Thanksgiving takes place on the fourth Thursday of November.

If you have friends or relatives in the USA, now is the time to send your cards and gifts - don’t leave it till the last minute!

The first Thanksgiving Day was in 1621, when the Pilgrims held a harvest festival to celebrate their first harvest in the New World.  

In the US today, Thanksgiving is a time for togetherness with family and friends, with a big Thanksgiving dinner – usually turkey and all the trimmings (in 2015, it’s estimated that 45 million turkeys were consumed on Thanksgiving Day alone).

If you’re planning to send anything across the pond to mark the big day this year, you may want to check out our tips for a smooth passage:

• Make sure you are familiar with the prohibited items list, as some items cannot be shipped to the US
  
• Ensure your parcel is tightly packed – you don’t want items to be loose and moving around in transit
  
• Use materials such as bubble wrap, packing peanuts or air cushions to provide the necessary security
  
• Choose the correct size of box – not too small, because you want to ensure the contents are safely wrapped inside; not too large – to keep costs and weight down
  
• Make sure the box is strong and in good condition – not damaged or weak at the corners
  
• Use quality packing tape to seal your parcel
  
• Ensure your parcel has warnings on it if the contents are fragile
  
• Write the destination address clearly on the box
  
• Select the correct courier and shipping method – we work with all the major carriers, including UPS, DHL, TNT, Parcelforce Worldwide and FedEx, and we can help you select the right one for your consignment. We’ll even help with the paperwork and customs forms.
  

If you want to save yourself some time and have extra peace of mind that your gift is packed securely, then relax and leave it to us to pack instead!