It can be quite easy to end up overspending on Christmas logistics if you have a large number of friends situated abroad this Christmas. Not only do we have to send them from one country to another, we have to put together a budget that meets the demands of having to purchase many Christmas presents online and then send them once again to another addressee. Postage can be the killer when it comes to making Christmas budgets, so it’s a good idea to come up with some top tips that prevent you from overspending on post and packing during the festive period.

There are plenty of shopping days until Christmas which is a huge advantage as you can take the following tips on board and use them to keep spending down on postage. It’s important to think about this early as you can save far more at this point in time with smaller postage prices outside of December. If you are fully aware that you are going to be sending gifts abroad, it’s time to start planning. Here’s what you need to do….

Royal Mail

There are many benefits form using the Royal Mail as your preferred choice of courier, including the fact that they have a network of branches that make it easy to send goods to and from the UK. Last year Royal Mail morphed their existing format for parcel sixes into one larger format which is 45cmx35cmx16cm.

You can also expect there to be a promotional Christmas rate for customer who use Royal mail during the festive period, so you may be able to make some savings even if you leave it late to send a Christmas present to someone abroad. However, it’s important to remember that the larger the parcel the more likely you will be paying a pricey rate for postage.

Avoid 1^st Class

As we’re looking to post most of your gifts that are heading abroad with as much time as possible before the big day, it’s a good idea to send using second class postage and save a small fortune sending your post using 1^st class.

There is actually no need to send a parcel 1^st class in the vast majority of cases, especially if you send the parcel way before the big day. There may well be promotions on offer from Royal mail that mean you cans end a parcel second class and get an excellent deal on this, while 1^st class would simply cost you double what you pay for second class.

Look Out for Free Postage

Free postage is something that becomes far more common over the Christmas period and there are many shopping outlets that will give you free postage to countries abroad as well, so you don’t even have to have the parcel arrive to you first. This would mean a complete saving on all delivery costs whether you are sending broad or purchasing something with the intention of sending it abroad.

Article provided by Rand Logistics, a market leading parcel broker offering a vast array of UK and International courier services.

The music venue is the platform for the act and is always going to play second fiddle to the quality of the music that is presented. It’s also not as important as the community spirit generated by the organisation responsible.

However, a music venue must provide a number of important attributes in order to contribute to generating that all important atmosphere. A music venue will only ever suit a few specific genres of music (take the Royal Albert Hall against the 100 Club on Oxford Street), so when it comes to having the perfect music venue, you need to be considering who you expect to be playing at this venue most often. Here are some of the specific qualities the very best music venues possess…

Flexibility

Despite the need for a specific target audience, flexibility at any venue will benefit the success and reputation of your venue. There should be the option of opening up the dance floor for a more “club” related setting if bands are your main priority. You could even have chairs folded and stored away in case a theatre a setting is required. You will be able to achieve what many have dreamt of and build a music venue for all styles and audiences. Many recommend a hybrid seating-standing space so that audience members can be seated or stand throughout the gig.

Best Possible Sound

The key to a great sound in any music venue is a strategic approach that incorporates a top quality sound system and the most talented sound engineers around who have plenty of experience working on sound quality within the space provided. Any box room can be made to sound good thanks to the technology and experience on offer these days. It’s important to realise that the best sounding room is not down to function and physical properties as much as it is strategy.

A Warm Welcome

Audiences are often given the impression by venues that they are being treated like ants; filed in one after the other with very little in the way of sympathy for losing their place in the queue, getting trodden on etc. However, the best music venues make those who have showed the commitment to show up feel as welcome as possible. The warm and welcoming vibe is absolutely essential in any music venue and you can create this by decorating the entrance hallways appropriately, hiring staff who have just as much appreciation for the music as those around them and creating that genuine, music-orientated atmosphere that people are going to remember.

Toilets

It seems impossible for venues these days to maintain clean toilet etiquette, with all sorts of unpleasant aspects associated with them. Ensuring that your audience has enough space to navigate to and from the toilets is essential to prevent that unhealthy claustrophobic atmosphere, while having appropriate space and facilities to prevent agonising queues for both men and women is an absolute must.

Article provided by Function Fixers, a company with great experience and fantastic knowledge offering a completely free service to help you find the most unique venues across London and throughout the UK.