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The busiest time of the year for packing and shipping is undoubtedly the holiday season. In 2013, UPS employees were forced to work 100-hour weeks because the backlog of packages far exceeded their expectations. And if you consider that each year holiday retail sales tread in the $600-billion range, it’s definitely a good idea to start your holiday packing and shipping plans.
Before you send off your holiday presents, there are a few basic steps you can take to ensure that your package is completely ready for delivery. The first place to start is to make sure that you have the proper packaging container for your item. If your package seems too bulky for cardboard, crating is definitely a viable option. Crating a large item like furniture or antiques ensures that the package will be completely protected against any damage. It’s like putting your holiday present in a vault and sending to your loved ones.
If you’re shipping toys make sure that you remove batteries from toys and if your present involves a separate pack of batteries, make sure those are tightly secured in the box. Every holiday item is different so they will each have to be packaged and secured differently. But for fragile items like cookies, ornaments and glassware, always take the extra step in securing the packaged with thick layers of padding and protection.
Since you are shipping internationally, take extra caution on both preparation of the item and allotment of days for the gift to arrive. During the normal time of the year, a package from the United States to Europe can take between three and fourteen day. If you want to be on the safe side when sending a package internationally, you should allow for at least three weeks lag time. This holiday season, make sure that all your packing and shipping needs are taken care of by visiting Navis Pack & Ship.
