01 January 2026

SAN DIEGO - JAN. 1, 2026 -The New Year began with a splash as The UPS Store, Inc. won the Director Award from the Tournament of Roses® for its float in the 137th Rose Parade® presented by Honda - and set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title. Themed "Sharing Skills for Success," the float transported viewers to a vibrant underwater world with a sporty seahorse expertly coaching his young through a synchronized swimming routine, inspiring viewers to discover the extraordinary power of collaboration.

The float honored the 2026 Rose Parade theme, "The Magic in Teamwork," and showcased the national retailer's support for the next generation of entrepreneurs and small business owners through the Start Small, Grow Big program with Junior Achievement USA®. The float's massive seahorse, measuring 34 feet tall, made the float the tallest in the parade and set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Largest Animatronic Fish, exemplifying how the brand shows up in bold and unexpected ways to support its customers and franchisees and inspire communities.

"On behalf of our franchise network of more than 5,400 stores nationwide, we are honored to receive the Director Award and proud to make history with a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title," said Sarah Casalan, president of The UPS Store, Inc. "This achievement celebrates creativity, collaboration, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives us to keep pushing boundaries for our customers, franchisees and future entrepreneurs. Thank you to the incredible volunteers, builder and designer who brought our float to life."

Every year, the Tournament of Roses® bestows awards for categories such as float design, float presentation, entertainment value and more. The Director Award is given to floats that have the most outstanding artistic design and use of floral and non-floral materials.

The float's majestic seahorse centerpiece was masterfully adorned with corn husks, lentils, sesame seeds and orange slices, and crowned with vibrant red carnations. The seahorse coach gently nodded in admiration toward his team of babies as they performed their synchronized swimming routine in front of him, a carousel of circular swimming. The seahorses' fins flapped gracefully as surrounding fish shimmered to create the illusion of swimming through water. Starfish rendered in blue statice with red chili edges and cranberry seed accents glistened with kumquat and brussels sprout details, creating stunning dimensional effects. The vibrant deck burst with tropical florals including pink and red ginger, striking orchids and bright bromeliads, while bubbles surprised and delighted the crowd with a frothy display.

The float was designed by Charles T. Meier and meticulously built by Artistic Entertainment Services in Pasadena, with hundreds of volunteers contributing countless hours of decoration and artistry.

Four outstanding Junior Achievement students from Dominguez High School in Compton, California - selected for their exceptional participation in entrepreneurship and work-readiness courses - rode the float dressed in full snorkel gear, bringing authentic youth representation to this celebration of the next generation of entrepreneurs. Additionally, two student contest winners from the 2025 Start Small, Grow Big New Year's Contest won a trip to Pasadena, enjoying access to the Rose Parade and tickets to the Rose Bowl game.

Through The UPS Store Start Small, Grow Big program benefiting Junior Achievement USA, franchisees have facilitated nearly $7 million in customer donations since the program began in 2022, directly supporting youth entrepreneurship and workforce development.

About The UPS Store
With more than 5,400 locations across the United States, The UPS Store network comprises the nation's largest franchise system of retail shipping, postal, print, and business service centers. The UPS Store locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of The UPS Store, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of United Parcel Service, Inc., a Delaware corporation (although one or more may be company-owned). Services, prices, and hours of operation are subject to change and may vary by location. For additional information about The UPS Store, visit theupsstore.com. Follow The UPS Store on social media at @TheUPSStore.

About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® and Rose Parade® presented by Honda
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses® is a volunteer organization that hosts America's New Year Celebration® with the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, the Rose Bowl Game® presented by Prudential and a variety of accompanying events. The Association's 935 Members supply more than 80,000 volunteer hours, which drove the success of the 137th Rose Parade, themed "The Magic in Teamwork," on Thursday, January 1, 2026, followed by the College Football Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. Visit tournamentofroses.com, follow us on Instagram, YouTube and X, and like us on Facebook.

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