Thursday, August 7, 2008

Why Hampers Are The Greatest Gift

By Hugh Roberts


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, in the past, was done as a giving act, using the hamper to give food and other home essentials to the poor. The basket the gift was displayed in was also purposefully chosen as it was a helpful household item that could be used and reused.

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

There has also been a mounting trend to make specialist hampers - wine hampers that are filled with a wide range and types of wine, chocolate hampers and bread and cheese hampers. Hobby hampers are an even more new innovation and are packed not with food but with essential and desired items to please gardeners or DIY enthusiasts, for example. The contents of a hamper are only restricted by your imagination!

The flexibility of UK hampers is why it makes such a thoughtful present. They can be modified to any special someone and can be filled with anything that would satisfy the recipient. When choosing the hamper you want to give, give careful consideration to what items the recipient likes - are they a wine lover? Then wine hampers are a great idea! Are they a gourmet? Then fill the hamper with quality food items. Are they expecting a baby? Why not give them a hamper filled with useful baby products.

UK hampers can be given for any event - 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, people are buying Christmas hampers to use for themselves instead of as a gift for that special someone. Often filled with luxury Xmas treats such as shortbread, chocolate, wine, Xmas pudding and even turkey, they are bought by everyone to be used over the Xmas period. Many wine hampers are bought on a payment plan over the year and then used for the Xmas period, helping people afford the price of the loved Xmas treats desired during the Christmas period.

There are many of companies that specialize in offering hamper presents and lots of them can be found quickly and simply online. Many of them will have pre-packed hampers - such as wine hampers or food hampers - and some may let you to personalize a hamper and fill it with products of your choice. Most companies will deliver your hamper, making it a convenient and welcomed gift.

Of course, you don't have to use a business to create a beautiful hamper and it can be even more personal to create your own. When putting together a hamper, give careful thought to what they might like. Use helpful products and luxury items that the recipient may not know to purchase for themselves, to make it even more lovely. Hampers also work best when packed with products that won't go off easily, such as red wine for wine hampers. If you do intend on putting in products that have to be refrigerated or will spoil, then make sure the hamper is given as quickly as possible and make sure the recipient understands that the products must be used as soon as possible.

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