Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the lunisolar or lunar calendar whose months are based on the moon phases. The annual festival is observed by many cultures and is a widely popular holiday.
Lunar New Year is also an important date for eCommerce businesses and shoppers alike. Many online stores recognise the holiday by offering limited-time promotions and themed shopping experiences. We can help send your parcels in time for the New Year celebrations from the UK to multiple destinations across the globe. International parcel delivery starts from only £6.85!
When is Lunar New Year celebrated?
This year, Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival 2023) occurs on Sunday, 22nd January 2023 and ends on February 9th, 2024.
Is Lunar New Year the same as Chinese New Year?
The Lunar New Year is a celebration observed by many countries across East Asia and South East Asian countries like China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the start of the new year on the traditional lunar calendar.
What Lunar New Year is 2023?
Chinese New Year 2023 is a Year of the Rabbit, specifically the Water Rabbit.
Each year in the lunar calendar is named after an animal, derived from Chinese folklore. Zodiac animals are in a recognised order and repeated every 12 years. It’s believed that all the animals held a race to determine their order and each animal has different characteristics.
The rabbit is the fourth of all zodiac animals, after the tiger. The sign Rabbit is thought to be a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity.
Key things to remember when shipping parcels internationally
Don’t send Prohibited & Restricted Items
Researching country-specific regulations are so important to avoid potential delays or fines.
We have an updated list of Prohibited & Restricted Items available on our website. The guide lists the items you cannot send through our services, as well as items exempt from transit cover or guarantees. You can check the list by destination and courier.
For further information, we advise you to contact the destination country’s local customs.
Provide the correct delivery address
There are billions of addresses in the world, so you must enter the correct one!
When you book a courier service through our online booking process, we ask you to enter the delivery postcode so we can format the address correctly. We will also flag any address information missing and generate address labels for you to print and attach to the outside of your parcel.
Package your item sufficiently for shipment
Think how many miles your parcel will be travelling, between different vehicles and enduring various weather conditions- you want to make sure the parcel contents are as well protected as possible. Our packaging video demonstrates the best way to pack a regular item, however, we also have specific guides for niche or awkwardly shaped items, as well as for large or long parcels.
Complete a correct commercial invoice
When you send a parcel anywhere outside of the UK, you are required to fill in a commercial invoice. A commercial invoice is a customs document that provides details on a parcel and its contents. It is used by customs authorities to determine any possible local taxes or duties due.
Our recent blog on completing a customs form will guide you through the process and explain what each field means, so you can be confident in sending shipments abroad.
Weigh and measure your parcel accurately
You must obtain accurate readings of your package measurements to avoid any unexpected surcharges and to ensure you receive the most accurate costings- particularly for international deliveries.
Please weigh your parcel (in kilograms) on a set of scales. Bathroom scales are ideal for small-to-medium-sized boxes. Next, measure the length, width and height of your box (in centimetres) using a tape measure. Enter these dimensions into the parcel details section of our Quote Tool.
How to prepare your store for Lunar New Year
Much like other popular holidays, there are many ways you can prepare your online store for Lunar New Year. Here are some examples:
Plan promotions
Lunar New Year can be a busy shopping season with customers wanting to purchase in advance, especially if they want to send a gift abroad. By offering limited-time discount codes or promotional offers, you can attract customers looking for gifts to send during the holiday period and boost your start of the year sales. Our Voucher Codes page is regularly updated throughout the year with deals to save you money on shipping.
Theme your shopping experience
You can create a welcoming shopping experience for your customers through online banners, packaging and a themed tracking portal. Our Branded Tracking portal is free to use and can be customised by colour, logo and banner image. The promotional banner could incorporate an exclusive code such 22% of your next purchase.
Streamline your shipping
As mentioned earlier, many customers will want to send gifts to loved ones abroad. Give your online store an edge by offering international Express or Timed shipping options.
Send a parcel with Interparcel for Lunar New Year
We offer a great choice of discount international parcel delivery services from the best courier companies in the world.
ECMS Express specialise in cost-effective shipping to countries in Asia-Pacific. We have teamed the service with Evri who will collect your consignment from your chosen UK address and forward it to ECMS for onward international delivery. You can also drop off your parcel at one of over 7,000 Evri ParcelShops across the nation. Transit times vary between 5-16 working days.
Spring Global also handle international shipments across reliable parcel networks. Their packet services are aimed at parcels 2kg and under and around the size of a shoebox. Ideal for sending token gifts to friends and family abroad.
You can also send with couriers like Landmark Global, DPD, Parcelforce, FedEx Express, TNT Express and UPS.
It’s easy to obtain an instant quote from us. Simply enter your parcel details and destination country into our online quote tool and browse through the results.
Sources:
'The Lunar Zodiac' article, VAM.ac.uk
'Chinese New Year Rabbit 2023 horoscope zodiac animal whats in store', Express.co.uk
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