As August rolls in, the protein supply chain shifts. Vacations end, foodservice demand stabilizes, and businesses start planning for the last quarter. During this transition, buyers are often faced with delayed orders and unpredictable demand as customers race to catch up from summer slowdowns. 

Planning for the post-vacation rush will insulate you from delaying your own customers’ orders. July’s vacation-driven hiccups often lead to delayed purchasing decisions and last-minute restocks in August. You can avoid getting caught empty-handed by anticipating this rush and insulating yourself from inventory shortfalls:

• Know what your regular customers buy and secure it early. If you supply schools, cafeterias, or institutional buyers, brace for impact. August will ramp up bulk orders in these spaces as they prepare for fall. 
• Retail demand can be totally unpredictable in the fall- so be thoughtful about what you keep on hand. As the grilling season winds down, demand for cost-effective options and value packs often rises. 
• Be prepared for fast turnarounds. Customers who paused or delayed their purchasing over the summer may now scramble to restock. If you aren’t prepared to fill these orders, customers will have to buy from someone else. 

The warm and slow summer days leave a lot of room for communication gaps, pricing ambiguity, and fulfillment delays. Get back on track and make sure your customers are on board:

• Hopefully you spent some time in July reviewing your existing contracts and pricing. Armed with that, ensure that you refresh your customers on these terms ahead of the very busy last quarter. 
• Stay connected with secondary contacts that you established ahead of summer. Even though vacations are less frequent in the fall, trade shows, budget meetings, and plain old busy times can get in the way of consistent sales with a single point of contact.
• Ensure that the transition to the final quarter does smoothly by understanding and setting expectations with customers and suppliers. 

While so many competitors will be trying to get back in the saddle as fall creeps in, proactive buyers can score great deals before the demand spike of Q4:

• Always review supplier agreements, purchase history, and terms for potential cost savings.
• Offer flexible order solutions for customers that are still adjusting their supply needs.
• Capitalize on the delays of others by being ready with inventory when the competition is still scrambling.

August has never been simply about catching up. August is about getting ahead. Secure product early. Reinforce vendor and customer relationships. Get your pricing ducks in a row. Buyers who take charge of these variables ahead of the last quarter can turn the post-summer scramble into a recipe for growth.

Your Friends at Poultry Direct