bypassing local shops and the need to travel overseas.

An increasing proportion of the goods are being imported via courier instead of air freight, courier companies and Customs officials say.

And that rise contributed to space problems that led to the recently resolved dispute over space in the Airport freight shed.

The number of packages arriving by courier has jumped 73 percent since 1992.

Customs officers have watched the number rise steadily in this decade.

One Bermudian buyer explained: "I bring things in more than once a year using the courier firms. I've been doing it for years and my mother does it, too. I know a lot of people who do it.

"The last time I brought in a couple of skirts, blouses, a jacket and a pair of pants from Talbot's, an upscale US clothing chain. The cost doesn't factor in it for me. I just buy what I want. I can't get it here.

"It takes a week, maybe ten days from the time I order. Some of these shops recognise their Bermudian clientele. On the Talbot's catalogue, for example, there's even a special telephone number for Bermuda customers to call.'' Collector of Customs Gerry Ardis said: "People are bringing in everything but the kitchen sink. We see quite a considerable growth in the number of packages these firms are bringing in.

"We cannot say what the value of these goods are, but it went from 164,999 packages in 1992 to 285,481 in 1996.

"There are a lot more dutiable packages through the courier companies. It has caused us a problem, because we have required more manpower.

"We can say that more things are coming in from the courier firms than from regular air freight. That is self-evident by looking at the situation. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.'' The increase in volume of courier packages led to the space problems at the Airport freight shed. That will be resolved with the intended use of another building on the Airport property for courier firms.

DHL Worldwide Express general manager, Thad Crouch, said: "When the air express companies started, the core of the business was documents (going) to and from businesses.

"But with the type of service we are providing, 24- or 48-hour delivery, people like to get their products from catalogues. We have certainly seen an increase in volume when it comes to personal shipments. But the core of the business is still documents.'' Mr. Crouch estimated DHL could be bringing in five to six thousand packages a month, approximately 30 percent of which involves consumer purchases.

The bosses of Bermuda's courier firms know the names of many of the department stores that are doing the most Bermuda business. From the US, they include Victoria's Secret, Land's End, Chadwick's, J.C. Penny, Sears, Speigel and L.L.

Bean, From the UK, the catalogue company Kay's is a popular source of orders.

But the courier business is not just confined to cosmetics, clothes and shoes.

People air express boating equipment and almost anything else they can order by telephone, courier firms said.

And 800 numbers which require a US address have proved no problem for at least one local courier. IBC provides its clients with its own US address, through which it will route packages before bringing them to Bermuda.

IBC president and CEO, Glen Smith, said: "Packages for consumers make up about 45 percent of our business. People are shopping not just with catalogues, but on the Internet.

"Our customers have an account with us and the first year we did this, there were about 180 clients. Today, we have more than 750.'' UPS general manager Edward Lamb said: "A large portion of our business has been personal consumer imports. Of the dutiable packages we bring in, some 60 percent must be for individuals, as opposed to businesses.

"We bring in a lot of packages for businesses, too. So out of the entire inventory of incoming packages, consumer items for individuals probably make up 25 percent.

"But they bring in all kinds of things. It runs the gamut from engine parts, to shoes, to lighting fixtures. The whole nine yards. Whatever the consumer wants. Actually, we see a lot of engine or machinery parts coming in, parts that are not easily available here. People order contact lenses, glasses and a lot of sunglasses.

"It's a faster, and more reliable system of importing. The society we live in now demands speed. Everybody wants something yesterday.'' Edward Lamb No caption