A. How to pack a barrel

1. Sort goods according to type, for example, canned goods, clothing, bottled goods, other dry goods, bath soaps and detergents.  This will allow you to get a better idea of the quantity of goods and how you need to pack them, taking special note of fragile items.
    

2. Pack all canned goods and soap powder, if any, first.  They can withstand the pressure of goods loaded on top of them.  Rice, sugar, and flour should be wrapped securely in plastic bags and packed on top of the cans.
    

3. Try to buy products packaged in plastic rather than glass, whenever possible.  All bottles should be wrapped with tape and placed in plastic bags before placing in the barrel.
    

4. Tissue paper and any other soft, cushioning items should be packed around the bottles to give extra support.  These items also help to fill in all the spaces.  Make sure that all the fragile items are given extra protection.
    

5. Clothing should be placed at the top of the barrel, preferably in plastic bags to prevent damage from any possible spillage.
    

6. Perfumed items, such as bath soaps, should be placed on top, away from dry goods, such as, flour, rice and sugar, so that they do not attract the scent, and therefore, taste like the perfume when they are cooked.  If you are shipping more than one barrel, separate these items, putting them in different barrels. You should do the same when shipping onions and salt fish.

B. Labeling and securing shipment
Labeling of your barrels and boxes is very important in the whole shipping process. After packing, many customers are tired and do not pay enough attention to this area. Proper labeling eliminates errors and speeds up the shipping process. Poor labeling can be expensive because Customs will charge a fee for each correction.

1. Know the correct name and address of your party in the Caribbean. Do not use “pet names”.
    
2. Get the correct spelling of the name and address that is on your party’s identification.
    
3. Write party’s name and address clearly on the shipment, both on the top and on the sides, so that they can be easily identified.  You should also write your name and address as the person the goods are coming from.
    
4. Before signing the shipping documents, double check that the information that is on your documents is the same as on the actual shipment.
    
5. Barrels should be secured with locks or wire twists, boxes should be properly reinforced and taped and pallets should be shrink wrapped and strapped. Our staff at Finlay’s are happy to help our customers in securing their goods.

C. Timely Shipping
The holidays are here once again and it is important to ship goods in a timely manner to ensure that they are available to you when you travel home.

1. Have shipment delivered or picked up in time to make the scheduled sailing.  Avoid waiting for the last minute. The earlier goods are received the better the guarantee of it leaving.
    
2. The busy months for shipping are March/April (Easter), June/July/August (the music festivals/Independence/back to school) and, of course, the busiest season is the Christmas season. Plan wisely for these shipping times so that you beat the last minute rush. Purchase your goods in the weeks and months before you are ready to ship. Choose your shipping date based on the business of the wharves - government or private - at this time of the year. This will give you ample time for your family to get their clothing and food for the holidays or for you to have your goods ready for sale before and during the holiday period.

Finlay’s Ship to the Caribbean, with three locations in South Florida and one in Orlando, is always available to advise you on packing, labeling and when to ship as well as on other shipping matters, for example, clearing and delivery, shipping of motor vehicles including construction and agricultural vehicles, and the packages we have available for returning residents.                                                                               

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