As the major holidays of the year are approaching, online sales volumes are increasing by hours – and so is the number of parcels delivered each day. Lithuania is already seeing the introduction of very strict lockdown restrictions during the holidays. Thus in order to surprise our family and friends at Christmas, we have to carefully think over the period of holiday preparations and to know how and when to send parcels correctly and what services to choose.
During this time, couriers do their best to ensure that each buyer will receive his purchased item in time and that there would be no one left without a gift at holidays:
“This is the busiest period for us. Each Christmas the number of parcels is increasing by about 50%, but it’s already clear that this year the numbers will exceed all records. Therefore, we are working at full capacity so Christmas gifts reach recipients in time.”
Justas Šablinskas, General Manager of Venipak
Thus below are some of our suggestions on what to do during this period, so that everyone important to you would be able to enjoy the gifts right for the holidays, not after.
Fastest delivery – No Intermediate Stop
When shopping online, some buyers order delivery of items to their home, then pack it and hand it over to the parcel delivery services provider to deliver to the recipient. However, if you have not yet purchased a gift and do not want to risk the delay of delivery, think about the possibility of sending the parcel directly to the recipient of the gift. In this way, you will be sure that the parcel is delivered in time and that you make a person dear to you happy.
You do not have to worry about packing either. More and more online shops offer an additional gift wrapping service prior to handing the parcel over to a courier. For example, such service is offered when you purchase various gift vouchers, which are among the more popular gift choices this year.
Make a List of Gifts
You will spend less time on shopping and will be able to hand over the parcels to a courier more quickly if you make a list of gifts in advance. According to the surveys conducted in Lithuania, more than half of the population have decided to shop for gifts online. It is estimated that shoppers will spend EUR 27.8 on average for a single gift this year. This is an increase of 13% compared to the previous year. In total, people will spend between a hundred and a few hundred euros on gifts. Thus, the purchase of gifts may take some time. The most effective option is to buy all gifts at the same time, but this requires to think about the list of gifts in advance. To save your time, hand over all your gifts to the courier at the same time – it will be easier to track their delivery as well. In addition, you will reduce the likelihood of delayed deliveries.
Check for Last Chance to Send Parcels
Many believe that the shopping peak is well before Christmas when the global Black Friday sales take place each November. However, trends seem to be changing. For the shoppers in the UK in recent years the busiest shopping day has no longer been Black Friday but the Saturday before Christmas.
“So far, a large number of people leave shopping for gifts until the last moment. Meanwhile this year, seeking to protect their own and others’ health, people shop online. And even then, it is necessary to find out about the capabilities of couriers to make it in time. We ensure our own customers that all parcels dispatched by 22 December will be delivered by Christmas!”
Justas Šablinskas, General Manager of Venipak
Take Care of Safety
In order for your family and friends to feel safe, choose a contactless delivery option. Venipak is offering contactless parcel terminals where you can collect your parcels without touching the display of the terminal and without contacting a courier or a seller at a pick-up point.
“The current period is challenging for the entire world. In order to protect customers, couriers do their best to comply with all safety requirements. In order to avoid any contact, we have recently introduced 11 contactless parcels terminals in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys. Customers may collect parcels without touching the display by scanning a QR-code, thus the collection time is significantly reduced as well. We are pleased to be able to offer customers the most modern and at the same time one of the safest parcel delivery services in Lithuania.”
Justas Šablinskas, General Manager of Venipak
Final note
We are all going through a difficult period not knowing when our lives will get back to normal. Today, it is clear that parcel delivery is becoming more flexible and convenient, and it is likely that the newly formed habits of online shopping and using courier delivery services may become more permanent next year. This is an excellent way to greet people we do not usually visit during holidays. We are therefore pleased to be able to contribute to this newly emerging holiday tradition.