UPS Delivering So Much More Than Boxes This Holiday Season

UPS Delivers Memorable Holiday Experiences with Holiday Inspired Initiatives

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - UPS^® (NYSE: UPS) is ramping up for its 107^th holiday season.  On December 16, UPS anticipates an increase in pickup volume totalling 34 million packages. Year-over-year this marks an 8 per cent increase and is twice the average daily shipping volume of 16 million.

Other key peak season dates include:

• Cyber Monday, December 2 - Pick-up volume was approximately 32 million, an increase of 10 per cent.
• Monday, December 16 - Peak pick-up day with over 34 million packages.
• Tuesday, December 17 - Peak delivery day with over 29 million packages.

In light of the busy holiday season, UPS will launch several initiatives to help customers enjoy the magic of this time of year.  Customers will have the ability to connect with UPS through social media to share special holiday moments, learn tips for surviving the holiday season, engage with retail partners, give back to the community and of course, ship with ease and peace of mind.

Customers looking to share their happy holiday moments this season can do so via social media by posting their unboxing, delivery or shipping videos, pictures and stories to Twitter and Facebook using the hashtags #UPSHappy and #NotABox.

"Every holiday season, millions of Canadians rely on logistics to bring holiday cheer to friends and family all around the world," said Jim Bena, vice-president of marketing, UPS Canada. "This year we're inviting our customers to share those experiences online and gain valuable information that will help them ensure their packages arrive safely and on-time."

Digital Driver Ride Alongs
Drivers are the face of UPS and every holiday season they play an essential role in ensuring packages arrive under the tree before that special day. To give customers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to deliver holiday cheer, drivers will be offering exclusive access to life behind the wheel. Follow @UPS_Canada on Twitter for Q&A, photos and videos to see exactly how your packages move from coast-to-coast.

UPS Infographics For Real Life: Tips for Surviving the Holiday Season
UPS is helping customers handle this year's holiday season through a series of infographics offering tips and solutions. Read and share these visual tips on everything from how to wrap presents and ship critical cargo, like Grandma's cookies, as well as best practices for handling returns. Infographics for Real Life will be released on UPS's Facebook and Twitter channels throughout the season.

Packing and Shipping Expertise from The UPS Store
The holidays are hectic enough; the last thing customers should have to worry about is whether or not their precious holiday gifts arrive in one piece. With over 360 locally owned and operated locations, The UPS Store^® can help shoppers across the country pack and ship all types of holiday gifts - from fragile glass ornaments to surfboards and golf clubs and even help you send your luggage ahead of time. Additionally, the store offers peace of mind - with the Pack and Ship Guarantee^®. Please visit www.theupsstore.ca for your nearest location.

Give Mother Nature a Gift
For environmentally-conscious gift givers, UPS offers carbon neutral shipping. For as little as five cents, customers can select UPS's carbon neutral option at the end of the online shipping process to support globally recognized environmental projects.

MEDIA NOTE:
For holiday shipping information, tips and solutions visit the UPS holiday season media resource site - pressroom.ups.com/holiday.

BROADCAST NOTE:
B-roll video footage specific to Peak Season is available for download here.

About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

SOURCE: UPS Canada Ltd.