A global survey carried out by Ipsos MORI has revealed that many people move to a foreign country for healthier living conditions and better pay.

The online poll found the main reasons that families and adults make the decision to move abroad and the findings showed that 38% would relocate for better pay and 28% would move for better living conditions.

The study, which was undertaken in 24 countries, revealed that one in three Britons would hire overseas removals and move abroad. However 50% of those surveyed said that they would be willing to move to another UK city for a job if it paid more.

The most popular excuse given for Brits not wanting to go into exile was leaving family and friends behind as 45% confessed that they would not move away for this reason.

According to the survey, people from Sweden are the most settled as only 39% are eager to move within their country to another Swedish city. Moreover, they are also the least likely to hire a shipping company and move abroad for a better job as only three out of 10 said they would emigrate.

The people who are the most likely to move to a foreign country for a higher wage, are those in Brazil (71%) and India (67%). Other countries results were Australians (38%), Hungarians (37%), French (37%), and (35%) of Japanese and Germans.

Simon Atkinson, assistant chief executive of Ipsos MORI, concluded that despite a vast array of countries being in economic difficulty with a lack of jobs and a lack of job security, many people are willing to move for a full-time better paid job.

If you want to start a fresh slate abroad in 2012, contact Robinsons International Removals today by calling 0800 833638 or visiting the site.

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Some new industry findings show that shipping traffic from Asia to Europe has tumbled.

Figures from Container Trade Statistics, the body that compiles data on container trades into and out of Europe, reveal that traffic has fallen by 5.33% between November 2011 and the previous year.

The latest records indicate a sharp fall in volumes and further information shows that European container imports from all sources have decreased 3.75% in comparison to November 2010.

As an international shipping company, 1stopship.com offers expert shipping services around the world including to and from Asia to countries United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Thailand and Turkey.

The new figures may be a sign of declining world trade in the consumer goods that container ships carry, but Asia to Europe is the most important long-haul container shipping route and 1stopship.com is a part of it with its door-to-door international luggage shipping services.

Released findings from CTS had displayed a growth of 3.4% in October from Asia to Europe but the latest results of imports bare a slump which is the lowest monthly volume since Chinese New Year in February last year. Rates per container on the Asia to Europe route also fell in the middle of 2011.

1stopship.com is the perfect solution for all baggage shipping queries to Asia and beyond. The professionals collect, ship and deliver all packages to the location of your choice and if the shipment doesn’t arrive on time, they will refund you the costs guaranteed!

Look no further than international baggage 1stopship services for fast, efficient and cost-effective international shipping.

Cardiff beat London to be crowned Britain’s most sociable city, according to a new survey.

Findings by social network site CitySocialising revealed that the city in Wales ranked number one in the league table of the UK’s most hospitable locations.

The study, which looked at the social habits of 160,000 members across the UK throughout 2011, found that the Welsh capital came out as the winner in terms of people attending more events than the average person.

Cardiff outshone England’s cities Leeds and Newcastle as well as England’s capital London; although the survey discovered that those surveyed in London were by far the most prolific in terms of online interaction, with more than double the number of messages than the national average.

Fancy moving to the most outgoing, friendly city in Britain? Hire Robinsons UK international movers and let the professionals take care of all the stresses involved in moving home.

Robinsons overseas removals specialise in assisting people in all stages of removals, within the UK and abroad, and they can help with packing, transportation, insurance and storage services.

Whether you want to relocate to Wales to enjoy the pleasant communities, or if you dream about setting up roots overseas for a fresh start, let the experts make the move easier for you.

Robinsons’ vast years of experience will ease the strain when shipping to India, or moving to Ipswich, so call the team today on 0800 833 638 or simply visit the website to get an instant online quote.

Storemates.co.uk to offer recession hit households a cheaper alternative to the self storage industry

A new online service, Storemates.co.uk launched this week, matches people needing self storage with local people who have space in their homes to rent as storage space. Users can search for people in their local area seeking to rent out their attic, garage, spare room, or shed as storage space thereby saving them the costs of expensive commercial self storage. Aspiring to be the ‘eBay of storage’ Storemates’new business model will challenge the self storage industry by offering cheap, convenient storage spaces in every street in the UK with virtually no carbon foot print. In an economic downturn where even those who have larger properties are feeling the squeeze, especially after the festive season, earning an extra £80 a month through renting out half an attic can be a welcome help.

Registered users can list and search for storage space for free and there is no percentage commission. When two people become ‘Store Mates’ the storage provider pays a one-off introduction fee equal to the first 2 weeks rent which they get back once they start earning. Rental fees are typically less than half that of commercial self storage and the site puts in place legal and practical safeguards to prevent any abuses of trust. The unique service is the brainchild of community worker Shaff Prabatani, who ran out of living space when his girlfriend moved into his tiny South London flat. As they were planning to start a family they decided to upgrade to a house and needed time to save for a deposit. In the meantime like so many flat dwellers they needed additional storage space for all their non essential items which included their Christmas decorations.

Put off by expensive commercial self storage prices, Shaff dropped home-made flyers through the letterboxes of all his neighbours asking if they had any room to store his extra items in return for a small rental fee. Shaff states: “I was amazed; fifteen people contacted me offering to store my stuff in their lofts, garages, spare rooms, even under their bed. This was the first time I had contact with my neighbours, who were all wonderfully helpful. Eventually I stored my belongings in a neighbour’s garage for less than half the monthly price of the cheapest local self storage centre.”
Inspired by this positive experience of community members getting together to sort out their storage arrangements he founded Storemates.co.uk. Shaff acknowledges that not all people would feel comfortable at first storing their belongings at a stranger’s house. To alleviate these concerns Storemates have built a range of safety measures into its service to create trust and confidence between ‘storers’ and ‘storage providers’. He adds: “Like eBay..Storemates’ users can review and read about each other through the secure site. They have to follow strict safety guidelines and a code of conduct, plus we provide a detailed legal contract, similar to a tenancy agreement, for both parties to sign once they are ready to enter into a storage arrangement.” Uniquely the service also helps it’s users avoid paying storage rental altogether by allowing them to trade storage space for a reciprocal service, like gardening, dog walking, DIY or babysitting.

Suzie Diamond, 38, engineer, from Cricklewood, London has just listed her attic on the site to rent and is looking forward to helping someone locally while earning an additional income. She states: “Money is a bit tight, we’ve got two kids, if we can get £10 or £20 a week, then that’s an extra takeaway or a trip out for the kids.”

With households feeling the pinch after Christmas, ethical companies like Storemates.co.uk now offer them a unique way to earn and save money; declutter their household as well as get to know their neighbours. All of which are great New Year’s resolutions!

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Editors notes:

Contacts:
Shaff Prabatani, Director/Founder, 07967 207529, shaff@storemates.co.uk Ben Rogers, Director, 07979 757201, ben@storemates.co.uk
Jay Bryan, Director, 07775 602593, jay@storemates.co.uk

Storemates’ features a competition prize from Travelzoo (www.travelzoo.co.uk) Registered Storemates users will have the chance to win a £50 and £100 vouchers to spend on a Travelzoo Local Deal™.
Photos and interviews with founders available. Full story and inspiration behind Storemates can be found here: http://www.storemates.co.uk/user/our-blog/

Photos and film available of ‘Anna’ moving her Christmas decorations and other belongings into the ‘Mr. & Mrs. Shah’s’ loft. Preview photos and film here: http://www.youtube.com/user/storemates

Case studies: Suzie Diamond, featured in the press release can be interviewed and photographed, other real case studies can be provided too.

Storemates price comparison: All storage rental quotes are ‘Storemates suggested prices’ which are 50% off the standard weekly averaged prices of the top five commercial self storage companies in London. Price savings grid: http://www.storemates.co.uk/compare-prices/

This new storage service is part of a growing movement referred to as ‘Collaborative Consumption’, where community members pool their resources to share and loan to each other peer-to-peer, cutting out the corporate middlemen through collaborating for mutual benefit. More info here www.collaborativeconsumption.com Additional facts about the Storage Industry: 1 – The UK’s seven largest operators put together now make over £200 million each year.
2 – The generation of so-called “boomerang kids”; young people who have been forced to return to the parental home after attending university because of the difficult housing market, whose possessions often end up in self storage units when space becomes too short.
3 – In America (according to Daily Mail) Self Storage is worth $15Billion – more than Hollywood!! – with 50,000 facilities
4 – The average price to rent 100sq ft a year in 2007 was £2,197 so now probably £2500!!!!
5 – Britain has the same number of self-storage facilities as the rest of Europe put together, over 800 major units.
6 – One in a 100 UK households use storage facilities compared to one in 7 in the US.
7 – In a survey of UK households by a self-storage company 90% of respondents reported an inability to part with treasured possessions. It may be the accumulated memories that schoolbooks, birthday cards, photographs, old books or clothes hold for us All facts from storage.co.uk

8 – Data from the UK Self Storage Association suggests that the average length of stay has risen from 22 weeks in 2007 to 38 weeks in 2010, at huge costs

Contacts:
Shaff Prabatani, Director/Founder, 07967 207529, shaff@storemates.co.uk Ben Rogers, Director, 07979 757201, ben@storemates.co.uk
Jay Bryan, Director, 07775 602593, jay@storemates.co.uk

Start the New Year with a clean slate and move to a new country with the help of a reputable and professional international shipping company.

Robinsons 1stopship is a cost-effective luggage shipping and delivery company that ensures all belongings are transported safely and securely.

Do you have some last minute Christmas antique presents you need to send to a family member abroad? 1stopship.com is the perfect solution for all baggage shipping queries.

The quick and reliable firm guides users through initial inquiry, packing requirements; insurance cover and customs forms; so with a click of a mouse you can register your details and get a quote in seconds.

Ian Brown, Head of International Shipping at 1StopShip, said: “Customers no longer need to go through the time consuming process of obtaining a quote over the telephone or arranging a visit from a moving surveyor.  This revolutionary system provides anyone wishing to ship some stuff overseas to get a quote, book and pay for their shipment within minutes anytime, anywhere!”

1stopship offers a door to door international shipping service from £99 and all belongings are securely packaged and loaded with care and attention. What is more, for a limited time only the specialists will provide packing materials and pack your overseas shipment absolutely free of charge.

So kick off 2012 with a fresh start and move overseas and use International baggage 1stopship services for all your shipping needs.

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Do you dream about starting a new life abroad? Do you aspire to set up roots overseas? Let 2012 be the year that all your hopes and wishes come true and relocate to a foreign country with Robinsons UK International Movers.

Make moving abroad one of your New Year resolutions and start planning your relocation today with the specialists at Robinsons International. The experts can help you with every single stage of the move and from the very beginning to ease the pressure and strain.

Let Robinsons overseas removals help you prepare for the big move by advising that all visa and travel documents have been taken care of and that banking accounts have been arranged. They can even assist in the shipping of your vehicle, so upon landing abroad you are not left stranded without means of transportation!

Considering taking your pets abroad with you? Let the dedicated Move Managers help so you have a stress-free international move. And with the respected international divisions, they can support you move to any country worldwide including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Canada, shipping to India and Europe.

So do you envisage living Down Under or living the dream in America in 2012? Call the specialists at Robinsons International on 01235 552266 or check out the site today.

About Robinsons International

Robinsons is one of the top UK based leading specialists in International, European and UK moving and relocation. Their high profile credentials are built on providing a professional, efficient, cost effective and reliable service tailored to meet the individual needs of clients in both the corporate and private sectors.

Established in 1895, Robinsons International has been a leading provider of quality moving and storage services in the UK, Europe and internationally for well over a century.

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THE UK’s leading online packaging discount superstore Stormtrading.co.uk has launched its latest range of single and double wall cardboard boxes.

Stormtrading.co.uk, which is part of Storm Trading, has introduced the multifunctional corrugated cardboard boxes to its quality range of packaging to ensure safe and secure storage for any need – from packing and shipping to storing items.

The single and double wall options give the customer more choice when deciding how to package items with the double wall offering extra protection from knocks and bumps making it more resistant to crushing.

The boxes are made of flute thickness 125 B and come in a variety of sizes in both single and double wall from 4″ x 4″ x 4″ to 22″ x 14″ x 14″.
The small, medium and large boxes come in deliveries of 25, and can also be bought as a package including bubble wrap and packaging tape. Storm Trading aims to give customers savings of up to 50 per cent off typical high street prices and deliveries are free.
Stormtrading.co.uk is a specialist online discount superstore and the direct supply division of Storm Trading Group. Storm Trading are leaders in the packaging supplies industry with well-known clients including national electrical retailer Dixons and the Ministry of Defence.
Storm Trading, which has been in operation for five years, is renowned for its impeccable customer service, with helpful and friendly staff always on hand to help. It also has an easy exchange and returns policy to ensure customers have a smooth and enjoyable ordering process.

Storm Trading stocks a range of different cardboard boxes, envelopes, bubble-wrap and other packaging supplies at affordable prices and delivers to the whole of the UK.

With the recession biting and economic climate looking bleak on the job front why not try and set yourself up as a self employed man and van service and start making a living undertaking small removals and local deliveries.
Man and van services are offering an alternative service to the public making it cheaper to move belongings and furniture instead of them having to hire a van with all the additional costs involved in the UK at the moment with the price of fuel and labour. It will also save you breaking your back when you could have someone else doing all the lifting and carrying. Buy a van and get the phone ringing
The first part of this process is buying a van which can be very tricky you do not want to buy a banger you will be surprised how easy it can be to waste your money on the wrong vehicle there are some unscrupulous people out there willing to take your money for a van that has had the clock turned back and has done a lot more mileage than it appears meaning you will be paying out expensive repairs. Starting yourself up as self employed is the easy part. What takes a little extra effort and time is turning you and your van into a thriving little small removal business.

1. Build the right business this may sound apparent but you need to target the right clients are you going to target the domestic market which is traditional for a man and van or are you going to target office and businesses with courier work. A man and vans market is light removals and furniture jobs as well as deliveries to household addresses. A courier takes parcels and consignments to business addresses. As it stands, both markets are busy and there is more demand for man and van work and also more competition so be prepared to work hard for your piece of this work.

2. Decide on the right van for you try to buy a good second hand van outright if possible this will save you paying out on a loan and having the added pressure of this overhead. The model vehicle used for a man and van servicing the domestic market is a luton box van with or without a tail lift it will make it easier to unload and load if you’re just one man and with a van. If you’re aiming at the courier market a transit style normal van is more practical when doing courier work appearances matter more and you will have to buy a newer van which will obviously cost more money. Whichever way you choose to go getting your van signed up is essential for advertising, signage on your van to broadcast your service as you drive round and park up is a must.

3. Quotes accurate customers will usually phone round so you will have to be competitively priced and not price your self out of the job. Try and offer good value for money compared with someone going to the nuisance of doing the job themselves when they’d have to hire the van collect and drop off, pay petrol, load and unload the belongings around themselves and the stairs can be a killer..

4. Advertising yourself get business cards and flyers printed up and positioned in supermarkets and furniture shops notice boards. Pop flyers through letterboxes. Get your self listed on the online man and van websites usually for a small annual fee. You can go tot he expense of having a website like this one man and van net built but this advertising medium is very competitive and you would have to pay to promote your site on the search engines

5. You can think of lots of ways of generating work but if you give an incredible service once you’ve get work, make sure you do a high-quality job, as there is nothing better than word of mouth and reputation. Be punctual, trustworthy, reliable, professional, and friendly the customers always right remember moving furniture will come better with experience try not to damage or scratch walls use blankets and treat customer’s belongings like your own.

6. Once you decide on starting your own man and van small removals service you will have to let HMRC know you are becoming self employed and you will have to keep your accounts in order this means keeping receipts and logging incoming and outgoing monies

7. You will need satisfactory insurance to cover your clients’ belongings there is insurance called “goods in transit” which will cover items in your van up to a certain amount you will have to discuss this with your insurance broker you may have to look into public liability insurance as well.

So if you are dreaming being self employed, sit down and count the costs. Do you have what it takes to make this dream a reality, or will the disadvantages of being your own boss threaten to swallow up that business of yours? You could even expand to removals to Spain Have the satisfaction of being your own boss and if you stay prepared and determined you should be able to get to the top when your man and van service is much in demand with full bookings.

Research from psychologists has confirmed what many people will have long since suspected – the stress and trauma of moving home can physically and prematurely age you.

The average house purchase takes around 15 weeks to fully complete, and in this time many people find that they suffer from stress and a number of other side effects.

These can include hair loss and short term memory loss and if the stress continues for a prolonged period, as it can do when buying a house becomes complicated, effects such as depression, weight gain and premature aging can often be felt.

Moving home, whether it’s as a first time buyer or upgrading to a larger property, is rated as one of life’s most traumatic events. The main stresses include worrying about mortgage approvals and dealing with inefficient or incompetent legal people such as lawyers and solicitors.

The actual process of moving can also be very stressful for many people, so finding an effective and friendly company to help you move your furniture and belongings will help you minimise stress throughout the experience.

When looking for the services of a removal company Preston, contact the experts at Right Move Transport to help you get from A to B with minimal stress. Right Move Transport believe that the customer comes first and to ensure that all your belongings are kept safe and secure during the moving process, each van comes fully equipped with a trolley and protective blankets.

As well as helping with a full house move, if you have less belongings or are moving between rented accommodation, Right Move Transport also offer man and van hire Preston, so whatever type of house removals service Preston you require they can help you make your moving experience as hassle-free as possible. Visit www.rightmovetransport.co.uk or contact them on 07801 795560 for more information.

There are hundreds of details involved with moving a household or office and primary among those is moving the furniture and treasured possessions. Removals London 24 can relocate households and offices of any size safely and efficiently.

Based in London, the firm has been providing professional removal services to the Greater London area and the United Kingdom for six years. They can help with every step of the relocation process, from dismantling and reassembling furniture to packing and delivering valuable antiques. They’ll also handle all the unpacking. They provide services for residential and commercial customers, eliminating the frustration and stress of moving.

Removals London 24 pack client’s possessions securely utilizing a full range of packing materials, including boxes, bubble wrap and other materials. Clients that hire them for removal services receive 20 percent off all packing materials. The firm will deliver packing materials for clients who prefer to arrange items themselves.

All their vans are equipped with removal blankets, trolleys and furniture tools, as well as GPS navigation systems. Their s are professionally trained in the handling of various goods. They can also provide personnel to help clients pack.

The firm will move heavy and bulky furniture such as pianos and china cabinets, and will even remove possessions through windows if needed. They accommodate a wide variety of needs and requirements. Removals London 24 will also remove any items that clients decide they no longer need or want.

They offer affordable rates and clients will never encounter any hidden fees or costs. They don’t charge from depot to depot and there are never any congestion charges. No deposit is required and there are no fuel supplements.

Removals London 24 can provide quotes by phone or via the online form on their website. Bigger removals require a survey of the property prior to providing a quote. The firm also offers man and van services at competitive hourly rates.

They maintain “goods in transit” insurance for their client’s convenience. Those who want their goods insured through other means must provide them with a declaration of value. They’re fully licensed and cognizant of the importance of being punctual.

The company has a reputation for providing reliable, quality service. They’re often booked months in advance, so early booking is encouraged whenever possible, though emergency removals are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

London Removals Company can be reached by phone at 07401 320 880. For more information, visit the website at http://www.removalslondon24.co.uk/.