After two years of disappointing profits from the holiday season, United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) is hoping a network of mom-and-pop retailers will help it avoid a third blue Christmas. The coming weeks will be a referendum on the expansion of UPS’s Access Point network earlier this year to 8,000 locations in 100 cities from a few large test markets. In densely populated areas, Access Point will “have a dramatic impact” on UPS’s ability to operate during the peak season, said Geoff Light, U.S. president of product development.