On 4^th July 1776, the United States declared its independence from Great Britain and the date has remained as a big day of celebration for Americans…

If you have family or friends in the States, more than likely they’ll be celebrating 4th July with backyard BBQs and explosive fireworks. DHL helps families and friends celebrate special events, like Independence Day, regardless of the distance between them.

We make it easy to send gifts to your friends this Independence Day. With over 1,300 Service Points nationwide, we’re sure to be on a high street near you. So, once you’ve found the perfect present, just take it to your local Service Point and we’ll send it on its way!

Why not impress them with some of our favourite 4^th July facts?

• On 4^th July 1776, America declared its independence from Britain. It was the separation of 13 colonies from Great Britain.
• Each year on 4^th July, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics and family gatherings.
• The estimated population on 4^th July 2013 is 316.2 million
• Three of America’s first five presidents died on 4^th July.
• 150 million hotdogs are consumed on 4^th July every year
• 700 million lbs of chicken is purchased in the week leading up to 4^th July
• 190 million lbs of red meat/pork is purchased in the week leading up to 4^th July
• 25 million lbs of fireworks is sold to cities for public celebrations
• 11: number of places in the US with “Independence” in their name

Sources: (CNN, The Herald Tribune, US Census Bureau as of 7.3.2012)

Whilst we can’t deliver sizzling BBQs or explosive fireworks, we can help you join your American buddies in spirit by celebrating Independence Day with a hamper full of American goodies. Click here to find out more about our new competition. But hurry, it closes tomorrow!

Following the success of the Harlequins’ Heineken Cup campaign, we’re offering you the chance for victory too!

Last week, DHL delivered over a tonne of equipment to Southern France ahead of Harlequins’ game against Biarritz. The team secured a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-final and we need your help in supporting them to victory.

There is a DHL van (as pictured above) with images of three top Harlequins players – Danny Care, Chris Robshaw and Jordan Turner-Hall – driving around the vicinity of the Harlequins’ training ground in Guildford. For your chance to win one of five signed Harlequins shirts, we just want you to snap a photograph of the van and tweet us at @dhlservicepoint using the hashtag #snapthevan.

The competition ends on Thursday 28^th February and we will announce the winners on Twitter on Friday 1^st March.

Good luck!

Keep up to date with the latest Harlequins news by following the team on Twitter at @QuinsRugbyUnion.

Please note: we encourage all participants to act safely and take reasonable precautions to ensure their safety whilst taking photographs of the van.

Terms and conditions

1. The draw is open to all @dhlservicepoint Twitter followers and DHL Service Point blog users who correctly tweet a photograph of the Harlequins branded van using the hashtag #snapthevan.

2. The Prize is one signed Harlequins Rugby shirt. This is non transferrable and cannot be exchanged for cash or any other prize of equivalent value.

3. The closing date for all entries is 23.59 GMT on Thursday 28^th February.

4. Only one entry per person is allowed.

5. The winners will be drawn at random from all eligible entries received.  The winners will be notified on Friday 1^st March by Twitter. Failure to respond within seven days of notification will result in the prize being withdrawn and a replacement winner drawn.

6. The draw is open to UK residents aged 18 and over only. Entry is free and no purchase is necessary.

7. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

8. DHL employees and agencies working on behalf of DHL and their immediate families are not eligible to enter the Draw. The winner(s) agree that DHL International (UK) Ltd their subsidiaries, affiliates, related companies and employees, and any other sponsors and Prize providers shall have no liability in connection with acceptance or use of any of the Prizes awarded in the Draw. We reserve the right to disqualify any entrant and/or winner at our absolute discretion.

9. Winners may be required to participate in publicity.

10. The details of winners can be requested by writing enclosing a stamped addressed envelope to the promoter at: Marketing Department, DHL International (UK) Limited, 178-188 Great South West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW4 6JS.

11. English law applies and the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts shall prevail.

12. All activities are undertaken at the participant’s risk and neither DHL nor Harlequins Rugby Club will be held responsible for any damage (accidental or otherwise), personal injury or loss suffered by any participants or have any other liability at all to any party as a result of this competition.

Data Protection:

Your personal details are important to us and will be used fairly, in confidence and kept secure for no longer than necessary for the herein purpose in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The Act gives you the right to access information held about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with the Act. Any access request may be subject to a fee of £10 to meet our costs in providing you with details of the information we hold about you.

If at any time you wish to update or correct any personal information DHL holds about you or you no longer wish us to use the information, please write to: DHL Express Contact Centre – Customer Services Millenium House, East Midlands, Unit 5 Argosy Road, Castle Donington, Derbyshire DE74 2SA.  Tel: 08701 100 300 Email: [email protected]

Great news! This month, DHL Service Point is launching in One Stop stores in Hatfield, Tooting, Acton and Plymouth.

One Stop provides an extensive service to its local customers, open first thing in the morning to late at night. That’s why they are the perfect partners for DHL Service Point.

The key benefits of having a Service Point at your local One Stop store includes:

• Simple price structure
• Free packaging
• UK and international delivery
• Free, online parcel tracking
• All packages are signed for on delivery
• No account necessary

Look out for promotional leaflets in your local area to get a discount on your first shipment.

Find your local One Stop store here.

It’s always worth checking that the item you’re sending can be accepted for delivery. The list of items prohibited for shipment within the UK might surprise you…

Sending a present to someone special? Birthday, wedding or Christmas – whatever the occasion, DHL Servicepoint offers convenient and cost-effective delivery options to locations across the world. Perfect for making sure your presents are delivered quickly, with the care and attention you’d expect from the world’s leading logistics company.

But it’s worth remembering there are some things even we can’t deliver. This includes all those things that are prohibited for carriage by national or local laws and regulations. And the list includes a few potential gift items that might surprise you.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the things we unfortunately can’t accept for shipment within the UK:

• Jewellery (or anything made from precious metals and stones) worth more than £1000 (per waybill)
• Watches with a value in excess of £1000 (per waybill)
• More than one electronics item (e.g. X-Box, MP3 Player, iPad) in a single package
• Designer clothing worth more than £1000 (per waybill)
• Costume jewellery worth more than £250 per item
• Antiques or works of art worth more than €50,000

For our full list of prohibited items, click here

If you have any queries about your shipment, drop our customer services team a line on: 0844 248 0844.

For more information on DHL Servicepoint visit: https://dhlservicepoint.co.uk/

Have you ever fancied closing your eyes, sticking a pin in a map and taking yourself there on an adventure?  Of course, haven’t we all…

However, in the real world unless you are enjoying the proverbial ‘gap year’ (as no doubt many of this summer’s recently qualified students will do) it’s back to the workplace.  And with the growing trend for online businesses, many of you will be budding entrepreneurs running a start-up company using eBay or perhaps a larger SME exporting around the world.

For those businesses still using traditional postal services which often prove frustrating and painfully slow, why not give DHL Servicepoint a try.

DHL Servicepoint is designed to be simple, effective and most importantly quick.  Just pick your nearest DHL Servicepoint, pack the parcel when you get there and pay.

Our destinations include 220 countries worldwide with UK deliveries starting at £5.95 and the USA and Canada at £25.95.  All parcels are guaranteed, tracked at every stage and signed for on receipt.

But don’t take our word for it.  Here’s what a recent DHL Servicepoint customer had to say:

“Accurate tracking system.  My parcel was received the next working day.  All items we’re intact.  Very reliable.  I will use the service again, absolutely brilliant!”