“Consumer preference for online commerce is driving tremendous growth opportunities for UPS,” said Alan Gershenhorn, executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “Our integrated air and ground delivery network, extensive status and visibility systems and a broad portfolio of shipping solutions position UPS to best manage increasing demand driven by online commerce.”
However, USPS predicted Dec. 21 as its busiest day with an estimated 30 million packages delivered. To help with the influx of mail, USPS will offer delivery notifications via myusps.com, hire 30,000 seasonal employees and deliver seven days a week in high-volume areas from Nov. 29 through Christmas, with an expected 5 million packages delivered on those four extra Sundays.
“Customers can count on the Postal Service and our more than 600,000 dedicated employees to deliver their holiday gifts, cards and letters,” said Megan J. Brennan, postmaster general and CEO. “We have been investing in our infrastructure including package sortation equipment, new delivery vehicles and scanning technology to expand our capacity, improve operating efficiency and provide real-time visibility.”
The National Retail Federation predicted 46 percent of consumers will do their holiday shopping online, with 21.4 percent making purchases on their smartphones and 34.5 percent using their tablets for buying gifts, according to its 2015 Holiday Consumer Spending Survey. Millennials tend to opt for same-day delivery, with 16.7 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds and 15.9 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds choosing this option. And some consumers already have begun their holiday shopping with 40 percent beginning after Halloween, 41.5 percent starting this month, and 18.7 percent waiting until next month.
Amanda L. Cole is the editor-in-chief of NonProfit PRO. She was formerly editor-in-chief of special projects for NonProfit PRO's sister publication, Promo Marketing. Contact her at acole@napco.com.