forwarding service to the UK, said company president Mr. Glen Smith.

"We feel there is a definite demand because there are so many people from the UK living in Bermuda wanting goods sent to them,'' said Mr. Smith.

Through the new service UK and European residents can send packages to a London based IBC warehouse. The Bermuda company then brings the items the final leg to Bermuda.

"This cuts the cost tremendously,'' said Mr. Smith, because IBC can use competitive UK courier service to get the items to their London warehouse then cuts Bermuda leg costs via volume.

Customers can order retail items from champagne to furniture to car parts then have them delivered to IBC's UK warehouse.

"To courier a package from London to Bermuda today costs about $79. With this service we can deliver a package up to one pound to the door of a Bermuda resident from London for $5,'' he said.

There is an annual fee of $95 for UK account holders.

The UK service mirrors the company's US personal forwarding service started last year.

The US service has about 200 account holders so far, he said.

"Couriering from one part of the US to another is very competitive and very inexpensive the same is true of the UK and Europe,'' he said.

Mr. Smith had anticipated the service, launched less than six months ago for goods originating out of the US -- the courier company has a New York warehouse -- but retailers are utilising the service more frequently, Mr.

Smith said.

IBC offers courier or freight service, duty services, as well as insurance in connection with the personal forwarding service.

The courier, in connection with Consulting Solutions, a Bermuda business specialising in the reclamation of Value Added Tax (VAT), also assists with redeeming that UK sales tax.