The Art of the Hamper

With the beginning of October comes the inevitable rush of Christmas paraphernalia filling the shops. It may make you whimsical, it may make you want to throw things, but the one thing it certainly does achieve is that it gets people thinking about gift giving early. And why shouldn’t you be thinking about gifts in October? There’s no law that says gifts can only be exchanged on special occasions, in fact the routine of gift giving can work to make it less special. Ultimately, the element of surprise adds a whole new dimension to receiving a gift, so why wait for Christmas to indulge your loved ones?

If you’re looking for a gift which can work for any occasion, it’s worth turning your attention to the humble hamper. Whether you choose to shop around for products to create your own, DIY-style, or opt for one of the ready-made hampers from companies like Interflora, a hamper can be transformed into the perfect gift for any recipient. Though they are traditionally filled with edible items – fruit, jam, chocolates, wine etc – there’s nothing to stop you from personalising your gift to make it special for your loved one. Why not fill it with trinkets that you know they’ll love? Or treat them to some pampering with something like the ‘Rich Plum Pamper Gift’ from Interflora? Or, if you fancy being traditional and filling it with food and drink, pick out things that you know they’ll love.

Alternatively, if the idea of giving a foodie gift appeals to you but the traditional-style hamper doesn’t, there are plenty of great ways to send customisable food gifts. Thorntons, for example, offer a great personalised chocolate box service where you can have each truffle spell out a word or sentence. Interflora also offer a personalised cupcakes gift box- check their hampers section online, in case your loved one has a sweet tooth.

In the end, whether you’re buying something to say thank you, or just to let someone know how much they mean to you, a hamper can be the perfect way to create a personalised, thoughtful gift all year round.