Tips for Taking the Stress Out of Shipping This Holiday Season

Here, PartnerShip®, an ABA business service affinity partner, offers tips to help booksellers handle their small package and freight shipments during the busy holiday season.

Shipping can be tricky: selecting what service to use, choosing the most cost-effective method, and figuring transit times correctly can all add up to a major headache. Now, add in the extra pressures of the holiday season and your headache becomes even more severe. Not to worry, PartnerShip, an ABA affinity partner, is here to help get you through the tough holiday shipping season with some quick tips and hints.

• Be sure to check carrier closure dates. It’s a good idea to look at these dates sooner rather than later to plan ahead and make sure your shipments arrive when they’re promised for your customers. The carrier websites will usually display their holiday closures. You may have to do a little searching this early, but closer to the holidays the closures are typically front-and-center on the carrier’s home page.
   
• Choose the correct service for your packages. Choosing the correct service is imperative to keeping costs down and getting your shipment to its destination in a timely manner. If you’re shipping a small, non-palletized shipment (usually under 150 pounds), you have a couple of decisions to make. FedEx Express offers solutions for shipments that need to be at their destination quickly, while FedEx Ground and Home Delivery offer the more cost-effective alternatives for less time-critical shipping. PartnerShip offers highly discounted solutions for all of these services through its ABA Shipping Program, so your business is saving as much as possible.
   
• Using a third party logistics (3PL) provider can save you time and money. 3PLs, like PartnerShip, help by taking the stress out of your small package shipments as well as any larger freight shipments (over 150 lbs.) you may have this holiday season. Less-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload freight shipments are a specialty of PartnerShip, which works with only the most reputable carriers to ensure your palletized or large shipment is delivered in the most cost-effective way. PartnerShip also takes care of the red tape, paperwork, and pickups/dropoffs around freight shipping to ensure you are focused on YOUR business.

Bookstores that are not already enrolled in the ABA Shipping Program can take the stress out of their shipping operations for the holiday season and beyond by enrolling at PartnerShip.com/07ABA. As a program participant, booksellers can save up to 31 percent* on select FedEx services. Enrollees will also save on every truckload, LTL, and tradeshow freight shipment sent and received through PartnerShip using trusted national and regional carriers.

For more information or to enroll, e-mail [email protected] or call (800) 599-2902.

*Includes a bonus 5 percent online processing discount. Full details available at PartnerShip.com/07ABA/FedExdiscounts.