Love is in the air … and on the road as UPSers gear up to deliver gifts of love for Valentine’s Day. While jewelry topped last year’s list of Valentine’s gifts, candy remains a popular option too. Online retailers will be busy, with 32% of U.S. consumers saying they plan to purchase their Valentine’s gifts on the web this year.

If your love comes in the form of homemade goodies, check out the #HGEATS Twitter chat on February 8 at noon ET. The UPS Store will join Kimberly Moore (twitter.com/hungrygoddess) as they share tips for packing and shipping food. With sweet thoughts on our mind, we created the following infograph to celebrate one of the sweetest holidays on the calendar.

(click on infographic to see full size)

The holidays can be a whirlwind of gift buying and wrapping, decorating and eating. Before you have a meltdown, check out these last-minute packing and shipping tips and know that you can ship as late as Dec. 23 for delivery on Dec. 24. And remember, The UPS Store is open later during the holidays to take care of your last-minute packing and shipping needs.

Shipping something fragile? We can help.

Help is just around the corner. The UPS Store certified packing experts can properly package gifts that are fragile, such as glass and cookies. They can help you professionally pack your items as well as let you know of any rules and regulations for shipping certain things. For example, did you know that perfume and cologne are considered hazardous materials?

Using a proper shipping box matters.

Resist the temptation to pack your gifts in those old boxes from last year and to use materials like newspaper or real popcorn to cushion them. Boxes weaken during the shipping process, so reusing a box will not provide proper protection for your shipment. Use professional packing materials like foam packaging peanuts, bubble cushioning and professional packaging tape to help avoid any risk of your gift being damaged. Be sure to include a copy of the shipping label inside the shipping box with both the destination and return addresses.

The Pack & Ship Promise.

Keep in mind that participating The UPS Store locations offer the Pack & Ship Promise, which will reimburse you the item’s value, the full retail price you paid for packaging materials and services, and your cost for shipping (excluding Declared Value charges) in the event an item, packed by The UPS Store and shipped via UPS, is lost or damaged. Get details about this service as certain restrictions and limitations may apply.

Here are a few other great ways to safely get those packages to your loved ones:

• Use a shipping option that provides a package-tracking number. You can see where your package is at all times, eliminating the need to call your family for the third time to check if it has arrived.

• Take batteries out of any toys, electronics, etc. before shipping them.

• Ship wrapped presents to your destination, before you travel so that the perfect bow you meticulously worked on for a good 10 minutes will stay just as beautiful as when you tied it.

• Avoid wrapping boxes in brown paper or tying them with string. You don’t want your package getting caught or torn, especially because if the paper is torn off, so is your label.

• Don’t use duct tape, masking tape or cellophane tape to seal your boxes for shipping. Packaging tape is the only way to go.

• Once all of the packing is done, you can recycle any leftover packaging peanuts at participating The UPS Store locations.

That’s right, folks: another Twitter party come and gone. This time, @TheTravelMom, Emily Kaufman and five fabulous blogger panelists helped UPS and The UPS Store host the #HolidayPacking Twitter party focused on having the best travel experience this holiday by packing and shipping holiday gifts ahead of time, not to mention your luggage!

Participants shared some great travel stories, both the good and the ugly, and lessons learned in the process. @UPS and @TheUPSStore shared some helpful  tips on avoiding the headaches that can come with holiday travel, including UPS My Choice, holiday packing tips and luggage shipping.

The conversation was lively and informative.   Here are some of our favorite tweets about everything from the best ways to pack your items to the strangest things shipped to loved ones. Enjoy!

Do you travel with gifts or ship them to your destination?

@janettwokay: Both. The larger gifts get shipped. The smaller ones go into carryon bags. #HolidayPacking

@MACMOMof3: Absolutely ship them. No room in the car for wrapped presents plus the kids are bound to get into them. #HolidayPacking

@tkharmonic: If you fly, you can’t have anything wrapped, it’s too much of a pain so I just ship them to my Mom’s house. #HolidayPacking

@julybug17: I ship them to final destination, traveling is exhausting enough I don’t want to worry about the gifts #HolidayPacking

@msmary1962: You can ship your things when you fly cheaper than taking them on the plane nowadays. #holidaypacking

What are some unusual items you have shipped during the holidays?

@thetravelmom: My mom loves good deli pastrami and I sent her the essentials for the perfect Reuben Sandwich once #HolidayPacking

@LifeWithoutPink: I once shipped a big lamp to my in-laws. What a project but it got there safe and sound thanks to @UPS! #HolidayPacking

@KaratewithaZ: My parents are always overnighting us fresh caught Alaskan fish and crab. Always frozen and tightly packed. #HolidayPacking

@CaringMom: I have shipped Holy Water to a friend…………it’s true! #HolidayPacking

So stressful to miss deliveries when you are traveling, especially when it is gifts. What options do UPS and The UPS Store offer?

@UPS If traveling during holidays, #UPS_MyChoice lets you re-direct shipments to @TheUPSStore or another address #HolidayPacking

@thetravelmom: My son came home from college but his suitcase didn’t. To be safe I used a @UPS luggage box when he went back to school. #HolidayPacking

@LifeWithoutPink: Love that you can track your packages to ensure they arrived safe and sound, especially during the holidays! #holidaypacking

@Unkatchable73: I absolutely LOVE the mychoice now… I can see what and when it’s coming #HolidayPacking

@dragonfly777: #HolidayPacking I recently moved. @UPS My Choice has been a fantastic service for me!! Thank you!

@MACMOMof3: My Choice is great. It’s exciting to know a package is on its way #HolidayPacking

And a few more of our favorites…

@KaratewithaZ: I LOVE getting UPS packages this time of year! I do a little “UPS” dance when I see that truck stop in front of my 4plex #holidaypacking

@MACMOMof3: The UPS store in Huntersville, NC was my favorite. Shipped presents to my husband for FREE while in Afghanistan. SO nice #HolidayPacking

@BlessMyGOFoods: I watched a UPS worker packing a huge box of gifts for an older woman here in Henderson NV…I was so impressed #HolidayPacking Love my UPS

@myfolly: Our UPS store is so great, there’s never a line and the people are so nice! #HolidayPacking

If you missed Thursday’s #HolidayPacking Twitter party, no worries. Join us Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. ET for our #GreenHoliday Twitter party, where we’ll feature UPS’s Chief Sustainability Officer Scott Wicker and Aman Signh (@AmanSinghCSR), who writes about corporate social responsibility and sustainability practices. Scott and Aman will discuss practical and creative options to make environmentally-friendly choices during the holidays. Scott will also discuss the green services we offer our customers through UPS and The UPS Store, such as carbon neutral shipping.

Join the conversation and share your ideas by using our party hashtag #GreenHoliday in your tweets. During the party, we’ll give away three $25 gift cards for The UPS Store every 15 minutes and a $150 gift card to Anderson Seafoods at the end of the party. Read more for complete rules on the prize drawings for this party.

Everyone loves a good party! We especially loved last Thursday’s #HassleFreeHoliday Twitter party. Mommy blogger Kelly Loubet (@Childhood) and a panel of four expert bloggers got the holiday logistics ball rolling by leading a great discussion that led to some great tips, ideas and holiday secrets!

In addition to the many great ideas people shared, @UPS and @The UPS Store shared some helpful tips for creating a hassle-free holiday, including UPS My Choice, The UPS Store Pack & Ship Promise and new personalized photo gifts from The UPS Store.

While there were many great tips and tricks shared during the #HassleFreeHoliday hour, we wanted to highlight a few that really stood out to us. From strategic tips for managing the chaos of the holidays to figuring out creative ways to reuse boxes, you can find anything you need to take the hassle out of the holidays! Check them out:

What are your best resources for managing holiday tasks?

@Childhood #HassleFreeHoliday I keep a checklist on my phone so it’s always with me

@RachelFerrucci: I have a list & delegate to other family members/ coordinate w/ friends to shop #HassleFreeHoliday

@julybug17: Google Doc list, very helpful and I can access it anywhere on any device #HassleFreeHoliday

@following_ivy: I use my memo on my phone and I carry my flyers around to remind me of the sales #hasslefreeholiday

@janettwokay: I also use Lists from websites such as @Amazon, @QVC, and others. They come in handy. #HassleFreeHoliday

@toonces1989: Coupons! plan what you’re shopping for and where you’re going and look for coupons #HassleFreeHoliday

How are you designing and printing your holiday newsletter or postcards?

@saving4someday: @Childhood Printing holiday cards? You mean I can’t just send an email or a tweet? #HassleFreeHoliday

@TheGunnySack: @Childhood Q4: My youngest son writes a letter about the people our family #hasslefreeholiday

@VegasStephica: @Childhood Q4: We have handmade photo cards with our birds on them, family loves them! #HassleFreeHoliday

@following_ivy: A4: all of mines are going to be handmade! I think it’s extra special that way #hasslefreeholiday

@hawaiianstyle03: We always do Holiday Cards.  Love to take the pix then customize the cards FUN FUN! #HassleFreeHoliday

@MinnieandJ: Handcrafted of course! get my nephews to help out as well.. great projects for them #hasslefreeholiday

The Top 5 tips for reusing boxes:

@TheUPSStore6148: Used packing material can be taken to your nearest UPS store & we recycle cardboard, peanuts, bubble #HassleFreeHoliday

@janettwokay: Especially those peanuts, LOL! We recycled some yesterday in a box that we were shipping via UPS yesterday. #HassleFreeHoliday

@JanelMayer: Make an igloo instead! RT @UPS: @Childhood A8: Never good to reuse a box. Boxes can weaken+get dented during shipping. #HassleFreeHoliday

@TxTerriSweeps: I don’t reuse boxes for shipping, but we always find some way to use them at home…. storage, crafts #hasslefreeholiday

@JanelMayer: Wrap your @ups empty boxes and decorate with them! #HassleFreeHoliday party

If you missed last week’s party, don’t worry! We’ve got another one coming up this Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. We’ll talk about #HolidayPacking and feature travel expert Emily Kaufman (@thetravelmom) and another panel of expert bloggers. Along with amusing stories, our panel will share tips to prepare for holiday travel and packaging gifts. We’ll also be giving away some more prizes!

Join us by including the party hashtag #HolidayPacking in your tweets. You’ll also need to use the #hashtag for a chance to win a prize. During the party, we’ll give away three $25 gift cards to The UPS Store every 15 minutes and a $75 gift card to Wayfair.com at the end of the hour. Read more for complete rules on the prize drawings for this party.

Where were you in 1989? Listening to New Kids on the Block? Watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

Back then the UPS shield still had a little package at the top and Nike was heavy into its “Nike Air” shoe line with neon colors and air bubble “windows” in the heels. I know because I had a pair in the sixth grade…but it wasn’t the shoe I really wanted after “Back to the Future: Part II” came out in November 1989 and I saw a pair of self-lacing high tops on Michael J. Fox’s feet!

In an effort to help The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Nike and Universal Studios teamed up and produced 1,500 replicas of the futuristic, internally-lit sneaker and auctioned them off to help fund research into Parkinson’s Disease. You might have seen it in the news recently, possibly the Nike commercial with Doc Brown himself!

Nike wooed us kids in theaters in 1989 when Christopher Lloyd handed Michael J. Fox those sneakers that lit up and laced themselves! Marty McFly and Doc Brown had taken their time-traveling DeLorean to the “future,” the year 2015, and Marty wore futuristic clothes to blend in.

More than one little kid walked out of the theater sighing heavily as they stared ruefully at the laces they had to tie on their 20^th century sneakers. I wanted those rockin’ awesome Nike MAGs more than I wanted that famous hover board. Alas, it was “just a movie” back then.

Now, UPS is the carrier of choice for the “most famous shoes never made,” and today we are proudly delivering them to their new owners! Yeah, this is heavy!

When I saw the movie’s vision of the future 22 years ago, I wondered how much of it would come true. Now, only three and some years away from 2015, we still don’t have flying cars and the Cubs haven’t won the World Series, but we do have 1980s-themed clubs, people still love Nike shoes, and UPS still loves logistics.

I have to admit it is really cool to be working for the company that is delivering Nike’s most famous shoe of all time.

Do I have a pair of these shoes? I wish. But I have a DeLorean so if I have to, I’ll just time travel to 2015 and pick up a pair. Maybe by then there will be a cure for Parkinson’s Disease. And maybe Nike will have re-released their early-80s Bruins too.

Having both happen would be really cool…

Growing up in the South, I have been ingrained with the idea that football is king and that next to a loved one’s birthdays and holidays (not by much though) the kickoff to football season is to be circled on calendars- not to be missed. 

Recognizing the importance and reach of football, UPS recently announced a significant expansion to its college sponsorship program.  UPS is teaming with IMG College, the Pac-12 and the Big Ten conferences to reach college sports fans in top markets across the country.  The significant multi-year agreement provides UPS a national footprint with local reach through sponsorship opportunities with 68 IMG university partners across the country.

Along with outstanding athletic traditions, these schools all have a mascot.  Who doesn’t love a cute and cuddly mascot to hug and get a picture with on game day?  Did you ever wonder who makes these game day staples?

UPS small business customer AvantGarb, led by Jennifer Smith, creates customized mascots.  Jennifer and her nine employees are based inIndianapolis making one-of-a-kind mascot uniforms for sports teams, product launches and corporations all over the world.

Smith, the self proclaimed “Queen of Fuzz,” says “it takes 150-to-250 hours to make a mascot … we make everything, we draft the patterns for the body, clothes, shoes & hands, we sculpt the head, dye the fabric, paint the eyes and make really big mascot hats.”   AvantGarb produces 30-50 mascots per year.

Smith chose UPS for later pick-up times, online tracking and the ease of declaring the value of the shipments above $100.00.  “I go online, print a shipping label and it tells me when the shipment will arrive.”  She also favors seeing the immediate charge when shipping, which leads to quicker customer billing. 

Jennifer’s group has recently completed a modern makeover of the mascot for Wabash College known as Wally Wabash.  Jim Amidon, Director of Public Affairs and Marketing Secretary of the college, says:  “Her team brought a new creative spark to the project and we are thrilled with the results.”

Take a moment next time you are at the stadium of your favorite team and the mascot comes by, get a picture and maybe a high five all while thinking, ‘hey, now I know somebody that creates those!’

At this week’s Internet Retailer Conference, UPS is hosting a Technology Theater on one of the hottest topics our retail customers are talking about: free shipping. Sucharita Mulpuru, one of the retail industry’s leading research analysts in eCommerce, will provide key insights on when and how to best execute profitable shipping promotions. 

Free shipping is widely used by e-retailers and can be effective as a marketing and promotional tool to increase sales. According to a recent study by the National Retail Federation, consumers’ number one purchase incentive is free shipping and it’s a motivating factor in where they shop. UPS customer L.L. Bean recently made headlines when it dropped most of its shipping fees for orders in the U.S. and Canada. The outdoor clothing and catalog retailer joins Zappos in offering no-strings-attached free shipping both ways.

With a steady increase of online sales, consumers often expect free and low-cost shipping options from retailers. According to comScore, nearly half of online orders in the first quarter of this year were delivered free of charge, and ¾ of consumers said they abandon retailers at checkout if the shipping isn’t free.

Creating a free or promotional shipping strategy can be beneficial, but how can you determine what approach is right? There are many predictable and some unpredictable costs associated with shipping promotions. The answer lies in your company’s logistics strategy, which is the foundation for creating competitive advantages with your shipping.

In a recent study commissioned by UPS, Forrester Research interviewed 13 Web retailers of varying sizes about their experiences with free shipping offers. Forrester’s study “Smarter Strategies on Free Shipping,” found strong evidence that free shipping attracts new customers and helps to improve customer loyalty. Customers are also less likely to abandon their shopping carts and buy more.

For those e-retailers that don’t think free shipping is a viable option, the report offers a few strategies to remain competitive:

Flat rate shipping: Retailers reported this is an extremely effective strategy. Companies send those orders UPS ground to keep costs under control.   

Logistics: At UPS we know logistics matters. Retailers with multiple or centrally-located distribution centers say shipping promotions are able to drive incremental sales while minimizing the impact to their bottom line.

Shipping Promotions on Key Items: By offering free shipping only on key items that meet a certain margin, retailers can mitigate some of the expenses associated with free shipping. This type of promotion can be an effective way to incent some incremental purchases.    

VIP Shipping Programs: Offer customers the option of paying a one-time fee in order to receive free services.

Forrester researchers also discovered free shipping is not a “one size fits all” business strategy and the success of shipping promotions depends on a variety of factors including product value, supply chain design and current market conditions. Shipping promotions can become costly if it negatively impacts the customer experience or additional IT services are required to support the promotion. Small business owners know consumers would buy more if they offer free shipping; however, many cannot afford to absorb all of the cost.

The theme for this year’s IR conference, the world’s largest eCommerce show is “eCommerce Shifts into Overdrive,” and UPS will be driving the business of online retailers into the fast lane with shipping strategies that work.

It’s the start of summer and what better way to celebrate than by going on a picnic. First step: deciding what’s on the menu. Maybe it includes your favorite sandwich, some chips and iced tea. 

Chances are you haven’t tasted Town Hall Deli’s famous “Sloppy Joe.” Piled high with roast beef, turkey and topped with their famous secret sauce, this sandwich brings joy to customers living near the deli in South Orange, N.J., as far as California and everywhere in between.

There are several ways to make a ‘Joe. It all depends on how you like it. “The original is made with tongue, ham, coleslaw and ‘secret’ sauce on top of thinly sliced pullman rye bread,” said Tony Wonski, owner of Town Hall Deli. Other options for those less adventurous include turkey, roast beef, tuna and egg salad.

So how do these sandwiches go the distance? George Berkeley, owner of The UPS Store in South Orange, has figured out just the right recipe. “When I opened my location, Tony approached me about his shipping needs, including packaging, on-time delivery and tracking capabilities,” recalls Berkeley. “It took me several months to understand the product and how it was made, the importance of the product arriving fresh, and the ability to travel long distances.” 

The UPS Store associates use a cardboard box, plastic foam, packaging peanuts and ice packs to customize each order. Berkeley and his team ensure each package arrives at its destination on time and in good condition. “My job is to keep Tony making food and not spending time solving logistics issues.” Through this package design, Berkeleyis able to offer Tony a “freshness guarantee” on all of his products. 

Whether you are in the mood for a “Sloppy Joe” or a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a picnic is the perfect way to spend a lazy day in the summer.

Wonski offers these five tips to help keep your food safe from the summer heat:

1. Wash hands and work areas before preparing food.
2. Cook foods in plenty of time to thoroughly chill them in shallow containers in the refrigerator.
3. Pack foods right from the refrigerator into coolers.
4. Everyone loves leftovers, but to be safe you have to throw them out if you don’t have a place to cool and store them within two hours of serving (or just one hour if air temperature spikes above 90 degrees).
5. Stock your cooler with plenty of ice or ice packs, freeze bottles of water and pack them around the foods (you can drink them when they thaw) and keep the cooler in the air-conditioned backseat of your car, not in the trunk.

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Once again, NRG Software, with support from the UPS Ready Strategic Alliance group, was an exhibitor at the 2011 Macworld convention in San Francisco held Jan 27th – 29th at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. NRGship and NRGship PRO were highlighted to thousands of attendees over the three-day expo, the largest trade show event of the year profiling Mac/Apple solutions. NRG software offers UPS-exclusive shipping integration and was featured as part of the Macworld “Indie Spotlight,” an area dedicated to software developers for demonstrating innovative solutions to attendees. This interview features one of the NRG owners, Chris Larson, discussing how NRGship makes Mac shipping fast and easy. With NRG and UPS, Mac shipping really clicks!

Last week, people got a chuckle from a video that spoofed UPS deliveries. We have to admit that it was entertaining. But the video does raise some interesting questions:

• What should you do when you get a UPS InfoNotice?
• How do you re-direct deliveries to another address if you’re away?
• What does “driver release” mean?
• Are there other options available for managing your deliveries?

Well, we’re here to answer questions and offer some advice.

What should you do when you get a UPS InfoNotice?

The UPS InfoNotice is our way to alert you when we attempted to make a delivery but no one was at the address to accept the package. The driver will indicate on the notice when the next delivery will be made.

For packages that don’t require a signature, you can indicate on the InfoNotice if you want the driver to leave the package at your address. Just sign the InfoNotice and tape it to the door where the driver left it.

How do you re-direct deliveries to another address if you’re away?

If you’d like the driver to deliver your package somewhere nearby, like a neighbor, simply indicate where you want it delivered on the UPS InfoNotice and tape it to your door.

If you’d like the package delivered to another address, such as your office, you can easily make these arrangements at UPS.com. Just enter the 12-digit InfoNotice number in the Tracking or InfoNotice field and follow the instructions. It is important that you track the package by the number on your InfoNotice. Only the InfoNotice enables you to make changes to your package’s delivery.

And there are other options for changing your delivery with the InfoNotice. You can request to pick the package up at Will Call at a UPS Customer Counter or reschedule the delivery date.

What does “driver release” mean?

It simply means that the driver can leave the package at your address without receiving a signature as proof of delivery. Designating a package as “driver release” or “signature required” is typically determined by the company (e.g. online retailer) or person who shipped the package to you. Shipments typically authorized for “driver release” include books, CDs, DVDs, apparel and toys. Computers and other personal electronic devices usually require a signature for proof of delivery by the shipper.

Are there other options available for managing deliveries?

Of course! If you travel frequently or don’t want to wait around for deliveries, consider getting a mailbox at The UPS Store.  Here’s why:

• Your local The UPS Store location will accept packages from all carriers — that includes FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service.
• The UPS Store staff will sign for your packages so you’ll never miss a delivery.
• You can choose to receive text or e-mail alerts when you have a package waiting.
• If you’re out of town, The UPS Store will hold your packages for you or forward them to you at another address.
• Convenience – there are more than 4,300 The UPS Store locations