Roughly 60 Days Until BFCM and Your Shipments Are... Where Exactly?

Hey there,

Let’s start with a quick gut check:

Where is your BFCM shipment right now?

Not the vague “it’s in transit” answer.

I mean:

• Which port it’s stuck in
  

• Which container number it’s in
  

• Whether it’s cleared customs
  

• If your 3PL is prepped to receive it

Because I’ve seen it too many times:

Brand thinks the shipment will arrive on November 5.
Forwarder says ETA is Nov 9.
And surprise, it’s rerouted for port maintenance and arrives even later.
Meanwhile, your paid ads are already live.

That’s not just a tracking issue.
That’s a visibility breakdown.

The Messy Middle: What Happens Between Factory and Fulfillment?

Most brands focus on either end:
✅ Factory: PO placed, production done
✅ 3PL: Warehouse ready, labels printed

But it’s the middle where shipments get lost,  sometimes literally.

We recently broke this down in a quick video on The Most Expensive Supply Chain Mistakes DTC Founders Make. It’ll shift how you handle the in-between.

Here’s what actually happens:

1. Factory prepares export docs
   

2. Freight is booked
   

3. Container is loaded
   

4. Vessel departs (hopefully no stopovers)
   

5. Destination arrival
   

6. Customs clearance
   

7. Delivery to 3PL
   

8. 3PL inbound and putaway

And each of those steps?
Potential delay magnets.

The Simple Tracker We Use for BFCM Clients

At Move, we don’t just wait for the freight forwarder to email an update. We track every stage.

Here’s the tracker format we use — feel free to steal it:

We’ve included a free calculator that helps you simulate different freight options — like when sea isn’t worth the wait, or when air might actually save your margin.

👉 Grab the freight calculator here

BFCM Isn't the Time to Wing It — Join the Live Workshop

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by all this, you’re not alone.

That’s why I’m hosting a live workshop on Sept 18 to help you:

• Build your own BFCM routing playbook

• Create trackers like the one above

• Walk through your own inbound POs in real time

🎯 Register here for free

Three Red Flags You Must Double-Check This Week

✅ Did your supplier send the final packing list + invoice?
(No doc = no booking. No exceptions.)

✅ Has the container actually been loaded?
Don’t rely on a “confirmed booking” — we’ve seen containers sit at port for days.

✅ Did your 3PL confirm inbound slot?
If not, even a delivered container can sit untouched.

What You Should Do Right Now

If I were running your ops, I’d:

✅ Pull up all BFCM POs
✅ Build a simple vendor-to-warehouse tracker
✅ Get your supplier, forwarder, and warehouse aligned
✅ Assign a clear owner internally
✅ Set a weekly 15-min check-in, no skipping

Because when things land late, ads don’t wait.

Let me know if you want help reviewing your tracker. Happy to give it a quick look.

Best regards,

Lara