Shipping Restrictions in Australia

Posted on March 31, 2014 by admin

It is always important to check and double check if the country you are sending goods to will allow those goods to be imported, otherwise your intended recipient may end up waiting far longer to receive their parcel! Check out these restrictions before sending a parcel to Australia.

Used Goods

Various used goods are strictly prohibited for import in Australia. Used Bedding is prohibited, as are used Fruit cartons. In fact, new fruit cartons are also prohibited as they could carry ticks or parasites that once released can have devastating effects on the Australian ecosystem.

Animal Produce

Jewellery that has been made from, or contains parts of ivory, or made from an endangered species, such as snake, crocodile or elephant, is strictly prohibited unless accompanied by an Import Permit in relation to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Permission must also be obtained prior to the sending of any parcels, from the Australian Quarantine authorities when sending meat or any other animal products, including powdered milk or milk from concentrate.

Take great care when shipping goods to Australia, and as always, check with your local customs officer to ensure that any goods you plan to ship are okay for importation into the recipient country. Why not use RAND Logistics for all international parcel and large parcel delivery?

Sending Baked Goods – Choices, Choices

Posted on March 7, 2014 by admin

We wrap up a happy week of delivering baked goods and perishables with a few last minute tips in making sure that your confectioneries reach the recipient in top condition.

Easier to Ship

Certain types of baked goods are easier to ship than others. Layer cakes and fragile goods like meringues are not recommended when sending things by post, although with meringues if you absolutely have to send them, sometimes freezing them works better and keeping them packed in cold storage, because this decreases of their chances of breaking in transit.

Moist breads, cookies and fudges and caramels are good for shipping as they are flexible and heavier and are less likely to break or ruin if they are thrown about a bit when being posted. Still place a ‘fragile’ sticker on all baked goods to prevent any cookies or muffins being ground into dust though!

Be Careful of Mixing Flavours

Strong flavours tend to overpower others especially if they are kept in the same space for extended periods of time. If you are thinking of sending gingerbread cookies or cookies with other strong flavours with more mild flavours, try to package them in separate boxes as the milder flavours can be overpowered by the stronger ones.

For more information on the level of services we can provide throughout the UK and worldwide, please contact RAND Logistics. With a well established network sending parcels throughout the world, from Italy to New Zealand and anywhere in between, RAND Logistics is the only courier to choose.

Brazil World Cup 2014 – More than just a tournament?

Posted on December 13, 2013 by admin

The Football World Cup draw was held this time last week to decide who would be playing who in the group stages in Brazil next summer. The World Cup is a massive event that brings a vast amount of tourists together to celebrate football in the form of a tournament. Brazil is often seen as the home of attractive football and this is why next summer could be one of the greatest World Cups ever hosted. We take a look at how the country has developed and how football has played such a big role in inspiring the people of Brazil.

Brazil has always been a country full of culture and passion. The countries population generally consists of people with little wealth yet a truly incredible level of pride and inspiration. Football has played a big part in keeping young Brazilians inspired and passionate about their future, whilst it also brings the country together with famous Brazilian footballers regularly visiting their childhood favelas and districts to help motivate young children and poor families in the area.

With the World Cup being an international spectacle, the whole world will be watching Brazil next summer and this could work wonders in promoting awareness of the deprived areas in the country. If you are aware of a sporting organisation or individual in Brazil that may benefit from a gift being shipped internationally to the country, this is one of many ways that you can play a huge part in maintaining the footballing spirit that is present there.

With the World Cup edging closer, there is no doubt that the awareness of deprivation in Brazil will be noticed and we will hopefully see a wonderful World Cup hosted that promotes equality and inspiration for all.

If you want to send a parcel to Brazil for a family member or any other particular cause, why not have a look at some of the services that RAND Logistics have to offer? You can also contact us for further information regarding our services.

Christmas in Russia: How is it different?

Posted on December 10, 2013 by admin

Whilst you gear up for your Christmas dinner on the 25^th 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 7^th 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 1^stSunday of the Christmas season to the last. In the UK this year, the first Sunday of advent was on the 1^st December and the last will be on the 22^nd.

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 7^th January. Wherever you choose to send your parcel, make sure you use the RAND Logistics services this Christmas!

Christmas Gift Ideas: Day 5

Posted on December 6, 2013 by admin

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

Posted on December 5, 2013 by admin

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 3

Posted on December 4, 2013 by admin

Today we are focusing on the ideal Christmas gift for a partner or loved on. Whether you’ve just married, have only recently started a relationship or are currently situated away from each other due to a new job or road trip Christmas is the perfect opportunity to state your appreciation for someone and symbolise your loving relationship. So if your loved one is currently based in Dubai on a work trip or journeying through the cold in Russia somewhere, RAND Logistics can transport your cherished Christmas gift for you.

Nothing represents a loving relationship better than a small piece of memorabilia or jewellery. The perfect ring can be loved and cherished for many years in the future, making it the ideal gift to symbolise a strong bond between two people. Other kinds of jewellery including ornaments, bracelets, necklaces, watches and earrings can work just as well especially if they match the style and taste of your loved one.

On the other hand, some people symbolise strong relationships by getting something they know their partner will adore. This could be anything from a rare, special-edition vinyl set by The Beatles to their favourite bar of chocolate from a unique sweet shop. Ultimately, this kind of gift comes down to how much you know the person and since it’s a close relationship, you are likely to be able to really make them happy with your Christmas gift if you take this path.

All in all, the spirit of Christmas is perfect for rekindling long-lost friendships from across the globe, sparking new relationships and building upon existing ones. If you have a special gift to send to anywhere in the world, RAND Logistics can offer you the ideal service.

Christmas Gift Inspiration: DAY #4

Posted on November 7, 2013 by admin

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… well, they’re probably not your true love, as today we’re thinking about your office Secret Santa. There is usually a strict spending limit on these, so we’ve split this post into sections for the most common budgets for this game.

£1: £1 might not seem like a lot of money, but the great thing is that you can get really creative. Get your craft head on and scour the house for odds and ends to make something Christmas-themed. Or, if you’re not the most creative person, head to the local pound shop. Here you will find chocolate, mini toiletry sets and novelty gifts.

£5: Here you get a little more leeway. You could get a small box of good quality chocolate, a half price bottle of wine, some nice stationery or even a little gift set for this price. Or how about a couple of miniatures of their favourite spirit?

£10: The higher the spending limit for Secret Santa for people you don’t know well, the trickier it gets to buy something good. With the extra leeway, you need to come up with something great. For this price limit, we say play it safe and go for a bottle of nice wine or a little food selection. Anything too personal is a minefield, and a novelty gift will make them feel cheated out of a good gift at this price.

Remember to use RAND’s parcel quote tool before you send your gifts this Christmas!

Students Studying Abroad?

Posted on August 2, 2013 by admin

Students! Listen up: if you’re off on your year abroad in September, you’re probably looking around your bedroom and wondering how on Earth you’re going to manage with all those suitcases on your own. Even if Mum and Dad are taking a suitcase each, there’s still a lot to take with you for an entire year. Thankfully, RAND is here to help.

A better idea than taking all your luggage yourself is to send it to your new accommodation, wherever in the world that may be, with a courier such as RAND. It means you don’t have to pay over the odds to take extra hold luggage on the plane, you can avoid having to manoeuvre four suitcases at once through a busy airport and it’s one less thing to worry about at the luggage carousel.

We offer excellent rates for packages sent all over the world, so whether you’re off to the US, China, Europe or anywhere else, get a quote today to make the start of your year abroad go without a hitch.

Got Goods for South Africa?

Posted on July 23, 2013 by admin

You know that RAND Logistics can get your parcel to South Africa for the most competitive rates, right? How low are our prices? We can get your goods to South Africa from the UK from as little as £26.25!

We offer rock bottom rates with no loss in quality of service. With RAND your goods are tracked and insured, handled with complete professionalism at every stage of the journey. So find out why our customers keep coming back to us by getting a quote today.

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