​

E-Commerce tips: your path to global growth

by | Jun 7, 2022 | Export Tips, Partner News

Tips from DHL who have been one of our long-standing partners, giving IFS customers discounted rates…
With e-commerce, it’s easier than ever to reach more international customers – especially for British businesses.

22 Golden Rules to transform your E-commerce Sales

As Express shipping experts, we know a thing or two about e-commerce. In fact, our partners from DHL have collated 22 of the most essential into a guide to help online businesses improve their sales. So, how many can your business cross off?

Across the world, e-commerce is booming, which means there has never been a better time to be an online seller. All you need is ambition and to follow these 22 golden rules of e-commerce to ensure your business is a success. Happy selling!

Here are the top ten to give you a taste of what is included:

  1. Fast-loading speed
  2. Hook them on the home page
  3. Make navigation simple and intuitive
  4. Offer real-time customer service
  5. Utilize customer data
  6. It’s all in the details
  7. Include user reviews
  8. Be personal
  9. Cross-sell
  10. Stay secure

And this list continues… Read more of the detail in DHL’s article >

 
For more information simply call our friendly and helpful team on: +44 (0) 1709 610 000, or simply send a message >
 

Do you need an International Shipping quotation or have a consignment to book in?

Quote me
Ready to order now?

Middle East conflict triggers rising Fuel Prices and Transport Fuel Surcharges

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East, specifically involving Iran, the US, and Israel has caused significant disruption to oil production…

Read More

An introduction to International Freight Solutions (IFS)

International Freight Solutions (IFS) can arrange Express or Economy services for your Documents, Parcels, Pallets, Part or Full Trailer/Container Loads, either by Road, Ocean, Air or Rail…

Read More

An update on supply-chain delays caused by conflict in the Middle East

These developments are severely affecting shipments through key Middle Eastern routes and carrying significant worldwide implication…

Read More

International Freight Solutions Ltd is a member of BIFA

The leading body representing the UK International Freight Services industry – The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is the prime trade association for UK registered companies…

Read More

Blanked sailings soar as carriers anticipate Chinese New Year slump

The transpacific, transatlantic, & Asia-Europe trades are all set for a surge in blanked sailings as China’s new year celebrations…

Read More

Canadian pension funds to exit UK’s biggest port operator in £10bn deal

FT has reported that two Canadian pension giants plan to sell their stakes in AB Ports in a deal that they hope will value the UK’s biggest ports operator…

Read More

Valued Google Customer Reviews for International Freight Solutions Ltd

A Freight Forwarder who regularly go the extra mile when it comes to customer service. We believe in carving out long term business relationships…

Read More

First Electric Heavy-goods Vehicle crosses Channel Tunnel with Leshuttle Freight

In a joint effort, Kuehne+Nagel, LeShuttle Freight, Voltempo, and DAF Trucks have successfully sent first eHGV) through the Channel Tunnel…

Read More

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) by International Freight Solutions

Learn more about a Freight Forwarder by International Freight Solutions. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for…

Read More

New EU Import Security Rules started in January 2026

Import Control System 2 (ICS2) is the new safety & security declaration system for movements into Northern Ireland and the European Union…

Read More

A Red Sea return would be a game changer for container shipping in 2026

Container lines deciding to navigate back to the Red Sea is arguably the most important development to watch for in the global shipping market this year…

Read More

Freight forwarding goes right back to the 1800’s!

Back in 1836 Thomas Meadows and Company Limited, London began to see the need for this industry with demand for more reliable rail transport…

Read More

IFS is a member of World Top Cargo Alliance of Freight Forwarders

International Freight Solutions are proud to be part of World Top Cargo Alliance and look forward to many years of fruitful partnership…

Read More

UK Government Moves to Scrap De Minimis Customs Rule

The UK government is in open consultation to reform customs treatment of low-value imports (LVIs) into the United Kingdom…

Read More

Search Blog by Categories

Sign Up for IFS News Updates

Collection in 60 mins

from all major towns & cities across

UK & Europe

Show me more >

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend 2022

by | May 26, 2022 | IFS News

International Freight Solutions can confirm that we will be closed from Thursday 2nd June until Monday 6th June for the special Jubilee bank holiday weekend. We would like to wish all our customers a happy bank holiday – Enjoy the celebrations!

A huge thank you to our Queen for her amazing 70 years of service and sacrifice

A special extended bank holiday weekend will provide an opportunity for communities and people throughout the United Kingdom to come together to celebrate the historic milestone.

On 6th February this year Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend 2022To celebrate this unprecedented anniversary, events and initiatives will take place throughout the year, culminating in a four day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June.

The four days of celebrations will include public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service. Find out more about the events taking place >

 

Excellent
International Freight Solutions Ltd5.0
See all reviews
review us on
Clare O.
As always IFS have provided an excellent service with plenty of support. Jamie couldn't have been more helpful and his communication is always timely and spot on. Can't recommend them highly enough.
Response from the owner:Many thanks for the glowing review Clare, it really is appreciated. Jamie will be especially pleased seeing as you have given him a mention! We look forward to assisting you again
Barry S.
Adam handled everything we needed for a quick delivery to Australia, the box was with us in less than a week, highly recommended.
Response from the owner:Many thanks Barry for taking the time to leave a great review for us - it is appreciated. Hope we can assist you again in the future
Jeff B.
Working with Catherine and IFS has been a breath of fresh air. Communication has been excellent, she keeps you informed throughout the entire process and makes something that others could easily make difficult feel… well, easy.

If you want someone who treats your shipment like it actually matters (because it does), Catherine is the one. Highly recommend, my stress level definitely approves 😄.
Response from the owner:Glad you are happy with our service Jeff. Cath's communication is great - she does like to talk!😆We appreciate your business and look forward to assisting you again.
Rachel J.
Great service. We needed a parcel collecting from Italy - all arranged very smoothly, efficiently and a very quick delivery.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the great feedback Rachel. Glad everything went well for you and that you were happy with our service.
Alan G.
when a friend whose first langauge is not English needed a parcel shipping to Canada at short notice the team especially Paul came up trumps and pulled out all the stops i highly recommend this company
Response from the owner:Many thanks for the great review Alan, always happy to assist.
Emily S.
Lots of help and advice when shipping a ceramic sculpture to Dubai. Very smooth service and speedy delivery. Will definitely recommend.
Response from the owner:Really glad you were happy with our service Emily - hope to assist you again soon.
Declan B.
Great customer experience all the staff are great
Response from the owner:Appreciate the kind words Declan
Tony P.
Had 3 pallets to bring in from Greece. Sender was struggling with UK regulations. Spoke to one freight forwarder who just said 'can't help sorry' as their agent in Greece couldn't help. Was starting to worry until I found IFS. Google reviews looked good and when I spoke to Paul he couldn't have made things any easier. Pallets here safely within a couple of weeks, price cheaper than I was expecting and great communication throughout. Top top company.
Response from the owner:Hi Tony, thanks so much for the great review, we would be more than happy to help you with any further shipping requirements you have in the future!
Justin H.
I was engaged for rapid deployment of contract works in Falun, Sweden which required me to ship some materials to Sweden for the works to be executed. After nothing but extreme pain from the suppliers to get my goods to Sweden, I reached out to International Freight Solutions off the back of reviewing public feedback about their services. I could not have been happier. The team I was dealing with (Jamie and Adam) went above and beyond to guide me on what I needed (EORI number and everything else), kept me updated for the entire cycle of collection, shipping and delivery that I was always up to date and never concerned. Payment and any extra fees for customs or services was all straight forward. It really is this kind of service where there are no grey areas, total professional advice upfront and continued updates maintained, start to finish. For this, it makes me comfortable that future shipping will be trouble-free and I will certainly head straight back to IFS. Thanks Jamie and Adam. Back from Sweden tomorrow. Without your efforts, this would not have even started and got off the ground!
Response from the owner:Thanks for taking the time to leave a really great and detailed review - it means a lot to us! Jamie and Adam will be pleased with the mention too! We really look forward to assisting you again next time.

Search Blog by Categories

Sign Up for IFS News Updates

Safe door-to-door delivery of Dolls House from Doncaster UK to Illinois USA

by | May 16, 2022 | Case Study, Customer Help

From time to time International Freight Solutions receive some interesting enquiries. One such request was to have a very old dolls house shipped door-to-door from Doncaster, South Yorkshire to Illinois, USA.

Our customer, Ann, was not sure if it would be cost effective or even viable to send such a delicate item around the world. After researching her options via Google Ann came across IFS and decided to use our services to handle the shipment.

The journey of the dolls house began as we arrived at Ann’s house to temporarily wrap up the fragile item and transport it to our packing department.

The next step was to build a bespoke Wooden Case complete with soft internal packing materials. From here the package was loaded and sealed before the shipment continued its journey by road and air freight over the Atlantic.

On arriving in the USA all paperwork was approved and customs clearances were successful, enabling the shipment to complete its journey to Ann’s cousin Alison in Northfield, Illinois.

The Origins of the Dolls House

The dolls house was made for Ann Elizabeth daughter of Harry and Audrey Woodruff, sister to Brenda Harrington, mother of Alison Matthews.

The first photo of the dolls’ house is dated 1964 on Anns’ third birthday. The house was made by Anns’ godfather Harry Kinnear.

The house was supplied in kit form and made by a British company Triang. It is likely to have been made from Birch plywood. The electric lighting was part of the kit and runs using a transformer.

Ann was always told to play with it carefully. Some furniture came with the house and Ann received more as gifts. All the furniture was manufactured in Great Britain though it would not pass the required standards for toys today.

Ann retained ownership and when she married it went with her. It was stored in the loft for several years and due to changes in temperature the condition deteriorated. Ann located a specialist restorer in the early 2000’s. The buckled windows were fixed and painted, carpet put down in the bedrooms and the corroded electric cable replaced.

Alison remembered the dolls’ house from her childhood visit to Ann and her parents. When Alison visited Ann in October 2021 they agreed that Alison would take ownership of the dolls’ house for her family. The challenge was how to get it to Alison due to its age, history, size and weight. It needed to be a door to door service.

Ann located a firm based in Sheffield, International Freight Solutions Ltd. Due to the bespoke nature; “the company went ‘the extra mile’ to ensure that it was well looked after during its journey to its new home.”


Thinking of using a freight service? IFS would be happy to help.

Quote me
Ready to order now
Excellent
International Freight Solutions Ltd5.0
See all reviews
review us on
Clare O.
As always IFS have provided an excellent service with plenty of support. Jamie couldn't have been more helpful and his communication is always timely and spot on. Can't recommend them highly enough.
Response from the owner:Many thanks for the glowing review Clare, it really is appreciated. Jamie will be especially pleased seeing as you have given him a mention! We look forward to assisting you again
Barry S.
Adam handled everything we needed for a quick delivery to Australia, the box was with us in less than a week, highly recommended.
Response from the owner:Many thanks Barry for taking the time to leave a great review for us - it is appreciated. Hope we can assist you again in the future
Jeff B.
Working with Catherine and IFS has been a breath of fresh air. Communication has been excellent, she keeps you informed throughout the entire process and makes something that others could easily make difficult feel… well, easy.

If you want someone who treats your shipment like it actually matters (because it does), Catherine is the one. Highly recommend, my stress level definitely approves 😄.
Response from the owner:Glad you are happy with our service Jeff. Cath's communication is great - she does like to talk!😆We appreciate your business and look forward to assisting you again.
Rachel J.
Great service. We needed a parcel collecting from Italy - all arranged very smoothly, efficiently and a very quick delivery.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the great feedback Rachel. Glad everything went well for you and that you were happy with our service.
Alan G.
when a friend whose first langauge is not English needed a parcel shipping to Canada at short notice the team especially Paul came up trumps and pulled out all the stops i highly recommend this company
Response from the owner:Many thanks for the great review Alan, always happy to assist.
Emily S.
Lots of help and advice when shipping a ceramic sculpture to Dubai. Very smooth service and speedy delivery. Will definitely recommend.
Response from the owner:Really glad you were happy with our service Emily - hope to assist you again soon.
Declan B.
Great customer experience all the staff are great
Response from the owner:Appreciate the kind words Declan
Tony P.
Had 3 pallets to bring in from Greece. Sender was struggling with UK regulations. Spoke to one freight forwarder who just said 'can't help sorry' as their agent in Greece couldn't help. Was starting to worry until I found IFS. Google reviews looked good and when I spoke to Paul he couldn't have made things any easier. Pallets here safely within a couple of weeks, price cheaper than I was expecting and great communication throughout. Top top company.
Response from the owner:Hi Tony, thanks so much for the great review, we would be more than happy to help you with any further shipping requirements you have in the future!
Justin H.
I was engaged for rapid deployment of contract works in Falun, Sweden which required me to ship some materials to Sweden for the works to be executed. After nothing but extreme pain from the suppliers to get my goods to Sweden, I reached out to International Freight Solutions off the back of reviewing public feedback about their services. I could not have been happier. The team I was dealing with (Jamie and Adam) went above and beyond to guide me on what I needed (EORI number and everything else), kept me updated for the entire cycle of collection, shipping and delivery that I was always up to date and never concerned. Payment and any extra fees for customs or services was all straight forward. It really is this kind of service where there are no grey areas, total professional advice upfront and continued updates maintained, start to finish. For this, it makes me comfortable that future shipping will be trouble-free and I will certainly head straight back to IFS. Thanks Jamie and Adam. Back from Sweden tomorrow. Without your efforts, this would not have even started and got off the ground!
Response from the owner:Thanks for taking the time to leave a really great and detailed review - it means a lot to us! Jamie and Adam will be pleased with the mention too! We really look forward to assisting you again next time.

Search Blog by Categories

Sign Up for IFS News Updates

Positive news regarding discounted International Courier Rates

by | May 10, 2022 | IFS Services

We are delighted to share that IFS are able to access new discounted International courier rates via DHL.

DHL who have been one of our long-standing partners, have recognised the high volumes of shipments, that International Freight Solutions have arranged on behalf of our customers. As a result we are delighted to announce that DHL are offering IFS very competitive rates compared to their standard tariff. This means that we can pass on great value discounts at a time when everything else seems to be going up.

International Freight Solutions Ltd offers collection in 60 mins from all major towns & cities across UK & Europe, plus transportation to all four corners of the world.

IFS can arrange Express or Economy services for all your Documents, Parcels & Pallets. However, we also arrange Part or Full Trailer/Container Loads, either by Road, Ocean, Air or Rail.

 

For an International Courier quotation or to book in your consignment, please click below…

Quote me
Ready to order now?
Excellent
International Freight Solutions Ltd5.0
See all reviews
review us on
Clare O.
As always IFS have provided an excellent service with plenty of support. Jamie couldn't have been more helpful and his communication is always timely and spot on. Can't recommend them highly enough.
Response from the owner:Many thanks for the glowing review Clare, it really is appreciated. Jamie will be especially pleased seeing as you have given him a mention! We look forward to assisting you again
Barry S.
Adam handled everything we needed for a quick delivery to Australia, the box was with us in less than a week, highly recommended.
Response from the owner:Many thanks Barry for taking the time to leave a great review for us - it is appreciated. Hope we can assist you again in the future
Jeff B.
Working with Catherine and IFS has been a breath of fresh air. Communication has been excellent, she keeps you informed throughout the entire process and makes something that others could easily make difficult feel… well, easy.

If you want someone who treats your shipment like it actually matters (because it does), Catherine is the one. Highly recommend, my stress level definitely approves 😄.
Response from the owner:Glad you are happy with our service Jeff. Cath's communication is great - she does like to talk!😆We appreciate your business and look forward to assisting you again.
Rachel J.
Great service. We needed a parcel collecting from Italy - all arranged very smoothly, efficiently and a very quick delivery.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the great feedback Rachel. Glad everything went well for you and that you were happy with our service.
Alan G.
when a friend whose first langauge is not English needed a parcel shipping to Canada at short notice the team especially Paul came up trumps and pulled out all the stops i highly recommend this company
Response from the owner:Many thanks for the great review Alan, always happy to assist.
Emily S.
Lots of help and advice when shipping a ceramic sculpture to Dubai. Very smooth service and speedy delivery. Will definitely recommend.
Response from the owner:Really glad you were happy with our service Emily - hope to assist you again soon.
Declan B.
Great customer experience all the staff are great
Response from the owner:Appreciate the kind words Declan
Tony P.
Had 3 pallets to bring in from Greece. Sender was struggling with UK regulations. Spoke to one freight forwarder who just said 'can't help sorry' as their agent in Greece couldn't help. Was starting to worry until I found IFS. Google reviews looked good and when I spoke to Paul he couldn't have made things any easier. Pallets here safely within a couple of weeks, price cheaper than I was expecting and great communication throughout. Top top company.
Response from the owner:Hi Tony, thanks so much for the great review, we would be more than happy to help you with any further shipping requirements you have in the future!
Justin H.
I was engaged for rapid deployment of contract works in Falun, Sweden which required me to ship some materials to Sweden for the works to be executed. After nothing but extreme pain from the suppliers to get my goods to Sweden, I reached out to International Freight Solutions off the back of reviewing public feedback about their services. I could not have been happier. The team I was dealing with (Jamie and Adam) went above and beyond to guide me on what I needed (EORI number and everything else), kept me updated for the entire cycle of collection, shipping and delivery that I was always up to date and never concerned. Payment and any extra fees for customs or services was all straight forward. It really is this kind of service where there are no grey areas, total professional advice upfront and continued updates maintained, start to finish. For this, it makes me comfortable that future shipping will be trouble-free and I will certainly head straight back to IFS. Thanks Jamie and Adam. Back from Sweden tomorrow. Without your efforts, this would not have even started and got off the ground!
Response from the owner:Thanks for taking the time to leave a really great and detailed review - it means a lot to us! Jamie and Adam will be pleased with the mention too! We really look forward to assisting you again next time.

Search Blog by Categories

Sign Up for IFS News Updates

HGV operators can now use aerodynamic features to reduce fuel consumption and emissions

by | May 3, 2022 | Government News

Changes to legislation aimed to make HGVs more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.

More environmentally friendly heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are allowed on Britain’s roads, thanks to new government regulations which came into effect on 14th February 2022.

The new rules allow haulage companies to choose vehicles with elongated cabs and aerodynamic features fitted on the back, which help reduce fuel consumption.

A 2013 study estimated that these aerodynamic improvements to HGVs could result in fuel savings of 7% to 15%.

The regulations come into force as the government continues to deliver on its commitments to build back greener from the pandemic.

The design of elongated cabs also improves driver vision, boosting safety for other road users. The extra space means more comfort for the driver, such as by facilitating a larger bed in sleeper cabs.

Aerodynamic rear devices are flaps that are fitted on the back of trailers to reduce the vehicle’s aerodynamic drag without using up load space. They were previously not permitted for use on Great Britain’s roads under regulations that have been in place since 1986.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said:

“This is another brilliant step, not just in our efforts to reduce emissions across our transport network, but also to improve safety on our roads.


I hope operators will make use of these new regulations, introducing vehicles with these features into their existing fleets to reduce fuel consumption and boost safety, as we build back better from COVID-19.”

Read more from: www.gov.uk >

 

Do you need an International Shipping quotation or have a consignment to book in?

Quote me
Ready to order now?

Search Blog by Categories

Sign Up for IFS News Updates