Year-Round Preorder Strategy for Shopify: Why You Need the Timesact App

Struggling with out-of-stock products and missed sales opportunities throughout the year? You’re not alone.

While most brands think of preorders only during BFCM or holiday sales, forward-thinking merchants are now using preorder strategies *year-round* to improve cash flow, test new products, and better manage inventory.

In this article, we’ll show you how to use the Timesact Preorder App strategically across all seasons to unlock consistent growth.

Smart merchants use quieter periods to experiment and perfect their approach. A/B test which performs better: a “Preorder Now” button or a “Notify Me” option. Try different messaging, experiment with estimated shipping dates, and see how your customers respond. 

The beauty of testing during slower months is that you can adjust and optimize without the pressure of peak-season sales hanging over your head.

We all know the holiday rush – your store is buzzing, sales are flowing, and every minute counts. That’s exactly why it’s the worst time to figure out if preorders or back-in-stock notifications work better for your products. Think of it like updating your store’s theme during Black Friday – you just don’t do it.

Pro Tips for Off-Season Testing: Start with a small product selection to test customer response. Compare conversion rates between preorder buttons and back-in-stock notifications, and track how different product categories perform with each approach. 

If Valentine’s Day isn’t your peak season – perfect! It’s your chance to experiment with targeted preorder campaigns and test new product launches without the pressure.

You’ve mastered Timesact’s preorders, back-in-stock alerts, and coming soon features during BFCM and Christmas – but what about Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, or back-to-school season? Each calendar month brings its own sales opportunities, and staying prepared means staying profitable.

Different seasons bring different inventory challenges. Spring launches need preorder campaigns to test interest in new collections. Summer tourists create unexpected demand spikes that back-in-stock notifications can capture. Fall school rushes benefit from early-bird preorders, while winter holidays need all hands on deck with both features. The key is matching the right tool to each season’s unique demands.

Pro Tips for Year-Round Success: Use coming soon pages to build buzz for seasonal collections months ahead. Then, launch preorders for limited edition holiday items before peak demand hits, and set up back-in-stock alerts for your steady sellers that tend to run low.

Spring: Your Fresh Start 

Spring isn’t just about cleaning – it’s about fresh beginnings for your store. New collection launches can be tricky to stock, but preorders help you nail down exactly how much inventory you need. Mother’s Day and Easter? These holidays sneak up fast, but with preorder campaigns, you’ll never miss out on these golden opportunities. Set up special edition pre-orders and wait for the new purchase excitement.

Summer: Ride the Tourist Wave 

Tourist season hits different stores at different times, creating unpredictable demand spikes. Instead of playing the guessing game with summer inventory, let preorders guide your stock levels for better inventory management and profitability. Your shop might be closed for vacation, but your sales don’t have to stop – keep those preorders rolling in while you’re away. Set up your summer collection pre-bookings early and turn the seasonal rush into a steady stream of guaranteed sales.

Fall: Back to Business

Back-to-school season is your golden ticket if you play it right. Parents love securing must-have items early, and preorders give them that peace of mind. As summer styles transition to fall collections, use preorders to test interest in new arrivals without overstocking. Here’s the secret many miss: fall is perfect for testing your holiday season strategies. Start small, learn what works, and you’ll be ready when the big rush hits.

Winter: Beyond the Holiday Rush

Yes, the holiday season is huge, but what about January? While everyone’s focused on December sales, smart merchants are already collecting preorders for New Year launches. Post-holiday inventory planning becomes a breeze when you know exactly what your customers want next. Use this time to preview upcoming collections and build excitement for spring – keeping your sales momentum strong even after the decorations come down.

Let’s look at Caudalie’s popular VinoHydra serum – a perfect example of untapped potential. 

Right now, customers visiting their site find a simple “Out of Stock” message for this high-demand product. Think about that for a moment: a premium skincare brand with eager customers ready to buy, but no way to capture that interest or secure future sales. 

Instead of losing these potential customers, imagine offering them a back-in-stock notification or preorder option – activated all year round whenever needed.

It’s a clear example of why having a year-round preorder and notification systems isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential for maximizing every sales opportunity, especially for high-demand products.

Smart inventory management isn’t just about keeping shelves stocked – it’s about keeping costs down. By running preorders year-round, you’re reducing warehouse fees, keeping cash flow healthy, and saying goodbye to those painful overstock clearance sales. 

It’s about creating a shopping experience that keeps customers coming back. Your customers hate seeing “sold out” on products they want to buy from your store as much as you hate losing sales. With consistent preorder and back-in-stock buttons available, you’re not just preventing lost sales – you’re building excitement for upcoming products and rewarding loyal customers with exclusive early access. 

The real game-changer? Data-driven decisions. When you run preorders throughout the year, you’re gathering priceless information about what your customers want and when they want it. No more guessing about order quantities or release dates – your customers are telling you exactly what to stock and when to stock it. 

When you offer back in stock notifications, you’re also building up your email prospecting list to resell to all year round.

Here’s another reason to keep Timesact active across all seasons: shipping delays happen, no matter the time of year. The app’s shipping delay email feature turns a potential customer service headache into a smooth communication flow. Whether it’s weather disruptions in winter, supply chain hiccups in spring, or unexpected carrier delays in peak season, keeping your customers informed builds trust and reduces support tickets. Instead of managing these communications manually, let Timesact handle the heavy lifting.

Your Timesact Preorder Shopify app isn’t just collecting orders – it’s gathering valuable insights about your best-performing products, customer preorder patterns, and seasonal trends. 

This data becomes your secret weapon for future planning, and making data driven business decisions. 

Keep your account active year-round to build on this intelligence – because uninstalling means leaving your hard-earned insights behind.

Here’s something savvy merchants already know: Timesact’s flexible pricing means you can scale your plan up or down with your needs. 

Unlike other apps that lock you into flat-rate monthly subscription fees, you can adjust your plan to match your business rhythm. Running lean during slower months? Scale down your pricing plan. Heading into a busy season? Level up your features. This adaptable approach means you’re never over-paying during quiet periods while keeping all your valuable data and insights intact. It’s about working smarter, not harder, with your app budget.

Check Payment Plans here

Our long-term merchants tell the story best. With over a year of continuous use, they are the real examples on how to use Timesact Preorder App throughout the whole year. 

These aren’t just testimonials – they’re proof that consistent, year-round preorder management pays off. Both businesses have turned what could have been a seasonal tool into a continuous revenue generator, demonstrating why keeping your preorder system active throughout the year is crucial for sustainable growth.

Curious how your store could benefit from preorders year-round?
Book a free 30-minute session with our team or install the app on Shopify and try it risk-free.