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Black Friday in July: the 90-day playbook to ship November right

When to forecast, when to receive inventory, when to swap carriers. Calendar and checklists for a clean Q4.

iL
iLogistics Editorial10 min · July 15, 2025

July — Forecast and lock rates

Build the unit-level Q4 forecast in the first week of July. Lock carrier peak rates by end of July; anything signed in October will cost 12–18% more. Get factories on the calendar.

August — Receive

Inventory should land at the warehouse no later than first week of October. Anything later and you risk being stuck on the dock through Black Friday. Cycle count weekly through August and September.

September–November — Drill

Run a peak-day simulation on a normal Monday in October. Pull picks, validate ship times, scan-test the WMS. Find the breakage in October, not November.

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