Holiday shoppers aren’t waiting around this year. The surge in early holiday shopping 2025 started well before November, and for many sellers, October delivered.
Amazon’s Fall Prime event brought better than expected results for merchants across multiple categories. Shopify also saw a surge in holiday shopping, with seasonal items like toys and home goods moving faster than usual.
Customers were already filling carts while most sellers were still prepping their campaigns. That early momentum is not a fluke. It is a sign that the 2025 holiday season is stretching longer and moving faster. The sellers who stay flexible and act quickly will have the best chance to turn that momentum into growth.
The holiday season already started
October used to be prep time. Most sellers were stocking up, finalizing promotions, and getting their systems ready for peak season. But this year, the peak came early.
Here’s what we’ve seen so far:
- Amazon’s Fall Prime event gave shoppers an early excuse to start checking off gift lists. Sellers who ran smart deals or had trending products in stock saw strong results.
- Shopify merchants noticed an October lift in seasonal purchases. Gifts, decor, party items. They all moved faster than expected.
Customers didn’t wait for Cyber Week. They started shopping when the right products and prices showed up.
Why early demand matters more than ever
Selling early changes how you plan, stock, fulfill, and market for the rest of the season. If your inventory is still sitting in prep mode, or your shipping setup isn’t dialed in, you might miss the buyers who have already moved on.
Here’s what sellers are seeing now:
- Inventory moves sooner
Popular SKUs are running low before peak even hits. - Shipping expectations have shifted
Buyers expect fast delivery even in October. If you’re not ready, they’ll go elsewhere. - Campaign timelines are tight
If your first holiday promo is set for Thanksgiving week, you may already be late to the party.
How Ordoro helps sellers win when the calendar shifts
Early demand doesn’t have to mean chaos. With the right tools, it’s an opportunity.
Ordoro helps sellers stay ahead with:
Inventory that’s synced in real time
If you sell across Shopify, Amazon, BigCommerce, and other platforms, you need clean, connected stock data to avoid overselling or delays.
Automated shipping workflows
When orders spike earlier than expected, automation keeps you from falling behind. Print labels, batch shipments, and get tracking info out quickly.
Multichannel control in one place
Whether customers shop your site or a marketplace, Ordoro gives you one dashboard to manage it all.
Smarter insights
See what’s moving fast and what needs restocking. Plan your next promo with real-time data, not guesses.
Five ways to get ahead before peak hits
- Recheck your inventory levels for top holiday SKUs
- Launch your holiday promos now instead of later
- Set up automated shipping rules to save time
- Monitor early order trends and adjust quickly
- Make sure every sales channel is synced and live
Small shifts now can pay off big over the next six weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Was Fall Prime Day actually a success for sellers?
Yes. Many reported stronger-than-expected results, especially in popular seasonal categories.
Is holiday shopping really happening earlier?
It is. Shopify and Amazon both reported surges in holiday-related purchases weeks before Black Friday.
Do I need to adjust my marketing calendar?
It’s a good idea. Sellers who started promotions in early October were already seeing results while others were still prepping.
How can I avoid missing out next time?
Use tools that help you move quickly. Inventory sync, shipping automation, and real-time order tracking can all give you an edge.
The bottom line
The holiday rush is here. Customers have already started buying, and sellers who were ready have already started winning. There’s still time to catch up, but not much.
Every day you wait is a missed chance to capture orders, build momentum, and get ahead before the real crunch begins.
Want to make sure you don’t miss the next wave?
Talk to one of our eCommerce experts and get a setup that’s ready to move when your customers do.