If you find yourself traveling frequently for business — whether it is to meetings, conferences, or trade shows — you know that it can be a challenge to find the best way to transport your marketing collateral and materials. Sometimes you may require exhibit transportation services for your larger, palletized shipments, but other times you might just have display materials for a small booth or table. Before you try to stuff all of those materials into your suitcase, consider shipping them. 

Shipping to a conference or a meeting can be a cost-effective and convenient option to get your materials where they need to be. But where do you ship it to? Through FedEx, you can ship your package to a nearby FedEx Office store at no extra cost. There are many FedEx locations around the country — often times right around the corner from, if not in, your hotel or conference center. And if you are an enrolled member in a PartnerShip association shipping program, your FedEx discounts still apply to the shipment.

Gone are the days that you try to stuff your marketing collateral in your personal luggage or pay extra to check an additional bag! Not to mention, you don't have to worry about lugging another set of luggage around the airport and to your hotel or show site.

Watch the video below or follow these simple steps to benefit from this free service:

1. Find a FedEx Office location

2. Create your shipment

3. Select the option —hold at a FedEx location'

4. Pickup at your convenience

Before your favorite products end up on store shelves, they have to be transported from where they are manufactured to their final destination. Many people may not think about what goes into the transportation of goods, but logistics is a large part of the world we live in. Here are some fun facts* to put into perspective just how important logistics is:

Logistics by the numbers

• 3.5 Million The approximate number of truck drivers moving freight in the U.S.
• 1.2 Million The number of trucking companies operating in the U.S.
• 149 The number of ports located in the U.S.  
• 1.28 Trillion The total U.S. logistics spend in 2011 
• 71% The percentage our nation's freight movement that trucking accounts for
• 566 The number of railroads in the U.S.

Did you know?

• More than $1 out of every $10 produced in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is related to transportation activity.
• 1 in every 15 people working in the U.S is employed in the trucking industry.
• The highest-valued imported products in the U.S. include agricultural products, industrial supplies, capital goods, and consumer goods.
• Shippers who partner with third-party logistics providers report an average cost reduction of 13%. 

* Source: http://www.thelogisticsoflogistics.com/2012/06/fun-facts-about-logistics/

Going global with your business is a great opportunity for growth. Whether you've already taken your business overseas or have just started to dip your toes in the international waters, simplifying your shipping is essential for keeping your business afloat. Here's what you need to know about shipping internationally:

Find your markets
When you're selecting your international markets, there are several factors to consider. You may start off by selecting markets where you have local distribution connections or markets that have signed free trade agreements with the U.S. You may also think about staying within markets with a common language to avoid any cultural or language barrier issues.

As you continue to expand it's also important to be aware of the requirements and restrictions you will encounter. Each country has different restrictions or prohibitions that affect what commodities are allowed to be important and exported.

Some countries also have standards you must adhere to. For example, China uses the China Compulsory Certification Mark (CCC), whereas European countries conform to the Conformite Europeenne (CE). Products not meeting the particular standards in these markets may be held up by customs and will be subject to other penalties. Make sure you are aware of these restrictions and standards to avoid any unwanted hassles down the road.

As a helpful tool for researching your markets, FedEx provides Country Profiles that can give you detailed information on import and export restrictions, trade group information, prohibitions, standards, and more.

Prepare your documents
There is a great deal of documentation involved with shipping and selling a product internationally. The U.S. government requires export documentation and each importing country will have different requirements for import documentation.

What documentation you have to submit with your shipment depends mostly on where you are shipping to and what you are shipping. The primary shipping document for most international shipments is the International Air Waybill (IAWB). Other documents you may need will vary. Some other common documents include the Commercial Invoice, Certificate of Origin, and Electronic Export Information (EEI).

To help you determine what international documents you will need to complete, check out the FedEx International Document Assistance page.

Ship your products
When you have selected your markets, completed the necessary paperwork, and are finally ready to ship, it's important to select the right service at a low cost. It's also important to remember that things like duties, taxes, port handling fees and other customs charges will affect your cost. Saving money on your international shipments with a reliable carrier can make a world of difference. 

FedEx offers a number of services to fit all of your international shipping needs. Through an association shipping program, managed by PartnerShip, you can receive discounts on your international shipments with select FedEx services. PartnerShip works with over a hundred major trade associations, across many industries to provide their members with the money-saving tools to help them be successful. If you belong to an association we work with, take advantage of our free shipping benefits today - and save on your international shipping. If you're not sure if you qualify for one of our shipping programs contact us and we'll find the solution that's right for you.

Near the beginning of every New Year, the shipping experts at PartnerShip dig into the small package carriers' annual rate increase announcements. We like to read between the lines for our customers, digest the tables and charts, see what information is out there that FedEx and UPS didn't say, or maybe just hinted at. As always, how much more expensive your particular small package shipments will be in the New Year largely depends on many factors, including shipment volumes, sizes, weights, and modes.

Here are some quick facts regarding this year's small package rate increases:

• UPS rate increases in effect December 31, 2012
  
  » 4.9% average rate increase for UPS Ground (5.9% average increase -1% reduction in the fuel surcharge)
  » 4.5% average rate increase for UPS Air (6.5% average increase -2% reduction in the fuel surcharge)
• FedEx rate increases in effect January 7, 2013
  
  » 4.9% average rate increase for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery services (5.9% rate increase -1% reduction in the fuel surcharge)
  » 3.9% average rate increase for FedEx Express services (5.9% average increase -2% reduction in the fuel surcharge)
• UPS will enjoy an extra week of the rate increases by beginning 12/31/12 to FedEx's 1/7/13

Interested in learning more? Our exlcusive report includes detailed tables and insights. Click the button below to read on ...

PartnerShip helps thousands of customers save on their ground delivery small package shipments (i.e., generally those under 200 pounds). Through our unique alliance with FedEx^®, we help ensure our customers get access to fast and reliable small package shipping services, while maximizing their savings.

Last week we talked about the various small package shipping options for U.S. Express and International Express services. This week, we'd like to point out the discounted ground delivery small package shipping options that are available through one of our association shipping programs:

• FedEx Ground^® Choose this service for economical ground delivery to U.S. businesses. You get day-definite delivery in 1—5 business days (3—7 business days to and from Alaska and Hawaii) based on the distance to your destination. Delivery is by the end of the business day. Available to every business address throughout all 50 states (service for remote Alaskan locations and the Hawaiian islands of Lanai and Molokai is inbound only). For more information, go to fedex.com/ground.
• FedEx Home Delivery^® Get residential day-definite delivery in 1—5 business days (3—7 business days to and from Alaska and Hawaii) based on the distance to your destination. Delivery is between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Available to every U.S. residential address, for packages up to 70 lbs. Convenient delivery
  options are available for recipients with appointment and evening requirements. For more information, go to fedex.com/homedelivery.
• FedEx International Ground^® Get economical day-definite ground delivery to Canada typically in 2—7 business days, based on the distance to your destination. Delivery is by the end of the business day. Customs clearance is included through this brokerage inclusive service (a fee applies).

Small Package Solutions

Our discounted small package shipping services are completely free to eligible businesses participating in one of our association shipping programs. If you are currently a member of a professional association or trade group, ask them if they have a discounted small package shipping program through PartnerShip. You can also give us a call at 800-599-2902, or send an email to sales@PartnerShip.com, and we'll find out for you. If not, we'd love to talk to your association leadership team to see if we can build a program for you and your fellow members.

To learn more about our other services, click the button below.