for details.

All are supplied on FSC-certified label stock and tested for feed reliability through standard office laser printers. These labels are high tack, but peelable options are also available, contact us for details.

Forms Plus have been supporting businesses with their printing and packaging requirements for over 45 years. If you are not sure which format you need or have any other questions about Amazon labels, do Contact Our Team. If you need a label size we do not hold, our Bespoke Label Service can produce it to your specification.

For full information on the new FNSKU labelling requirement, visit Amazon Seller Central or watch this video from Amazon.

13th October 202522nd May 2026

Preparing for Peak 2025 – What do Online Retailers Need to Know this Festive Season?

As we enter the crucial final quarter for e-commerce, we’ve looked into the key questions online retailers are asking to help you prepare for what’s ahead.

Spend Indicators – Will UK Customers Spend More This Festive Season?

In July, Retail Week published its annual forecasts for the “Golden Quarter”. This year’s report acknowledges that we are operating in a volatile market, with ongoing conflicts and potential trade policy disruptions affecting supply chains and prices. However, there are reasons for cautious optimism, with predictions of improvement over the past two festive seasons.

Despite continued cost pressures, 2025 may see an increase in festive spending potential. Falling interest rates, a stronger labour market, and wage growth have enabled more households to build savings. The UK Consumer Confidence Barometer showed improvement through 2025, particularly for larger ticket items.

What Type of Gifts Will UK Consumers Be Buying for Christmas 2025?

Food and drink gifts are expected to rise sharply as consumers treat themselves and others, whilst managing higher everyday grocery costs. Premium hampers and specialty items are expected to perform particularly well. Our Flexi-Hex® packaging is great for food and drink items!

Toys and games remain dominant, predicted to make up around a third of UK spending, despite the threats of tariffs, supply chain challenges from China, and increased acceptance of second-hand gifting. Maybe it would be easier if they really were made in the North Pole!

Fashion has had a difficult year, with muted growth predicted. This year’s sales are likely to focus on investment pieces or practical items like winter coats, with consumers browsing early but purchasing later in the season when pricing and delivery speed become critical.

After strong sales last year, health and beauty will remain a popular category in 2025. Packaging, limited editions and special festive products are likely to be important differentiators. Electrical wellness products such as LED facemasks, sleep devices and grooming tools could also have a good year.

Homewares are set for growth as the quiet housing market drives “improve not move” behaviour. Tableware, accessories, textiles and other gifts that add a bit of sparkle to our homes, will be particularly popular.

Our Packaging Range is Perfect for Christmas Orders

Black Friday vs Boxing Day – When are Winter Sales Likely to be Most Effective?

Cost-conscious consumers will again wait for deals, whether through Black Friday (28th November), pre-Christmas sales, or Boxing Day discounts.

Black Friday will likely feature home appliances, beauty products, hair tools, and premium fashion items. However, experts predict retailers will focus on maintaining reasonable prices throughout the period rather than aggressive discounting.

Logistics Predictions – What are Customers Expecting in Terms of Delivery Speed and Cost?

Fast delivery and competitive costs remain crucial differentiators. Whilst Gen Z and Millennials often pay premiums for speed, older shoppers remain sensitive to delivery costs.

Last-minute fulfilment is increasingly important as shoppers delay decisions but still expect fast delivery. Last year many brands, including Boots, successfully added “instant delivery” using platforms like Deliveroo and UberEats alongside traditional couriers.

Younger shoppers may be very happy to order and collect in-store, if your location allows it.

Will AI Have an Impact on Christmas Shopping in 2025?

AI adoption has accelerated dramatically since December 2024. More consumers will use AI tools for initial Christmas shopping research, discovering products through AI overviews rather than direct website visits.

As a result, retail experts are predicting websites will see fewer visits this autumn, but higher conversion rates, as the traffic that does come to your site will be more qualified. Retailers should audit their AI presence, by checking how products appear in ChatGPT and other tools’ responses and monitoring AI-driven traffic.

AI is also enhancing personalised shopping, remarketing, dynamic pricing, inventory management and customer support, helping merchants increase both sales and loyalty.

Changing Demographics – How Will Gen Z Young Spenders Influence 2025 Retail?

Gen Z spenders, now in their mid-twenties, now represent a significant festive spending segment. As full digital natives, this group have very distinct preferences and require a seamless experience if they are to purchase from you online.

Social media influences 85% of this demographic’s shopping journey. Short-form video content, influencer collaborations, and paid advertising on Instagram and TikTok are essential for reaching these consumers, who often purchase directly through social platforms such as TikTok and Instagram Shop.

Flexible payment options, particularly “buy now, pay later” schemes like Klarna and Clearpay, are increasingly important for Gen Z and Millennial customers.

All the Supplies You Need for the Festive Season

Sustainable Shopping – How Will Environmental Concerns Shape Gift Giving This Year?

Younger shoppers are not the only shoppers who are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their purchases, with concerns around packaging waste, single-use cardboard, plastic bubble wrap and other non-sustainable protective packaging. Over half of UK consumers now prefer brands that promote sustainability as part of their brand values.

With an eye on both sustainability and budget, pre-owned items are gaining acceptability as gifts, with platforms like Vinted gaining momentum and brands including Finisterre and FatFace launching pre-loved departments.

How Can Forms Plus Help?

With over 45 years’ experience supporting sellers through the festive period, Forms Plus are ready to help you manage the busy months ahead. Whether you need advice on eco-friendly packaging, support choosing integrated labels, are interested in customising your packaging or would like to order samples of any of our products, do get in touch.

20th May 202518th May 2026

Are You Considering Using Thermal Labels?

Are you planning to change from A4 despatch sheets to despatch roll labels?
We have the solution for you, from just £0.009p per label.

Benefits of Thermal Roll Labels include:

Cuts out the need for ink, toner or ribbons.
Easy to load and suitable for all Direct Thermal Printers.
Clear and crisp printing for both text and images.
Compact in size, to save storage space.
Compatible with most shipping platforms.
Made in the UK from responsibly-sourced materials
Stocked ready for despatch.
Friendly, knowledgeable staff to help process your order.

Visit our Thermal Labels page and order your stock here.

Shop Thermal Labels

Or, if you would like any help ordering, or need some advice, do get in touch and our team will be happy to advise.

12th May 202518th May 2026

From E-Commerce to Social Commerce – 2025 UK Tips and Trends

Laptop and cart with icon online shopping and social media networking. Online marketing and payment concept.

Online retail is changing fast and the lines between entertainment and shopping are more blurred than ever. We thought we would take a look at how things are developing in the world of Social Commerce and what you can do to make sure your products are easily discovered online.

Generational Change – Who is Shopping Where and How?

A key factor in how people are likely to shop online is determined by their age. The generation they fall into will often give you a clear idea of what you need to be doing and where.

Baby Boomers (mostly over 65 years old) still value detailed product descriptions and customer reviews, so you’ll need to make sure your e-commerce site is optimised for those. To read that information easily, they are more likely to buy anything significant from a desktop browser than a mobile. Whilst older people may be less active on the web overall, Baby Boomers are more likely to order groceries online than any other age group.

Gen Xers (born 1965-1980) may use comparison sites to find details of the best deals and are still moderately influenced by reviews and recommendations, so your own website will be important with this market. However, they are starting to adopt Social Commerce more, especially TikTok Shop.

Millennials (born 1981-1996) are much more likely to be shopping on mobiles. This group are heavy users of Instagram Shopping and Facebook Marketplace. They are influenced by peer reviews and influencers. They expect personalised shopping experiences including recommendations. Along with Gen Z, they are also high adopters of “buy now, pay later” services such as Klarna.

Gen Z, born after 1997, are using TikTok Shop and Instagram as primary discovery channels, and are easily swayed by influencers and authentic, user-generated content. Even if your company is small, you may be able to compete with much larger organisations through using micro-influencers in your niche. Gen Z shoppers often discover products through viewing short-form videos. They value sustainability and ethical practices, buy directly through Social Media platforms and are highly likely to share their buying experience online.

Google Search or Social Scroll? How do UK shoppers find products in 2025?

The move from Google Search to using Social Media platforms as “Discovery Channels” is one of the most significant ways in which online shopping has changed in the past 10 years.

Whilst Google Search is still dominant with older users, and by those who already know what they want, younger consumers now primarily discover new products through their Social feeds. TikTok and Instagram are particularly powerful for putting products in front of a new audience.

Shoppable videos and imagery in Social Feeds provide a more visual and immersive shopping experience than intentional keyword-based search. Social Shopping is more like taking a trip to a busy, colourful shopping mall with shop windows and displays looking for ideas, than working your way through the Yellow Pages to find a supplier of something you already know you want.

Social Commerce - Unboxing Eco Friendly Packaging

From Dot.coms to TikTok Shop – Is Social Shopping replacing E-Commerce Sites?

Social Shopping is not replacing running your own e-commerce site, at least not for most businesses. However, nearly all online retailers could benefit from having a Social Commerce presence alongside their website.

The main platforms to consider are:

Instagram Shopping – ideal for visual products like beauty, fashion and homeware, especially if you are selling to people in the 18-34 age bracket.

Facebook Shop – ideal for targeting older demographics, and if you are a local business with a strong community focus. Find out more about Facebook and Instagram Shops here.

TikTok Shop – perfect for “viral” or trending items and youth-oriented brands who can sell via live shopping events and product showcase videos. Get started with TikTok Shop here.

Pinterest Product Pins – ideal for DIY, fashion, wedding products and home décor. If you are selling to women in their 20s to 40s, you definitely want to be a Verified Merchant with Product Pins on users’ planning boards. These can feature both video and static imagery. Find out more about Pinterest Shopping here.

YouTube Shopping – Video product tags that promote your products directly from YouTube are particularly valuable for any products that benefit from demonstration or explanation. In the UK, electronics and beauty are amongst the most featured sectors. Find out more about YouTube Shopping here.

How Can Forms Plus Help? Packaging is Part of the Story

Just as many younger shoppers are preferring to shop via Social Media, they are also keen to share their shopping experience online. Receiving and opening up their packages is an important part of that story, and many will share “Unboxing” videos.

With consideration for the environment also important to this demographic, environmentally-friendly packaging matters just as much as making sure your products are well protected and look good on arrival. Forms Plus offer a wide range of eco-friendly mailing products including Flexi-Hex® sustainable, plastic-free protective packaging.

If you’d like to discuss your experience with Social Shopping, or we can help in any way, do get in touch.

17th March 202513th March 2025

Cybersecurity Essentials – Keeping Yourself and Your Business Safe Online

Cybersecurity Threats to small businesses

At Forms Plus, we recently had some training on Cybersecurity that opened our eyes to the risks we face and how to protect ourselves and our business against fraud and online crime.

Almost half of businesses and around a third of charities report having experienced some form of cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. This is much higher for medium businesses (70%), large businesses (74%) and high-income charities with £500,000 or more in annual income (66%), so we thought it might be helpful to share some of our findings (Government Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024).

The Human Weakness – Social Engineering Attacks

For anyone seeking to disrupt a business, steal money or access information, the easiest way is simply to trick a human to let them in. One common way is a social engineering attack, known as phishing, by posing as a trusted source.

The aim may be to gain login credentials or install malicious software on your device. Sometimes the criminal will pretend to be someone in authority, your bank, your IT team or even your boss, using an email address that looks very close to authentic. This is known as spear phishing. These tricks can be quite sophisticated, perhaps by watching your Social Media, seeing that your manager is away at a conference and then sending a message claiming they suddenly need some money to get home!

If you suspect any such scam, immediately close the call or message. Wait a few minutes then contact the organisation or person they are claiming to be directly, using verified details. If it is your manager, call them on their normal number, or for an organisation, use contact details from their website.

Payment Fraud is another common way to target both businesses and individuals. You may receive an email asking you to change the account number for something you need to pay, such as a supplier’s invoice or a holiday booking. Any such requests should always be confirmed directly with the original provider, through contact details you know are genuine.

Red Flags to watch out for:

Slightly off email addresses – if you hover over the email address, you should see the real sender’s details.
Slightly off links – the URL on any links included may not match the legitimate company’s web address exactly.
Poor grammar, odd phrasing or language that does not sound like the real person.
A sense of urgency and threatening language, especially on the phone.

Remember, a legitimate business would never ask you for sensitive data such as your PIN, password or a confirmation number your bank has texted to you.

Malware – Malicious Software That Can Cripple Your Business

Cyber criminals use a wide range of malicious software that when added to your computer might deny you access to your system (a Denial of Service or DOS attack), copy passwords, access financial information, steal personal data or take control of the device. This may be done to disrupt a business, spy on it or steal from it. Countless small businesses have been forced to pay hefty ransoms just to regain access to their own data.

Keep your company’s systems safe from malware with:

Regular software updates
Robust antivirus software
A network firewall
Regular data backups, stored off-site
Clear rules about plugging in external devices like USB sticks or phones
Training staff not to click on links or open attachments from questionable sources

Free Wi-Fi? Not Always a Good Plan!

When out and about, perhaps working from a coffee shop, be aware that not all Wi-Fi connections are secure. Using a technique known as sniffing, criminals can connect to the same Wi-Fi network as you and see any data you send. Even just opening an App while on a public network can share that sign-in data. Some criminals even create fake hotspots, with names like “Free-Starbucks-Wi-fi” to lure you in.

If in any doubt, use a trusted VPN, or just stick to your own mobile network rather than the public Wi-Fi. It will be worth the extra data charges!

Keep Your Online Doors Locked with Strong Passwords

We all know we shouldn’t use easy passwords, yet if you know your colleagues’ pets or children’s names, you can probably guess theirs!

Make sure your passwords do not use words personal to you. One tip is to join 3 random words together and add some symbols or numbers. It is OK to save your passwords in your browser or use a password management tool such as 1Password.

Never share your passwords with anyone. If it is available, always add 2FA (two factor authentication) or MFA (multi factor authentication), to make your sign-in even more secure.

Use Strong Passwords - Cybersecurity Advice

Physical Security Also Matters

Cybersecurity isn’t just digital. Encourage your team to:

Lock screens when stepping away
Shut computers down fully at the weekend
Be aware of sensitive data visible on screens
Keep laptops, tablet and phones secure at home, at work and when travelling
Keep work and personal devices separate
Use the same level of security on personal devices as for a business device.

Create a Security-First Culture

Finally, it can be very easy to fall foul of a cyber-criminal, even with all these measures in place. Make sure everyone is taken through your cyber security processes when they join you and share regular updates and advice with your whole team.

Encourage a culture of openness, so your team are comfortable letting you know if they have suspicions about any communications they receive or suspect their online safety may have been compromised. No-one who you really deal with will ever mind if you take steps to check their legitimacy.

If you would like more guidance on protecting your business, visit the Met Police’s Little Guide to Protecting Fraud and Cyber Crime. We’d love to hear your views or any other tips you may have on our Social Media channels.

15th September 202418th May 2026

Preparing for Peak 2024 – What to Expect Online for Christmas Retail 2024

The heating is coming on and the kids are back at school. To those of us working in e-commerce, that means it’s time to make sure we have all our plans in place for Christmas shopping. E-commerce has struggled this year, particularly in January and April, but what are experts predicting for the rest of 2024? And how can you use that information to make the most of the golden quarter?

Increased Confidence Amongst Higher Earners.

Researchers at Retail Week have looked at the economic climate and how this might impact on shoppers’ confidence and spending power. They believe that consumer confidence is gradually improving, especially amongst those with the most disposable income to start with.

Those of you selling to higher earners may see your customers use Christmas as an excuse to splash out on luxury goods. Fashion, jewellery and fragrance retailers including Sosandar, Pandora and The Fragrance Shop, all reported healthy year-on-year growth last year and expect more of the same.

How could you make the most of customers who are more inclined to purchase luxury products at this time of year?

Cautious Optimism Where Spending Power is Challenged

Analysts believe we are through the worst of the cost-of-living crisis and into a phase of “cautious optimism”, but customers with lower disposable income are still buying carefully. This is particularly true of the “aspirational millennial” group of 30–40-year-olds who are often struggling with higher mortgage and loan rates.

Rather than trading down to cheaper brands, these shoppers appear to be staying loyal to their favourite retailers but reducing how frequently they buy. This loyalty is partly driven by an affiliation to the brand, but also by a desire to only spend on quality, durable products.

Retail Week advises brands who serve these customers to take advantage of this loyalty, but to be prepared for their customers to be more financially challenged this year.

Little Indulgences

In 2023, the Health and Beauty sector did particularly well from sales of “little luxuries”. This was seen as a form of retail therapy, to counter all the bad news in the world.

This year, the trend for purchasing small treats is predicted to extend into luxury food and drink, sentimental gifts and other areas. Whether as a stocking filler for someone else, or a small self-purchase, can you make sure you have a good selection of “little somethings” prominent on your site and sales channels?

Parcels with bespoke tape — Personalised tape for https://greathousefarmstores.co.uk/

How Will Different Sectors Perform?

As in 2023, Health and Beauty is expected to be one of the major performers this season. Social Media activity, especially TikTok, is proving a strong driver, and trends to look out for include “natural skincare”, “gentle beauty”, vegan and sustainable options. Own brand products, such as Boots Natural Collection, are also helping many health and beauty sellers to improve margins and drive growth.

Homeware sales are also predicted to grow, partly because imported products are slightly cheaper than this time last year. Trends that should do well include Christmas decorations, sustainable products, seasonal lighting and lower ticket items such as soft furnishings that help smarten up homes when people choose to “improve not move”. Eco-friendly packaging, such as the sleeves we stock from Flexi-Hex® are ideal for packaging these type of items.

Fashion retailers have had a rocky time recently. Many have cut back and now offer a more streamlined range, with services such as “try before you buy” to help increase sales. Things are improving, but shoppers are definitely looking carefully for the best products at the best prices. The quality of the brand and item are often more important than whether it comes from the current season. This has led to growth in the pre-loved market, through platforms such as Vinted and Ebay.

Electrical items and gadgets also struggled last year, but this sector does well from Black Friday deals. This year is predicted to continue that trend, with offers starting early. Gaming products are expected to be popular, as well as products that promote sustainable living.

Toys and games always sell well at Christmas, as parents prioritise buying gifts for their children over other purchases. This year, the “kidult” market, for children over 12 years old, is particularly highlighted as providing opportunity for growth.

Could you take advantage of any of these trends with products you sell?

Subscriptions and Loyalty-Led Pricing

Membership and subscription schemes have both been powerful marketing drivers for retailers this year. Supermarkets and our clients Boots use loyalty cards to offer discounted prices whilst online retailers such as The Fragrance Shop, Lemonade Dolls and our clients H&M, are pushing membership pricing and subscriptions as a way to increase lifetime value.

Other retailers, such as John Lewis, use membership schemes to push personalised offers, in-store treats and special access to events and product launches.

If you are offering memberships, then are you using the data provided to target and personalise promotions, making offers more appealing and more likely to convert?

When Will People Shop?

Last year, nearly a fifth of consumers started buying gifts in October to help spread costs. Many retailers, including Amazon, offered deals earlier than usual to take advantage of this. According to the IPA, parents of younger children are more likely to shop early, but almost a third of shoppers expect to still be gathering gifts in December.

This year Black Friday is on November 29^th, which is closer to Christmas than before and coincides with payday for many shoppers. The most common marketing message for Black Friday over the last 3 years has been a discount on “selected products up to”, rather than a site-wide offer. Younger people are more likely to take advantage of Black Friday deals and may spend at least a quarter of their shopping budget during this time.

Is your marketing plan timed to make the most of these patterns of purchasing?

Social Media as a Sales Driver

Whilst we have already mentioned TikTok as a driver for beauty sales, Social Media is going to be important across the age demographics this year. Social channels are now the second most influential platform for people looking for shopping inspiration, whether it is “BookTok” sending people to Waterstones, home styling inspiration on B&Q’s Facebook page or sparkly things on Instagram pushing gift buyers towards Pandora.

Is your Social Media optimised for promoting sales?

Flexi Hex packaging for Christmas Gifts — Our Eco-Friendly packaging from Flexi-Hex® is perfect for mailing Christmas gifts

How Can Forms Plus Help You Prepare?

At Forms Plus, with over 40 years in business, we’ve possibly been helping retail clients trade through the hectic festive season for more Christmas’s than you remember! We stock a wide range of mailing supplies, protective packaging and labels, including plenty of sustainable options. This means that we can meet the needs of all kinds of retailers. Our friendly team of experienced staff are always happy to help you make the best choices for your business.

Do have a browse of our products today and get in touch if there is anything we can do to help you prepare for what we hope will be a busy and profitable season ahead.

27th February 20242nd July 2024

Should You Smarten Up Your Selling Practices? 10 Ways AI Can Help E-Commerce Businesses

From generating surreal images, to predicting serious health conditions, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are helping professionals in many areas of life to save time, work more efficiently and do their jobs better. We took a look at how AI can help online retailers simplify, speed up and optimise their e-commerce operations.

Personalised Product Recommendations – Where previously you might have added in “products you might also like” manually, AI algorithms can now do this upselling and cross selling for you. Recommendations are based on an individual’s previous purchases, browsing history and product searches. This is how Netflix recommends other programmes you might like, and how Amazon makes each customer’s homepage unique. Shopify Apps that use AI for recommendations, include Wiser and LimeSpot.
Chatbots and Virtual Assistants – If your team spend a lot of time helping with product enquiries, providing updates on order status, or resolving common issues, an AI Chatbot might save you time and money, and improve your customer service by offering support 24/7. The most popular tools for setting up a Virtual Assistant include Tidio and Zendesk.
Inventory Management and Forecasting – Predicting demand and managing inventory levels are crucial to running any e-commerce business, and AI can help here too. Tools that use AI for Inventory Management include Bee Low and Sortly.
Content Generation – Probably the AI tools that most people are familiar with, generative AI options such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Dall-E are great for helping you get started with blog writing, generating ideas for emails and even image generation. (And, yes we did use ChatGPT to get started with this blog!).
Search Engine Optimisation – SEO involves a lot of repetitive tasks, that are perfect for handing over to AI. Tools such as Yoast are now using AI to help you write SEO Titles and Metadescriptions. Jasper can generate SEO-optimised blogs and Outranking uses data from top ranking sites to help you find opportunities to rank your pages higher.
Advertising – AI is now frequently used to optimise Pay Per Click Search, Display and Social Media ads. It can dynamically adjust ad images, videos, headlines, and descriptions to the combinations that are most likely to perform, test them, and put them in front of the right people at the right time. Campaigns such as Google’s Performance Max and Meta’s Advantage+ make heavy use of these types of technologies.
Email Marketing – AI algorithms can help increase conversion rates from your customer emails by analysing customer data to personalise the content, adjust the sending time and predict which customers are most likely to convert. Omnisend and MailChimp both make use of AI.
Image Optimisation – Worried about the state of your product images? AI image clean up tools can instantly remove the background from product shots, add AI-generated backgrounds and resize your images for a variety of placements. Shopify Apps to help with image and video optimisation include CreatorKit and Pebblely.
Optimising Packaging Design and Sizing – Whilst our team are great at advising you on the best dimensions, protection levels and product types for packaging your products, AI tools can do that too. Amazon uses AI tools to help select the optimal packaging type for each item, whether that is a mailing bag, cardboard box or an envelope.
Reducing Environmental Impact – We are of course, very happy to talk you through the environmental implications of your packaging choices, and the eco-friendly options available to you, but this is also somewhere AI is helping. Smart Packaging options such as sensors and RFID tags are now being used to track and monitor a product’s journey to the consumer, providing data such as humidity, temperature and even how roughly the item is handled. This data then helps optimise the way it is packaged in future, keeping packaging sizes down, minimising waste, reducing carbon consumption and of course, lowering costs.

When your packaging meets the end of its current life, AI tools help recycle it. AI-driven automated recycling systems use algorithms to identify, sort, clean and process our recycling so it can be re-used with minimal wastage.

As you can see, AI is already well used by e-commerce sellers, and new tools to increase efficiency, improve customer satisfaction and even increase conversion rates are emerging all the time. These are great time savers, but do come with risks, so do oversee any work that AI does for you, perhaps as you would for a new junior member of staff!

We hope that whilst AI might make all our jobs easier, by taking away some of the more repetitive or analytical tasks, it will allow us to focus on areas we find more stimulating such as developing our business creatively or spending more time with customers. Do let us know your thoughts and experiences with using AI for your business and get in touch any time you would prefer to speak to a human!

11th January 202418th May 2026

Letterbox Packaging – How to Make Sure Your Delivery Fits

As we find ourselves making our way to recycling centres, with boot loads of cardboard from our Christmas Deliveries, you may well be wondering how to cut down the sheer volume of packaging that your organisation is shipping. Could your packaging be reduced to something that fits through a letterbox? And why would you consider going for the more compact option? There are plenty of good reasons to do so, as we shall now explore.

Letterbox Packaging is More Sustainable

From an environmental point of view, the marked increase in online shopping since the pandemic, brings with it concern both about the amount of material used to ship products, and the carbon involved in driving so many, sometimes almost empty, boxes around. To add to the reduction in packaging volume, being able to slip the package through the letterbox, means that if the customer is not home, the courier does not need to make more than one attempt to deliver, reducing carbon emissions even further. Letterbox deliveries can make for a far more sustainable delivery option.

Letterbox Packaging is More Convenient

As more people have gone back to work in offices, it has also become harder to make sure deliveries are left safely. Whilst it might be OK for packages to pile up in a porch in a remote, rural environment, these deliveries may be at risk in a busier street with people walking past. With letterbox packaging, customers do not need to be at home to receive the delivery, the parcel can safely be pushed through your door. Given that most consumers say that convenience is the main reason they shop online, avoiding any delivery issues by making sure your package fits easily through their door, is a powerful reason to opt for letterbox packaging if you can.

Global Data’s ‘Foresights: Letterbox Packaging’ report, reveals that the sustainability and convenience of packaging is more important to consumers than appearance. Over three quarters of consumers want their packaging to be easy to recycle, 74% want it to avoid wastage and 73% want it to be easy to use.
Global Data’s ‘Foresights: Letterbox Packaging ’

What Kind of Products Can Fit Through a Letterbox?

Realising the benefits of compact packaging, many companies have already made the switch, including some with products you really would be surprised to discover can fit! Letterbox Flowers are now available from many florists, including Bloom and Wild. Laundry detergent can arrive through your letterbox as capsules from SMOL or eco sheets from Earth Breeze as a subscription item, so you never need to carry heavy bottles home from the supermarket again. Treatbox offer a selection of gifts in a letterbox friendly package, guaranteed to cheer anyone up. Perhaps more surprisingly, even bottles of wine are now being delivered through letterboxes!

Which Packaging from Forms Plus is Letterbox Friendly?

In the UK, the standard size of a letterbox is usually around 254mm x 38mm, so your box must be smaller than these dimensions. At Forms Plus, we stock a range of Postal Boxes that will fit through easily. These include our Postal Boxes – Small, Postal Boxes – C6, Postal Boxes – DL, Postal Boxes – C5 and Postal Boxes – Mini. Alternatively, you could go for a Padded Envelope within those size limits, or a Kraft Mailing Bag.

If you would like to discuss the best packaging option to choose, to help you make your deliveries letterbox friendly, do get in touch and our experienced team will be happy to help.

11th September 202318th May 2026

Are You Ready for the Festive Shopping Season?

It’s that time of year again. As the leaves change colour, the beaches here in Cornwall get quieter and knitwear catalogues come through our letterboxes, we thought it was a good time to look ahead at what retailers can expect for the 2023 festive season and remind you how Forms Plus can help you prepare.

What Trends are Predicted for E-Commerce in Autumn 2023?

Our research shows three major trends are predicted for the “Golden Quarter” this year. Shoppers will be looking for good deals after another difficult financial year. They will be shopping early, to make sure they find the best gift options at the best prices. As part of seeking out good value, they will be looking for sustainable products, that they feel good about offering as gifts.

Value for Money

In a survey researching Christmas Trends for 2023 for Retail Week, major retailers including Boots, Pandora UK and John Lewis all confirm that customers are taking time to make sure they get the very best value on their purchases this year. Consumers are cautious and the market is highly competitive, not just on price but on customer services like free delivery and returns, and other added value. Shoppers are spending more time comparing prices and offers across multiple marketplaces and retailers than they have in previous years.

Shopping Early

Customers are expected to shop much earlier this year. In a bid to get the best deals and spread costs, many have already started. According to a survey by Google, in 2022 “as of mid-October, holiday shoppers globally had on average 21% of their holiday shopping complete”.

Sustainability

Christmas can be quite a low point for sustainability, with unwanted gifts and items that have little use once we go back to work in January. Studies show that as awareness around environmental impact increases, customers expect brands to be making far more effort on sustainability. This applies both to products and their packaging. According to Retail Week, major retailers are removing plastic and glitter from gifts, cards and wrapping paper, and customers are considering quality and longevity far more then they used to when making their selection.

At Forms Plus we now stock a wide range of fully sustainable packaging materials, including eco-friendly padded envelopes and Flexi-Hex® protective packaging that is ideal for bottles, cosmetics or fragile gifts.

How Can Online Retailers Prepare for Peak Season This Year?

Stock and Service Levels

If you haven’t already done so, September is a really good time to get your warehouse in order before the season really gets underway. Managing stock levels and offering exceptional customer service through the next few months will be crucial to meeting demand and retaining those customers into next year.

Along with great value on prices, customers will be looking for quick, inexpensive delivery and easy returns. Whilst these may be expensive and challenging to manage, hassle-free returns and convenient shipping options show your customers you care about them. Someone who first comes to you for a Christmas present and has a great experience, even if they return something, is far more likely to become a loyal, regular customer. A recent Survey from Fedex found that 96% of customers would return to a business that offered an easy returns policy.

We say it every year, but part of making sure your deliveries and returns processes are reliable and efficient, is managing your stock of packaging and despatch forms. Get your orders in early for Thermal Labels, Integrated Labels and for all your Packaging needs and avoid any hiccups in your shipping process this year.

Festive Season Marketing Plans

Have you planned your promotions yet? In 2023, Black Friday falls on 24^th November with Cyber Monday on the 27^th. Cyber Weekend spending was disappointing for many retailers in 2022, but this was thought to be partly to do with the timing of World Cup matches, as well as the difficult economic climate. With tighter household budgets in place, shoppers will be looking for discounts this season. Categories that are expected to do well across Black Friday in 2023 include mobile phones and tech, toys, and cosmetics. Experts are predicting a bigger push to online sales and a sales period that starts earlier into November. They also expect to see “Green Friday” initiatives that promote eco-friendly offers and a greater emphasis on personalised deals, via targeted ads and emails, based on an individual’s shopping or browsing history.

According to Retail Week, Social Media continues to have a significant influence on buying behaviour, especially for anyone younger than 40 years old. These shoppers may be more affluent and less concerned by the increased cost of living, making them an ideal audience this season. Creative online content, influencer marketing activity, reviews and quick responses to customer service queries are crucial with this group. Plan to make the most of your Socials this autumn, especially if you are in the fashion, beauty, tech, or travel sectors.

Build Your Customer Base

With privacy laws changing how we advertise to customers online, the quality of your customer data is more important than ever. Using the busy shopping period to add to your customer data, email lists, loyalty schemes and Social Media followers gives you the opportunity to remarket to those groups in future. This is a good time to make sure all your Social Media links are up-to-date, that you have systems in place to grow your mailing lists from the people who buy from you over the festive season, and that you are capturing their data correctly and efficiently so you can access and use it legitimately next year.

How Can Forms Plus Help You Get Ready for the Busy Season Ahead?

At Forms Plus we have been helping retail clients trade through the hectic festive season for over 40 years. We stock a wide range of packaging supplies and labels to meet the needs of all kinds of retailers, and a team of experienced, friendly staff who are always happy to advise on the best choices for your business.

If you want to take advantage of our bulk discounts but don’t have room to store it, our print management service will make sure you benefit from the best prices whilst we manage your stock levels and make sure you receive your print items and packaging as you require them.

Do have a browse of our products today and get in touch if there is anything we can do to help you prepare for what we hope will be a busy and profitable season ahead.