Yearly traditions are a huge part of the way we celebrate the holiday season, from family cookie swaps to white elephant gift exchanges. At PartnerShip, we like to participate in holiday office traditions with our very own work family. One extra special tradition that we look forward to each and every year is our PartnerShip Giving Tree. 

The holidays can be festive and fun, but for those children currently waiting to be placed in a forever family or loving foster home, holiday spirit and joy can be hard to find. That's why every year, we like to work alongside Caring For Kids Adoption and Foster Agency based in Cuyahoga Falls, hoping to guarantee a little seasonal magic. Caring For Kids, Inc and the Wendy's Wonderful Kids Program provides PartnerShip with the opportunity to host several kiddos and grant their wish lists, ensuring they have happy holiday memories and experience the joy every kid should this time of year.

On our giving tree hangs gift tags with a child's name, picture, and wish list - everything from clothing items to Cavs tickets. Members of our PartnerShip staff can select a tag and purchase the wish list gift, playing Secret Santa to those who need it most. Later, Senior Program Manager Harry, "Centa" Claus, delivers the wrapped gifts (Santa suit optional) to Caring For Kids to be distributed by the Wendy's Wonderful Kids Program. This year, we are hosting six remarkable kids, and have plans to cross every wish off their list. 

It's easy to get swept up year round, focusing on business goals, tackling initiatives, and even getting wrapped up in end of year responsibilities and our own "to do" lists. It's important to step back, slow down, and remember the true spirit of the season. Working with Caring For Kids reminds us to do just that, and allows us to spread some holiday cheer along the way. 

Happy Holidays!

It's the season of giving, and this time of year we like to celebrate those who go above and beyond to help those in need. At PartnerShip, we have two employees we'd like to spotlight for their commitment to spreading the spirit of the season, as well as touch on their own personal experience with an extra special cause.

In spring of 2011, Brian and Nicole Hardman welcomed their first child, Lucas, into the world. Lucas was soon diagnosed with a severe form of Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare and painful genetic disease that affects the connective skin tissue, resulting in extremely fragile skin that can blister or tear at the slightest touch. There is no cure for EB, and often the disease is debilitating or in the worst cases, lethal. Wound care, pain management, and preventative bandaging are currently the only options for those afflicted.

Unfortunately, Lucas passed away about a month after his birth. Nicole and Brian are dedicated to raising awareness about "the worst disease you've never heard of" and participate in fundraisers and other benefits working with debra of America, the only U.S. nonprofit providing support to the EB community through funding research and providing free resources. 

Every holiday season, Nicole and Brian organize a baby blanket drive in memory of Lucas, for those babies currently in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital. In a time of great fear and uncertainty, the baby blankets provided by the hospital offered comfort and joy to the Hardmans while Lucas was admitted. So, in his honor, the Hardmans collect monetary or blanket donations from those who would like to support families in need. 

The hospital is grateful for any blanket donation, as long as it's new and still within it's original packaging. This is the ninth year that the Hardmans will be hosting the drive, with the total baby blankets collected running over a thousand. Each and every year Nicole and Brian are moved by the generosity and love shown by those willing to donate to a cause that is so very close to their hearts. 

"The blanket drive has become such a special holiday tradition for our family. The kindness and generosity that these blankets represent help keep our son's memory alive during a time of year when we miss him so much. We know in our hearts that helping other babies and families is the best Christmas present we can give to Lucas. While a blanket may not seem like much, we know first-hand how much comfort it can bring, even if only for a brief moment. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has donated in our baby boy's memory." -Nicole Hardman, December 2019

To learn more about EB and how you can help, visit the Love for Lucas Facebook Page.

UPS and FedEx rates are slated to go up in 2020 by an average of 4.9%. The changes will go in effect for UPS on December 29, while the FedEx rates go into place on January 6.

If you’re planning to budget for your costs to go up 4.9% in the next year, you better think twice. The announced average doesn’t paint a complete picture. The rates for some packages will be increasing less than 4.9%, but that means that the cost to ship other packages is increasing far more. What you’re shipping, where you’re shipping it to, and what service you’re using will ultimately determine how much you should budget for your shipping costs in the new year.

• FedEx 2020 standard list rates
• UPS 2020 daily rates

FedEx and UPS surcharges
The rates, however, are only one part of the equation. You also have to take into account the additional fees that UPS and FedEx tack on. It’s more important than ever to be mindful of what could qualify your packages for these surcharges. Not only do the costs increase year over year, but the carriers also make adjustments to how the charges are defined – making it more likely that your packages will be hit with them.

A prime example of this is the change both FedEx and UPS made to their Additional Handling fee for 2020. They’ve lowered the weight threshold to 50 pounds from 70 pounds, which means your costs could go up significantly if you ship packages within that window.

• FedEx surcharge updates for 2020
• UPS surcharge updates for 2020

Industry trends
Online shopping has had a profound effect on the parcel industry and the way that FedEx and UPS operate. The carriers are moving more residential deliveries and an increased amount of larger packages, as consumers have become accustomed to being able to order almost anything online and receiving it in 2 days or less.

The changes FedEx and UPS have instituted in recent years and are making in 2020 are a direct response to these industry trends. In the past several years, they’ve broadened the use of dimensional weight pricing, added new peak surcharges, and drastically increased the surcharges for larger packages.

Understanding the 2020 rate increases
We know how daunting it is to analyze the 2020 FedEx and UPS rates, so we’ve done the hard work for you. In our free white paper, we break down the new rate charts and simplify some of the complicated changes. It’s the best way to find out what will cost you the most in the year ahead. Looking for ways to offset the rate increases? We can also help with that. Contact us to find out if you qualify for one of our discount shipping programs.

Any seasoned exhibitor will tell you that tradeshow shipping is not something you can take lightly. There are deadlines to plan for, hidden fees to be mindful of, and options to consider. You need all the help you can get. If you want to ensure the exhibit transportation for your next show goes smoothly, these resources are for you.

1. Read some pro tips from an expert who has seen it all.
   Jennifer is one of our Customer Service Managers and has helped countless exhibitors arrange their exhibit transportation. The nature of tradeshow shipping makes it susceptible to a number of issues. However, being prepared can make all the difference. She shared some best practices with us that are tried and true.


2. Learn about sneaky costs that may come up and how to avoid them.
   Perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of tradeshow shipping is how it often feels like you’re getting nickel-and-dimed at every turn. This helpful video goes over some costs you may incur and hidden fees you might not be aware of, so your budget isn’t wrecked.


3. Check out this full break down of pros and cons for shipping to the advance warehouse vs shipping directly to the show site.
   One of the most important decisions you have to make when arranging your exhibit transportation is where you’ll be shipping it to. Depending on your situation, the advance warehouse may be the way to go or it might make more sense to ship directly to the show site. Make sure you’re considering all of the factors first by reading this blog post.


4. Get the complete guide to planning for your show so no detail is overlooked.
   As an exhibitor, there are a number of things you have to do before, during, and after the show. In this white paper, we’ve compiled all of the need-to-know info so you can avoid some common mistakes and ensure you’re working efficiently.

The best way to handle your tradeshow shipping is to be prepared and to work with a freight provider you can trust. PartnerShip has extensive experience helping exhibitors and alleviating some of the headaches of exhibit transportation. Have a show coming up? Get a free quote!