UPS

UPS and the fashion industry – behind the seams


The fashion industry, from design to wardrobe, is more global than most might imagine. A concept is developed, samples are designed, manufactured and finally approved, and these processes can take place at opposite ends of the earth in several different locations even before the garments are distributed to retailers around the world. In addition, all of these steps happen within a very short time frame and must allow for last minute changes in inventory and shipment destinations. This is even more prevalent for businesses selling their goods online, where customers expect fast and efficient delivery.

UPS acts as a partner for companies in the fashion, textiles and luxury goods industries, because it understands the push for perfection, precision, creativity and punctuality inherent to those sectors. As a global business UPS is best placed to meet these requirements.

Operating globally with very short deadlines, UPS’s customers know that they can rely on the wide range of services available. From Paris to Beijing, from Milan to New York City, London and Tokyo, UPS supports the fashion, textiles and luxury goods sector day in, day out.


Brownie points


Most people don’t know that when UPS first began using motor vehicles for package delivery, they were painted different colours to illustrate that there was more than one package car.

Charlie Soderstrom, one of UPS’s founders, selected the colour brown for uniforms and delivery vehicles in 1916. He chose the brown that was used on Pullman rail cars because the colour reflected class, elegance, and professionalism – alongside the fact that dirt is less visible on brown uniforms and vehicles.

By 1929, the entire UPS fleet was brown, which is still the case for more than 95,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles in UPS’s worldwide fleet.

In 1998, UPS registered two trademarks on the colour brown. The trademarks prevent other delivery companies from using the colour for vehicles or clothing, as well as any other type of company if it creates market confusion with UPS.

UPS shipments take to the water in Italy with UPS branded boats brightening the Venetian waterways.

It takes more than 550,000 litres of brown paint to keep UPS’s global fleet of more than 95,000 package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles in top shape.

Affectionately known as "Browntails", UPS’s 216 airplanes make it the ninth largest airline worldwide. 13,000 litres of paint are needed to coat them.

It takes 1,530 km of brown cloth and 280,000 km of brown thread to dress UPS’s 84,000 drivers worldwide - enough thread to circle the equator seven times. For 188,000 hats, 459,000 shirts, 303,000 pairs of trousers and 192,000 pairs of shorts a two-year advance order is required.

 

UPS services

The perfect fit for your shipping needs

In the fashion and textile industry, precision is key. That’s why you can turn to UPS for your shipping needs. We provide a wide spectrum of national and international money-back guaranteed* express shipping options.
* Restrictions apply

Samples ready at the last minute?
Use UPS Express Plus® to have them delivered the next day across Europe by 9am and by 12 noon with UPS Express™.

Time to spare?
UPS Express Saver™ can ship your goods to all locations within Europe by the next business day.
For those less urgent shipments to your boutiques across Europe or the world,
UPS Standard® and UPS Expedited services offer you efficient delivery that’s easy on your budget.


The customer is always right – UPS Returns®

If the customer isn’t happy with his clothes or accessories, they can be sent back in one seamless manoeuvre. UPS’s broad range of return services makes life easier for you and your customer. Offer your customer the possibility to return shipments by emailing a return label to them, including a label in your outbound shipment, or making it available for download on your website. Or you can even let UPS print and post the labels to your customer on your behalf.


Peace of mind – Signature Tracking and Internet Shipping

Smooth out those snags with UPS Signature Tracking; keep tabs on deliveries and access the recipient’s signature as a digital image. To make life even simpler, carry out all your shipping tasks online, using UPS Internet Shipping, a one-stop shop for all your shipping needs, from processing your shipments to printing your labels, and even arranging a pick-up.



The final touch – Collect on Delivery

Concerned about starting up business with new suppliers in new markets?
With UPS’s cash flow services like UPS Collect on Delivery (COD) there’s no need to worry, our drivers will collect the payment of your goods upon delivery. Start doing business with confidence, secure in the knowledge that once your goods are delivered you will be paid on time. And if you’re selling over the Internet, UPS COD service is ideal for those customers who are wary of providing their credit card details online.


Smooth as silk

At UPS, you deal with one company and with one consolidated air, ground and ocean network for all your shipping needs. Rely on our drivers to collect your shipments on a daily basis in their familiar brown package cars.


UPS knows the limelight

UPS is a global brand and a leader in our sector. We are the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, operating in over 215 countries and territories worldwide. We’ve been in business for more than a century, helping customers to manage the complexities of synchronising goods, information and the funds necessary to bring garments and accessories to catwalks, retailers and wardrobes the world over.