Canadian parcel courier Purolator Inc. has released shipping tips and packaging advice for the 2016 holiday season.

The lists culminate with a send-by deadline of Dec. 21 for next-day delivery to the U.S. and Dec. 22 for next-day delivery within Canada, but the Canada Post Corp.-owned company also shared a list of five shipping tips and six packaging steps for best results throughout this busy season.

Mississauga,Ont.-based Puralator's five shipping tips include:

• choose a reliable shipping provider that offers solutions that are customized to meet your specific needs, such as offering you the option to arrange shipping and pickups online or in person at one of the company's locations.
• save money in your business budget by opening an account with a shipper that offers a rewards program.
• look for convenient evening and weekend options at shipping locations or authorized shipping agents and partners.
• select a shipper that publishes its holiday ship-by dates. You don't want any surprises, and this information will go a long way toward ensuring your items arrive on time.
• to help ensure your packages are delivered securely, follow the packaging tips and guidelines below.

Purolator's six packaging tips are as follows:

• Use new shipping boxes, as used boxes lose strength over time and may not protect your item during the shipping process. New boxes can be purchased from Purolator Shipping Centres or office-supply stores.
• Wrap all items individually using appropriate packing materials, such as bubble wrap, foam peanuts, or air pillows. These materials should be at least three inches thick. Do not use newspapers, twine or tissue paper for cushioning, as they do not offer enough protection.
• Place precious cargo, items with sharp edges, or fragile items such as electronics in the center of a box. Make sure all items fit well, and add cardboard inserts to protect the edges. If the item protrudes or seems compressed within the box, choose a larger box.
• Seal boxes with three-inch-wide plastic pressure-sensitive tape, making sure all edge seams are taped. Do not seal your boxes with glue, masking tape, cellophane tape, or opaque tape, as these materials lack the strength needed to keep the package intact.
• Stick the shipping label on the largest, flattest surface of the box so that it is easily readable. When necessary, affix information to indicate that glass, liquid, or a heavy object is enclosed. Before sending your item, double check the accuracy of the sender and receiver information on the shipping label.
• Retain a copy of your package identification number (PIN) for easy tracking.

"No one wants to miss out on getting their special holiday packages delivered when it matters most," Paul Merrick, Purolator's vice president of field operations, said in a release. "In addition to the holiday shipping schedule, customers can follow our helpful tips to make holiday packaging and shipping easy and worry-free, whether they are shipping within Canada, to the United States or to other countries around the world."