Tag Archives: december

Watch out for customs! – Prohibited items you might not expect this Christmas

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If you are preparing for a Christmas event abroad and need to send various Christmas gifts over to a designated country, you might be surprised to learn that one of the most traditional items during the festive period probably won’t make it there. In fact, sending a certain selection of traditional Christmas items abroad could see you having to deal with customs. Here’s a look at some of the festive items that could be intercepted on their way to your addressee this December.

The first and seemingly most obvious Christmas item that you wouldn’t be able to send to many countries is mistletoe. Mistletoe counts as a plant and therefore could potentially spread disease to plants native to the country you are shipping to. The majority of plants are prohibited for shipping due to the threat of disease, so make sure you check with your addressee before shipping live Christmas decorations such as mistletoe, holly or natural wreaths.

Christmas crackers are one of the key components for any Christmas dinner. However, shipping one across the border could also get you into trouble with customs. Don’t forget that Christmas crackers actually contain small forms of explosive that create the snapping sound when you pull them. Due to the fact that these “devices” could be used in other methods of explosives, they are generally prohibited across the world.

You can have a look at our international parcel delivery page to study the items that cannot be shipped abroad. For more information regarding the services on offer, contact RAND Logistics today.

Christmas in Russia: How is it different?

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Whilst you gear up for your Christmas dinner on the 25th December, you might start a conversation with the rest of your family about Christmas worldwide and how it’s different in other countries across the world. It’s a subject that interests lots of people simply because Christmas is such a huge annual event.

Whilst you have many countries across the world not celebrating Christmas for religious reasons, there are also many countries that celebrate the big day very differently. One of these countries is Russia, the giant nation that remains to this day an ambassador of older annual traditions. Here are a few reasons why Russia celebrates Christmas differently compared to the vast majority.

Christmas was actually hardly celebrated across the Soviet Union if you look back throughout history. Nowadays it is widely celebrated, but not on the day you might think. In fact, Russia’s Christmas has already gone this year, about 11 months ago today.

Russia celebrates Christmas on the 7th January because they stick to the older “Julian” calendar when referring to religious events. Advent, the catholic celebration, lasts for 40 days in Russia, unlike in the UK where it traditionally lasts from the 1st Sunday of the Christmas season to the last. In the UK this year, the first Sunday of advent was on the 1st December and the last will be on the 22nd.

So if you’re getting your gifts ready to send internationally this year and you have a friend in Russia, you might want to consider that they celebrate Christmas Day on the 7th January. Wherever you choose to send your parcel, make sure you use the RAND Logistics services this Christmas!

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 5

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It’s the last day of the week which brings to an end our series of Christmas gift ideas. As we’ve covered a variety of different groups of people it’s time to focus a bit more on context, which is why today’s Christmas gift ideas focuses on fashion. From the biggest hits of this year through to the trendiest outfits, we take a look at the gifts available out there that could really appeal to the modern audience.

Every year, there’s a wide range of different clothing trends throughout the Christmas period. Last year saw incredible success for the “onesie” as a Christmas gift and it looks like this year we’ll be seeing a lot more Christmas jumpers flying off the shelves. The knitwear has proved to be a big hit with all generations this year despite being ridiculed in the past were anyone foolish enough to wear it outside of their Nan’s company. The biggest stars in the business have flaunted Christmas jumpers this year already so it’s no surprise they are proving a massive success in all major clothing outlets.

It’s incredible when you compare the major trends of the last 50 years with this year when it comes to toys. There was a whole host of crazes that went in tandem with some of the most popular TV shows and films of the last few decades, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Buzz Lightyear and the infamous Furby.

Today, Christmas toys are incredibly varied, with the Kuri 4S touch tablet device tipped to be a huge hit. Lego has always been a success at Christmas thanks to its innovative concept, whilst another hotly tipped toy for this Christmas is the Megableu Creepy Hand Game, a robotic hand that chooses the player to answer question itself!

With all these Christmas crazes set to hit the shelves, it might be a good idea to stock up on them before they go out of stock. Once you’ve got hold of them you can ship any gift internationally with RAND. Until then, a merry Christmas from everybody here at Rand Logistics!

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 4

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It’s the fourth day in our week of Christmas gift ideas and this time we will be looking at ideas for friends. If you have a close friend or someone you really care about, it’s usually a no-brainer to get them something that will really cheer them up this Christmas.

Having a close knitted group of friends is really important for some people, so making sure that they’re in your Christmas gift plans is essential. What’s more, many close friends may have left the country or travelled too far away for you to see them regularly, so shipping a parcel their way with RAND could be the perfect way to reinstate your friendship.

When buying a gift for a friend you should always consider their personal tastes. If it’s a close friend that you are buying for, think about some of the times you’ve spent with them in the past and get something with an element of positive nostalgia. On the other hand, you may want to make them laugh with something that you have joked about together over the last year.

On the other hand, you could make the most of a beautiful bouquet of flowers if you haven’t seen them for a significant amount of time, or something that could potentially result in a future gathering, such as a ticket for their favourite film or a theatre production.

So if you need to reconnect with friends who live abroad or want to ship a Christmas gift somewhere across the globe, RAND Logistics have the ideal services for you.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 2

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Our next Christmas gift idea looks at teenagers and the vast amounts of gift ideas available for this age group. Teenagers are much like children in that a lot of their cherished items will be given to them at Christmas or for their birthdays. The spirit of Christmas is essential for every teenager as they grow up, so it’s important that they embrace the season and are given presents they will always remember. If you have a teenage cousin or nephew living in Australia, Poland or anywhere else in the world, here are a few great gift ideas that you can ship this Christmas using RAND Logistics.

Teenagers will have identified their preferred theme by now, be it sport, nature, arts and crafts, video games, music or technology. Many younger teenage boys will be really into their sport or their video games, making the latest video game or a new football or piece of memorabilia the ideal Christmas gift.

Teenage girls might be in to all sorts of gifts, so you can play it safe and get something inspirational such as a musical instrument or an artistic set. Both teenage boys and girls will have their preferences, so you might want to find out what it is they like. However, inspirational gifts can be really effective for teenagers to motivate them to get in touch with their passions and talents.

So, if you can’t wait to ship an acoustic guitar, a great new pair of shoes or a toy helicopter to a far-away teenage relative for Christmas this year, make the most of the services RAND Logistics have to offer and get in touch with us today for a wider description of our services.

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 1

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It’s officially the start of the Christmas season so what better blog to start than a daily guide on some of the best gift ideas available this Christmas that you can send internationally with RAND. The majority of people have their own personal tastes when it comes to gifts, so we’ll be separating out a few of the different target markets to give you the perfect ideas for your lucky friend or family member. Today, we’ll be focusing on younger children and some of the excellent gift ideas that have become available for this specific age group.

Kids absolutely adore the Christmas excitement and there’s nothing better than waking up to a full Christmas stocking on the morning of the 25th during your childhood. Kids will love the little time consuming toys, such as miniature table tennis sets and picture books. Depending on whether your child is a girl or a boy preferences will differ, so it’s important that you listen to what your child is in to at the moment, including TV shows or other forms of kid’s media entertainment.

It’s a good idea to purchase an item for a younger child that holds educational value. Educational toys are an excellent way of improving the skills of a child and getting them enthused by the prospect of learning, whether they are yet to start school or are well into their Key Stage 2 years.

So if you are feeling generous this Christmas and want to send a gift abroad to a distant relative, why not make the most of the services Rand Logistics has to offer over the Christmas period. Contact us today for further information about the services we can offer you.

Christmas Gift Inspiration: DAY #1

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Now we’re safely in November, the clocks have gone back and we’re all feeling the chill, it is safe for us to start talking about the C-word: Christmas! You have most probably noticed all the gifts arriving in shops over the past few weeks, and while it may seem overwhelming, we’re here to help, and we’re starting this week with the ladies.

Perfume

As a general rule, we recommend steering clear of anything too practical for the lady in your life. That means no new kettles, vacuum cleaners or blenders unless she has specifically requested it. Instead, why not make an effort and take inspiration from the things she chooses for herself? Check her perfume collection. Could you get her a matching body lotion for her favourite scent? Or the cardigan she loves in a new colour?

Chocolate can make a nice gift, but might look a little unimaginative. Instead, why not put together a little hamper of her favourite sweet treats? She’ll appreciate the effort and thought, and you can tailor it to her tastes. As a general rule, if you don’t know her size, don’t guess and get it offensively wrong – but do remember that bags and accessories are generally one size fits all, and you can never go wrong with a sparkly piece of jewellery!

Use RAND’s parcel comparison tool to send all your Christmas gifts this year.

Planning Ahead for Sending Christmas Presents Abroad

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It might seem like a long way away now, but we’re more than halfway through the year and Christmas will be upon us before we know it. If you want to get organised this year, get a quote from RAND for your Christmas presents sooner rather than later. We can send parcels all over the world, from the US to India to Russia. No matter where your family and friends are during the festive season, it’s important that you show them you’re thinking of them at this special time of year. We offer fantastic rates and a brilliant service, so that we can take a load off your mind this Christmas.