Category Archives: Shipping

Tradeshows play an important role in your company’s ability to increase its client base, sign new business-to-business contracts and build its profitability. If you’re traveling to tradeshows around the country (or the globe) you need to have access to all your presentation material, displays, and other equipment as soon as you arrive. However, fitting everything in your carry-on and attempting to fly with your equipment will often prove costly (and difficult to grab at baggage claim). That is why it is best to take advantage of shipping services offered by AMR Group. Here’s how to label your packages correctly to ease the shipping process.

Information You Must Always Include
Some carriers will require you to include different information. It is important for you to follow all of the forms exactly as requested. However, no matter which shipping provider you end up using to send your tradeshow goods to future destinations, there are some specifics all companies require. This includes:

• Name and address
• Tradeshow name
• Decorator
• Venue name and address
• Exhibiting company name and booth number

By including this information, you’ll help ensure your items make it to the tradeshow and are at your booth when you arrive. Make sure to have all of this information on hand when you fill out shipping invoices for upcoming tradeshows. Also, it’s a good idea to include a clear return label, so if a box is misplaced or lost temporarily, it will be shipped back at your facility. 

Mark Your Boxes
It’s best to package different kinds of material in each box. For example, if you are shipping breakable material, label it as “Fragile.” You can write this on the outside of the box, or you can purchase bright stickers that state this clearly. Drivers and shippers work with hundreds, if not thousands, of packages on any given day; they won’t notice small writing on the sides of boxes. Large, bright warning stickers will ensure your note is seen. You should also consider including arrows on the box to clearly indicate which side should face up.

If you have lighter boxes or boxes half full, label the box “Light.” This indicates to drivers and shippers that the box should be placed on the top of heavy stacks and will help prevent the box from being crushed. 

The last thing you want to deal with at a tradeshow is not having all of your equipment on hand. While you should always prepare backup options just in case something happens to your shipment, you will likely never be forced to deal with this kind of a situation as long as you properly label your packages. To help make sure you always receive your packages on time, hire a professional event shipping and logistics company. Contact AMR Group at +1-702-800-6385 or request a shipping rate for your next event.

Attending international tradeshows is one of the best ways to grow your brand, network and reach new clients you normally wouldn’t. International tradeshow shipping typically requires more documentation and even more thorough packaging and labelling of your goods. Here are some expert tips for avoiding mishaps when shipping overseas:

Know Your Destination Country’s Regulations
Every country has its own regulations. While most of these regulations aren’t significantly different, it’s easy to miss a specific requirement for the country you’re sending something to. Because time is critical, working with an international shipping provider who understands the specific requirements and regulations for your destination country can save you time and money. 

Package Your Shipment Properly
If you are accustomed to, for example, using wood pallets in the shipping process, be advised that there are some countries that regulate wood packaging and need to inspect it to ensure insects and other pests do not enter the country. Make sure you’re familiar with packaging rules and regulations.

Thoroughly Label Your Materials
When you ship internationally, you will need to include additional information on the labels. For example, you need to have the country of origin clearly labeled on your package. You’ll also need to label whether or not there are any hazardous materials within the package. A company like AMR Group is well-versed in international tradeshow shipping will be able to supply all the needed labels for your shipment.

These are just a few ways to avoid international tradeshow shipping mishaps. When you work with the team at AMR Group, we’ll take care of the shipping process, so you don’t have to stress over meeting transit requirements and making sure your shipment arrives on time. Contact us at 702-800-6385 to learn more about our services and request a shipping rate.

One of the most important steps in choosing your shipping and event logistics partners is evaluating the myriad of bids submitted after you send out a request for proposal (RFP). You want a logistics provider that will deliver your goods safely on time without setting you back financially.

There are a lot of logistics providers in the United States dealing in both domestic and international freight. It can, therefore, be a challenge having to go through the many different bids before choosing what is good for you and your client. So, what do you consider when comparing these unique bids to ensure you get the best partner for your shipping business? Consider the below aspects when comparing bids from your potential events and logistics partner.

Compliance with Necessary Requirements

Your bid sheet is a list of wishes you would like fulfilled. An event logistics partner who is keen on providing the best of service will strive to meet all the specified requirements you put out on your list. Checking for compliance is specifically helpful when filtering a large number of bids.

You need to ensure your potential logistics provider, or even your current one, meets all the quality requirements required for the job. It is also vital to check the bidders comply with both commercial and legal requirements, like licensing and insurance.  This will help you decide how suitable a bidder is for you by gauging the readiness to which they do what you ask of them.

Price

Typically, the bidding comparison process is aimed at finding an event logistics partner that offers a combination of both cost-effectiveness and value. You have to protect your bottom line while still ensuring you provide quality services to your clients.

You don’t necessarily have to settle for the lowest bid as is the norm. It could signify desperation on the part of the bidder, which may expose you to poor services. You should be aware of how different providers charge so you can have a precise estimate on the best value.

Bid Presentation

A well put together bid is clear and leaves nothing for the assumption. A quality bid will reflect all your requirements and clearly outline all the details about the different aspects of the logistics process. Although making a decision based only on the bid presentation may seem shallow, it goes a long way in making the whole process easy.

The more detailed a bid is, the higher the level of accuracy which shields you from unforeseen budget shocks in the future. It also gives you a candid picture of the proposal, so you know what to expect when you finally sign the contract with your preferred logistics partner.

Inclusions and Allowances

Every shipping and events logistics bid has primary requirements. However, some services may not be included by bidders to achieve the desired low costs.  Some offer large allowances which may end up leading to high additional costs. It is critical to check these aspects to ensure you get as close an estimate as possible, so you don’t miss out on essential service chasing cheap offers.

Checklist of Important Costs to Keep in Mind:

1. Does the international shipping quote include costs for on-site material handling and drayage? An experienced event forwarder usually includes this up front.
2. Does the international shipping quote include the type of customs entry to be performed? You can save money by doing a temporary import if the circumstances are right. Your shipping partner should ask you questions about this if they know what they’re doing.
3. Does the international shipping quote include costs for storage of your empty crates and packages during the event? Normally, this is a necessary (and expensive) need for international trade shows.
4. Does the international shipping quote cost include some information about the international exchange rate or currency used? Currency rates fluctuate often and sometimes, these changes drastically alter your cost.
5. Does your shipping quote include cargo insurance as an option? Many companies don’t offer custom-crafted insurance policies to cover your goods during shipment AND during the trade show.

Contact AMR for Your Shipping & Event Logistic Needs!

The success of your goods’ delivery depends on the choice of your shipping partner. Contact AMR Group today at 702-800-6385 for all your shipping and event logistics needs both in the US and worldwide. We are proud of our long-standing track record of shipping products around the world with no failures.