ATLANTA, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

• Collaboration enhances UPS’s solutions for busy consumers and small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to pickup and ship packages in rural areas underserved in the e-commerce era.
• Small-town businesses can offer new services while boosting foot traffic, while UPS adds delivery services at pre-existing pickup locations.
• Expansion will increase UPS Access Point locations to more than 22,000 in the U.S. in 2020 and more than 41,000 globally.

UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced that about 1,500 Package Express Centers locations will join the UPS Access Point® network in 2020.

The collaboration adds new UPS Access Point® locations primarily located in about 1,500 rural cities and towns across the U.S., offering the convenience of one-stop, package pickup and drop-off services. These small businesses enjoy increased foot traffic and customers get increased options to receive and drop off packages when and where it is convenient. In some communities, Package Express Centers are the only shipping option within as many as 50 miles, allowing them to serve as community hubs.

In turn, UPS expands the number of locations where consumers and small business can gain access to UPS® shipping and delivery services. Coverage is expanding so that 92 percent of the U.S. population will be within five miles of a UPS Access Point location.

“We are extending the reach of our UPS Access Point network into rural and super-rural locations: areas that have been underserved in the e-commerce era and don’t always have access to full-service shipping services,” said Kevin Warren, UPS’s chief marketing officer. “This collaboration will give these consumers much-needed choice, control and convenience over their package deliveries and merchandise returns.”

For more than three decades, Greeneville, TN-based Package Express Centers has worked with independent, small-town businesses, ranging from pharmacies to hardware stores, to offer full-service UPS shipping services, including packaging expertise. About 50 locations have been testing the addition of full-service UPS Access Point location features in recent months, and a full offering is being implemented across the Package Express Centers network. The test has received positive reactions from participating businesses and customers.

“In some of these towns, anyone waiting on a package or needing to return a parcel will often feel out of luck and out of place due to a lack of options,” said Stephanie Hopson, President of Package Express Centers. “We are excited to bring this UPS service enhancement to our network of businesses across the nation’s heartland. This new UPS Access Point rollout will assist retailers, their communities and UPS customers by making their shipping more convenient.”

For UPS, this collaboration further extends the reach of its UPS Access Point program, which allows consumers to choose from more than 41,000 specially selected global locations, including The UPS Stores, Michaels, CVS Pharmacy, Advance Auto Parts and thousands of independent merchants in North America.

It works in conjunction with the UPS My Choice® program, a free service allowing nearly 67 million members to customize package deliveries to fit their specific needs. Consumers can receive estimated arrival and progress alerts, sign for a package in advance, set vacation holds or change a delivery address to their workplace, a neighbor’s home or a nearby UPS Access Point location.

“UPS continues demonstrating its commitment to offering our industry-leading services to consumers and SMBs via an unparalleled network of secure choices,” Warren said. “Now, consumers don’t have to travel as far to have comprehensive full-service shipping options to pickup and drop-off packages on their terms.”

UPS My Choice® and My Choice® for business are part of UPS’s full range of transportation and delivery service options designed to help SMBs grow and compete. UPS’s network and broad portfolio of services, Extended Hours pickup services and a comprehensive returns portfolio allow SMBs to access services previously only available to large companies, expand into new global markets and service their customers more efficiently. As part of its long-term growth strategy, UPS remains committed to increasing its presence with SMB customers and helping them succeed.

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. UPS was awarded America’s Best Customer Service company for Shipping and Delivery services by Newsweek magazine; Forbes Most Valuable Brand in Transportation; and top rankings on the JUST 100 list for social responsibility, the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and the Harris Poll Reputation Quotient, among other prestigious rankings and awards. The company can be found on the web at ups.com or pressroom.ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at ups.com/longitudes The company’s sustainability eNewsletter, UPS Horizons, can be found at ups.com/sustainabilitynewsletter. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter. To ship with UPS, visit ups.com/ship.