Chinese New Year Guide for Independent Sites: 5 Steps to Arrange Your Holiday

Happy early Chinese New Year! This article discusses what solo sellers should pay attention to when the holiday approaches.

Main topics: Inventory - Logistics - Ads - Content - Hidden Vacation Mode.

1. Inventory

Most factories close in early February. No tricks here - just stock a few pieces of your best-selling products at home in advance.

2. Logistics

Ask your logistics provider when they stop accepting and picking up orders. Or check their official account for last year's holiday schedule.

3. Ads

When you have a gap period, like friends in Jiangsu, you can simply pause ads and enjoy the holiday.

Or, if you're concerned that pausing and restarting Google Ads requires relearning, you can lower the budget to $1/day to avoid the relearning phase.

4. Content

Learn to use social media and website scheduling features. Prepare content in advance so your social media and website stay active even while you're celebrating.

For example, Meta's MBS Planner: can schedule Posts, Stories, and Reels.

Shopify's Blog also has scheduling functionality.

5. Notify Customers

1. Use your site's Banner or Announcement Bar to inform customers about shipping delays
2. You can temporarily modify customer notification emails
3. For small sellers with few orders, the easiest approach is preparing a "temporary stockout" email template. When customers order, manually send an explanation that shipping may be delayed a few days. Most will understand.

Hidden Feature: Vacation Mode Saves Subscription Fees?

Capitalism really respects and loves holidays. Shopify provides solutions for store owners to enjoy their vacation rights (though I think us Chinese hustlers rarely need this).

This shows the freedom to open and close stores is what attracts newcomers to independent sites. Once stable, we don't need to be crushed by platform rules and inventory pressure.

I'll do business when I want, not when I don't. Whatever.