Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Why Hampers Are Ideal For All Occasion

By James Collett

UK hampers are gifts that are often presented in a wicker basket. The act of giving a hamper has a long tradition in Western culture and, before, was done as a giving gesture, using the hamper to deliver food and other home necessities to the poor. The basket the gift was presented in was also purposefully chosen as it was a practical household item that could be utilized.

In modern times, hampers have come to be less a gift of necessities and more a gift of small indulgences, such as wine hampers for example. An emphasis is placed on quality items such as gourmet jams, expensive chocolates, exotic coffee beans, quality wines and other quality items that can be had as a treat and will store long enough for the recipient to relax when using the hamper.

There has also been a rising tendency to sell specialized hampers - wine hampers that are filled with a diverse range and types of wine, chocolate hampers and bread and cheese hampers. Hobby hampers are an even more new innovation and are filled not with food but with essential and wanted items to please gardeners or DIY enthusiasts, for example. The contents of a hamper are only restricted by your imagination!

The flexibility of hampers is why it makes such a pleasing gift. They can be modified to any special someone and can be packed with anything that would satisfy the recipient. When picking the hamper you want to give, give careful consideration to what goods the recipient enjoys - are they a wine connoisseur? Then wine hampers are a great idea! Are they a gourmet? Then fill the hamper with quality food products. Are they expecting a baby? Why not give them a hamper filled with handy baby goods.

UK hampers can be given for any reason - for birthdays, for hens nights or bachelorette parties, for weddings, for anniversaries, for an expecting mom-to-be and, most popularly, for Xmas.

The Xmas hamper has become popular and, in an intriguing twist, customers are buying Christmas hampers to use for themselves instead of as a present for that special someone. Often packed with well-loved Xmas treats such as shortbread, chocolate, wine, Xmas pudding and even turkey, they are purchased by everyone to be used over the Xmas period. Many UK hampers are purchased on a payment plan over the year and then used for the Xmas period, helping families pay for the expense of the loved Xmas treats expected during the Christmas period.

There are a large number of businesses that concentrate in making hamper gifts and lots of them can be found quickly and simply on the net. Many of them will have pre-packed hampers - such as wine hampers or food hampers - and some may allow you to modify a hamper and pack it with products of your choice. Many businesses will deliver your hamper, making it a convenient and personal present.

Of course, you don't have to use a business to create a lovely hamper and it can be even more considerate to make your own. When making a hamper, give careful thought to what they might like. Use handy products and luxury products that your special someone might not think to purchase for themselves, to make it even more lovely. Hampers also work best when filled with products that won't go off quickly, such as red wine for wine hampers. If you do intend on putting in products that have to be kept cool or won't last long, then make sure the hamper is delivered as soon as possible and make sure your special someone knows that the goods must be used as soon as possible.

About the Author:

No comments: