A Saudi client asked last week if it's time to restock. I said lock capacity now, or you'll pay through the nose before White Friday. Peak season runs from early October through late November, and ocean space tightens every year. Based on last year's trend, rates climb 15–20%, sometimes double on certain lanes.
My advice: ship everything by mid-September and skip the October declaration rush. Book sensitive goods early — inspection queues are the worst part of peak season. Don't restock on sales alone. Factor in return rates and COD rejection rates, or you'll sell more and lose more. Think of it this way: you go viral on White Friday but your stock isn't there—you just handed traffic to competitors. 8ship reserves space for existing clients before peak, so pricing is steadier than spot rates. How many batches are you shipping in September?