Q1 & Q2 eCommerce Supply Chain Strategies
Overcoming Supply Chain Disruptions
Presented by:
Greg Chen-Lepkoff, CJ Christenen and Chris Oslebo
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Why Q1 and Q2 Must Be Planned Together
Q1 Supply Chain Disruptions
Q1 Strategy: Pre-CNY Inventory & Planning
Q1 Supplier Communication & Risk Reduction
Q2 Strategy
Quality Control as a Q1–Q2 Throughline
Cross-Functional Alignment for Q2 Launches
An Overview
Q1 & Q2 eCommerce Supply Chain Strategies
Q1 Stability to Q2 Growth
Q1 disruptions ripple into Q2 launches
Why Q1 and Q2 Must Be Planned Together
Inventory, suppliers, and logistics decisions in Q1 define Q2 success
Brands that plan both quarters together avoid reactive firefighting
Chinese New Year factory shutdowns
Production slowdowns & labor shortages
Missed launch windows without early planning
Shipping congestion & extended lead times
Q1 Reality Check: Supply Chain Disruptions
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Secure production lines early so your order doesn’t get pushed behind other brands during the pre-holiday rush
Lock production schedules before CNY
Q1 Strategy: Pre-CNY Inventory & Production Planning
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Produce your best-sellers first so your launch isn’t delayed by less important variants
Front-load critical SKUs
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Carry extra units to protect sales when factories and shipping slow down after shutdowns
Build buffer inventory for Q1 launches
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Kick off new product development in Q1 to set yourself up for successful back half of the year
New Product Development
Giving your factory demand visibility helps them reserve labor and materials before schedules tighten.
Early forecast sharing with suppliers
Q1 Strategy: Supplier Communication & Risk Reduction
Verifying raw material readiness reduces the risk of production stopping mid-run due to shortages.
Confirm material availability pre-shutdown
Having a fallback option prevents your launch timeline from collapsing if one supplier delays.
Identify alternate factories or backup lines
Tracking true timelines and closure dates helps you plan realistically and avoid missed delivery windows.
Document lead times and shutdown calendars
Data from Q1 informs smarter Q2 decisions
Strong supplier relationships unlock flexibility
Stable supply enables faster iteration
From Q1 Stability to Q2 Growth
If Q1 is about protecting the launch…
Q2 is about scaling what worked
Q2 Strategy
Scaling Production with Confidence
Lead Time & Cost Optimization
Supplier & Sub-Vendor Management
Q1: Prevent defects before launch
Catching quality issues early avoids rework and delays that can derail initial launch timelines.
Quality Control as a Q1–Q2 Throughline
Q2: Reduce defect rates at scale
As volumes increase, consistent QC processes protect margins and customer satisfaction.
Track recurring issues
Monitoring defect patterns helps identify root causes instead of treating symptoms.
Tie QC failures to chargebacks & corrective actions
Holding factories financially accountable drives long-term quality improvements.
Marketing aligned with real inventory availability
Cross-Functional Alignment for Q2 Launches
Sales forecasts synced with production capacity
Customer service prepared for volume increases
Fewer broken promises to customers
Key Takeaways
Be mindful of how CNY supply chain disruptions can impact Q1-Q2 operations
Communicate with suppliers early and often regarding capacity allocations, QC, and other operational needs.
Kick off new development now to support Q3-Q4 new product launches