{"id":146854,"date":"2025-06-27T16:10:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T20:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rithum.com\/?p=146854"},"modified":"2025-06-30T13:50:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T17:50:21","slug":"2025-prime-day-primer-what-to-fix-before-the-sales-surge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old.rithum.com\/uk\/blog\/2025-prime-day-primer-what-to-fix-before-the-sales-surge\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Prime Day Primer: What to Fix Before the Sales Surge"},"content":{"rendered":"

The big summer sales surge is about to begin, with <\/span>Amazon Prime Day<\/span><\/a> kicking off July 8-11<\/span>, <\/span>Target Circle Week<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(July 6-12), and <\/span>Walmart Deals<\/span><\/a> (July 8-13). It\u2019s the big show that sellers have spent months prepping for: and now, deals are <\/span>locked, inventory is in place<\/span><\/a>, and the curtain is about to rise.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But for sellers in top-performing categories across Amazon, Walmart, and Target, the real work is just starting.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

High-performing categories can be high-risk for sellers<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

We expect that apparel, electronics, and home goods will once again be the most competitive categories. If you’re managing those listings, errors in availability, pricing, or categorization could lead to missed sales in a high-traffic window.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t just about what <\/span>sold last year<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s about what every other brand is focused on now, and how well your team is positioned to compete in categories where margins are tight, consumer attention is limited, and mistakes can be costly. The strength of your listings, product feeds, retail media campaigns, and fulfillment operations will determine whether you break through or are overlooked during this peak sales event.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What we can learn from 2024 sales data<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Clothing\/shoes\/accessories was the top-selling category for Amazon during Prime Day July 2024, up 16% year over year, <\/span>according to Rithum data<\/span><\/a>. This category is one of the most operationally intense, with large SKU counts, high returns rates, and customer expectations around fit, speed, and accurate presentation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the flip side, clothing\/shoes\/accessories category also top the list in overall return volume, according to <\/span>Rithum\u2019s 2025 Global Returns & Profit Impact Report<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Common drivers include poor fit, vague sizing charts, or missing details in product images or descriptions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The mix of strong sales and high return rates puts margin at risk. Listing accuracy is more than a conversion play. It protects post-sale margin. <\/span>33% of shoppers return<\/span><\/a> items when the product doesn\u2019t match the description or photos. In high-paced sales cycles, it\u2019s even more important for product titles, images, size guides, and fulfillment settings to be locked in before traffic spikes. Rithum\u2019s <\/span>AI Magic Mapper<\/span><\/a> helps automate setup and reduce manual errors across large, complex catalogs\u2014especially in apparel and consumer electronics.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To avoid fulfillment at a loss, brands can also rely on Rithum\u2019s <\/span>Price Protection.<\/span><\/a> This safeguard prevents costly pricing errors before listings go live, reducing the chance of cancellations, penalties, or margin hits during high-traffic windows.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, consumer electronics\/photo was the second-highest performing category globally. Its popularity is tied to high purchase intent, where shoppers arrive at Prime Day already prepared to buy TVs, headphones, tablets, and smart devices they\u2019ve researched in advance, according to <\/span>Wiser.<\/span><\/a> These buyers come with high expectations. Listings often require exact specs, compatibility info, and current images. Inaccurate details can result in returns or negative customer reviews (electronics also ranked among the top categories for return volume, according to Rithum\u2019s return <\/span>report<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What to check before Prime Day begins<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you’re in one of the high-volume categories\u2014or expecting to be\u2014make sure your setup is solid. Use this checklist to prepare:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n