The UPS Store To Award Small Business Big Advertising Tools in Online Contest

SAN DIEGO, July 13, 2011 -- The UPS Store network announced today that it will launch a Facebook contest called “The Promotion Promotion” on July 18. The contest, designed to arm small business owners with tools and resources to promote their business, runs through Aug. 31. The grand prize winner will receive an integrated marketing campaign valued up to $50,000.

Small business owners can enter the contest by visiting The UPS Store corporate Facebook page. Grand prize submissions will be evaluated by a panel of experts and the winner will be chosen based on the contestant’s passion for small business. Official rules, including criteria for the grand prize and contest eligibility, will be available on The UPS Store corporate Facebook page starting July 18.

“Every The UPS Store franchisee is a small business owner, so we know how challenging it can be to promote and grow a company,” said Michelle Van Slyke, who oversees marketing for The UPS Store network. “The Promotion Promotion contest is all about providing small business owners with resources they can use to help grow their business.”

The Promotion Promotion sweepstakes also will award up to $3,000 in weekly prizes, including an Apple® iPad 2® with Square and gift cards from American Express®, The UPS Store and Costco. Contestants can enter for a chance to win the weekly prize drawing by dropping their name into a virtual fishbowl.

Doner, The UPS Store network’s advertising agency of record, will work with the grand prize winner to examine the business’ needs, develop a marketing plan, produce creative and run it in appropriate media.

In addition, The UPS Store network will offer Facebook-only coupons for discounts on business-related services at participating The UPS Store franchise locations. Starting the second week, fans choose the next week’s offer by crowdsourcing via Facebook Questions. The Promotion Promotion tab also will stream relevant articles from the business section of msnbc.com.

The UPS Store centers help with the logistics of running a small business, including mailboxes with a real street address, packing and shipping services and professional printing services such as: color and black-and white prints; binding; lamination; finishing, and folding. Customers can select from a variety of print products, including presentations, flyers and brochures, business cards, menus and more. Participating locations also offer online printing and wide-format printing.

For more information on The UPS Store products or services, or to find a location near you, please visit www.theupsstore.com/logistics.

With more than 4,700 locations, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. network comprises the world’s largest franchise system of retail shipping, postal, print and business service centers throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. In the U.S. and Puerto Rico, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., a UPS subsidiary. In Canada, locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of master licensee MBEC Communications, L.P. For additional information on The UPS Store, including information on franchise opportunities for opening a The UPS Store location*, visit www.theupsstore.com.

*This is not an offer of a franchise. Any franchise offer is made only after a Franchise Disclosure Document has been provided.