RIDGEFIELD PACK AND SHIP offers boxes of all shapes and sizes, as well as packing materials, office supplies and more.
MANAGER DIANA RICHARDS is anticipating a busy 2012 holiday shopping season, and Ridgefield Pack and Ship has multiple options to get gifts to loved ones across the country.
Ask most holiday shoppers what the hardest part of the season is and it’s often a toss-up between either buying gifts or figuring out how to ship them to distant loved ones around the world.
Fortunately, Ridgefield Pack and Ship can help in getting presents off to their destination and making sure they arrive in one piece.
Located at the Union Ridge Small Business Center, the store was opened by owner Tim Armstrong and manager Diana Richards on Sept. 25. The business can help pack and ship objects of all shapes and sizes.
“We can ship just about anything,” Richards said. “That said, we do have things like aerosols, ammunition, chemicals, liquor, perfume, and potentially-flammable items which we cannot send out.”
Even though the front office may seem small, Ridgefield Pack and Ship has a large, secure space next door that can store items of all sort.
“It’s a great work space for us because not only can we keep things secured, but it also gives us a way to load shipments onto trucks,” Richards said.
One of the more common issues is making sure fragile items arrive in the same condition as when they left.
“It’s always wise to double box and use proper shipping materials to protect the item inside both boxes when sending something fragile or highly valuable,” Richards said.
To help that, Ridgefield Pack and Ship carries a large selection of boxes, peanuts, bubble wrap and shipping tape. They also offer insurance coverage up to $100 with FedEx and customers can also purchase additional coverage.
With Christmas being celebrated on a Tuesday this year, it can be confusing to know the best time to send packages off for them to arrive in time to meet Santa’s timetables.
“We recommend it should probably be no later than Mon., Dec 17,” said Richards. “A good resource to check is the U.S. Postal Service website for their holiday shipping schedule.”
Richards added it is the peak season for shipping companies all across the country and both high volume of packages and unexpected weather can delay the arrival of shipments, so planning ahead is advised.
In addition to shipping, Ridgefield Pack and Ship also offers private mailboxes starting at $10 per month, as well as postage, office supplies, notary services, copies, high-speed scanning and fax services, and internet order and eCommerce inventory programs. A UPS 24/7 drop box is also located just outside the front door.
With Black Friday fast approaching, Richards said she has plans to run specials for the season, but nothing has been finalized as of yet. She recommends checking out Ridgefield resident Kathy Waters’ blog, www.fyi98642.com, for upcoming offers throughout the season.
“We’re looking forward to working with our customers to help them fill their shipping needs, both during and after the holiday season,” Richards said.
Ridgefield Pack and Ship also has their own website, www.ridgefieldpackandship.com. They are located at 7509 South 5th St., #101, and are open Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sat., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. They can be reached at (360) 566-2990.
