How to Fix Slow Sales After the Holidays (The January Slump)
The holidays are over. Suddenly, your sales stop. Your store is quiet.
Do not panic. This is called the “Post-Holiday Slump.”
Every dropshipping business faces this challenge in January and February. The good news is: You can fix it.
Take this quiet time to plan. Use this moment to fix your store and get ready for the next big wave of sales.
Why Did My Sales Drop? (The Main Reasons)
You might ask: “My store was doing so well in December. What happened?”
Knowing why it happens helps you fix it. Here are the three main reasons:
1. People Changed How They Shop (Seasonal Trends)
In December, people buy gifts for others. In January, they only buy for themselves.
Sometimes, you see a small sales jump in January because people are using gift cards or buying the things they didn’t get for Christmas. But this doesn’t last long. Soon, shopping goes back to normal speed.
What to do: You need to stop selling “Gift Products” and start selling “Problem Solving Products” or “Self-Care Products.”
2. People Have No Money Left (Budget Reset)
This is the biggest reason.
Most people spent all their money on Christmas gifts and holiday parties. In January, they look at their bank account and decide to stop spending.
Fact: 84% of shoppers plan to spend less money in the months after Christmas.
Reality: Prices are going up. Young people (Gen Z) are being very careful with their money.
What this means: You cannot sell “impulse buys” easily right now. You need to offer better deals or discounts to make them open their wallets.
3. The Nightmare of Returns
January is not just about slow sales. It is also “Return Season.”
High Return Rates: Returns can go up by 20-30% in January.
The Problem: Up to 30% of all holiday gifts purchased online get returned.
Leftover Stock: If you bought too much stock for Christmas, now it is just sitting there costing you money.
DailyFulfill Solution: Returns hurt your profit.
Prevention: The best way to stop returns is Quality Control (QC). DailyFulfill checks every item before we ship it. If the product is good, the customer keeps it.
Handling: If a customer does return something, having a DailyFulfill US Warehouse makes it easier to process than shipping it back to China.
Fix Your Inventory & Operations
You can beat the slump by fixing the “back end” of your business. This is the perfect time to turn problems into opportunities.
1. Check Your Numbers (Analyze Sales Data)
You don’t need expensive software to understand your business. Just look at your store’s dashboard (Shopify or WooCommerce).
What to look for:
Best Sellers: What sold out fast in December? Can you sell it again next year?
Dead Stock: What products did nobody buy? Stop selling them.
Customer Journey: Where did people leave your site?
DailyFulfill Tip: Our system gives you a clear view of your orders. We help you see which products are shipping fast and which ones are causing trouble, so you can make smarter choices for 2026.
2. Clean Up Your Inventory (Optimize Stock)
Running out of stock is bad. Having too much stock is also bad. You need to find the balance.
How to fix it:
Don’t Sell “Ghost” Stock: Make sure your website numbers match the warehouse numbers.
Use a US Warehouse: Instead of trying to find random “local suppliers,” use the DailyFulfill US Warehouse. We store your goods in the USA so you can ship fast (2-5 days) without managing a warehouse yourself.
Prepare Early: If you see a product starting to trend, order more stock before it runs out.
3. Handle Returns Like a Pro
In January, returns happen. It is normal. Don’t fight it.
If you handle a return well, that customer might come back later.
Best Practices:
Be Nice: Make your return policy clear and friendly. Don’t hide it.
Extend the Time: Give customers 30 or 60 days to return items. It makes them trust you more.
Prevent Returns (The Secret Weapon): The best return is the one that never happens.
Why do returns happen? Usually because the product is broken or looks different from the photo.
How to stop it: Use DailyFulfill Quality Control (QC). We check every single item before it leaves China. If it’s broken, we filter it out. This saves you money and headaches.
Wake Up Your Customers (Promotions & Offers)
January is quiet. You need to make some noise to wake up your customers.
Creative marketing can turn a slow day into a busy one.
1. Launch Limited-Time Discounts
Give people a reason to buy now.
Flash Sales: “48-Hour Sale: 20% Off Everything.”
Countdown Timers: Put a clock on your website. When people see time running out, they buy faster.
Clearance Sale: Call it a “Winter Cleanup.” Sell your leftover holiday stock at a discount to get your cash back.
2. Bundle and Upsell (Make Orders Bigger)
Selling one item is good. Selling two is better.
Bundling Strategy:
Save Money: “Buy the Watch + Sunglasses together and save $15.”
The Problem: Usually, dropshippers can’t do this because the watch comes from Factory A and the sunglasses come from Factory B. They arrive in two different ugly packages.
The DailyFulfill Solution: We collect products from different factories. We put them in ONE box in our warehouse. Your customer gets a beautiful “Gift Set” package. This increases the value and makes you look professional.
3. Highlight Fast Shipping
After the holidays, people are tired of waiting. They want instant gratification.
Show Speed: Put a badge on your product page: “Ships in 24 Hours.”
Be Honest: Only promise this if you can do it.
How to do it: Use the DailyFulfill US Warehouse. If your stock is already in the US, you can honestly say “Fast 2-5 Day Delivery” on your ads. This is a huge advantage over competitors who are still shipping from China (15+ days).
Get Customers to Come Back
It is cheaper to keep an old customer than to find a new one.
Use the quiet time in January to talk to the people who bought from you in December.
1. Send Friendly Emails
Don’t just ask for money. Build a relationship.
| Email Type | What to say? |
| The “Miss You” Email | “We haven’t seen you in a while! Here is 10% off your next order.” |
| The “Thank You” Email | “Thanks for shopping with us during the holidays. How do you like your product?” |
| The “Restock” Email | “Good news! The item you looked at is back in stock.” |
2. Build a Loyalty Program
Give points or rewards when people shop.
Fact: 68% of people will pay more to shop with a brand they trust.
Idea: Create a simple VIP club. “Buy 3 times, get a free gift.”
3. The “Unboxing” Secret (Physical Marketing)
Emails are good, but physical cards are better.
When a customer opens your package, what do they see? A cheap plastic bag? Or a nice brand experience?
How DailyFulfill Helps You:
Custom Cards: We can put a “Thank You” card or a discount coupon inside the box.
The Result: When the customer holds that card, they feel special. They are much more likely to use that coupon for their next purchase.
Final Thoughts: You Can Grow in January
Don’t let the “Post-Holiday Slump” stop you.
Analyze your data.
Optimize your inventory with DailyFulfill.
Excite customers with bundles and fast US shipping.
Engage them with custom packaging and thank you notes.
Refresh Your Marketing
Use the “New Year” energy to get people excited again.
1. Match Their “New Year’s Resolutions”
In January, everyone wants to be healthier, richer, or more organized.
Strategy: Don’t sell “Christmas Gifts” anymore. Sell “Self-Improvement.”
Product Ideas: Fitness gear, digital planners, organization boxes, or healthy kitchen gadgets.
Action: Launch a campaign: “New Year, New You – 20% Off Fitness Gear.”
2. Update Your Content
Your store shouldn’t look like Christmas anymore.
Remove: Red and green banners.
Add: Fresh, clean colors (White, Blue) that feel like a fresh start.
Social Media: Post guides like “How to organize your desk in 2026” (featuring your products).
3. Prepare Your Support Team
January is tough because customers ask difficult questions like “Can I return this?” or “Where is my refund?”
Train Your Team: Make sure they know the return rules.
DailyFulfill Help: You don’t need a huge support team if you have good data. DailyFulfill’s Dashboard lets you see the status of every return and refund instantly, so you can answer customers in seconds.
Conclusion: Check Your Score (KPIs)
How do you know if you are winning? Watch these numbers.
| KPI (Metric) | What it means | Goal |
| Conversion Rate | Percentage of visitors who buy. | Get more people to click “Buy”. |
| AOV (Order Value) | How much they spend per order. | Increase this by using Bundles. |
| Returns | How many items come back. | Lower this by using DailyFulfill QC. |
| ROAS | Return on Ad Spend. | Make sure your ads earn more than they cost. |
The “Post-Holiday Slump” is just a speed bump. With the right inventory strategy and DailyFulfill as your partner, you can turn this slow month into a profitable start for 2026!
DailyFulfill is your Best Dropshipping Partner
- 24/7 customer support
- 100% quality guarantee
- 1400+ professional clients
- 8400 m² fulfillment center
- 59960+ Sku of products
- 12+ dropshipping experience
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FAQs
You can start by reviewing your dropshipping store’s data. Launch new promotions and reach out to past customers. Stay positive and try fresh ideas. Every step you take brings you closer to success.
You can bundle slow products with popular items. Offer limited-time discounts. Use creative marketing to highlight these products. This helps you clear space and boost your cash flow.
Many shoppers change their minds or receive gifts they do not need. You can make returns easy and friendly. A simple process builds trust and keeps customers coming back.
You can send thank you emails and offer rewards. Start a loyalty program. Listen to feedback and show you care. Loyal customers help your dropshipping business grow.
You can inspire your team with new goals. Share success stories and celebrate small wins. Training and support help everyone stay focused and positive.