Monday, January 26, 2009

Ideal UK Hampers For Your Grandmother

By Bob Johnson

Wine hampers are gifts that are normally presented in a wicker basket. The act of giving a hamper has a long tradition in the Western world and, before, was done as a giving gesture, using the hamper to give food and other home necessities to the poor. The basket the hamper was displayed in was also carefully chosen as it was a practical household item that could be used and reused.

In modern times, hampers have come to be less presents of necessities and more presents of small luxuries, such as wine hampers for example. An emphasis is placed on quality products such as gourmet jams, fine chocolates, exotic coffee beans, fine wines and other expensive products that can be had as a treat and will store long enough for your special someone to take their time in using the item.

There has also been a growing tendency to produce 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 development 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 limited by your imagination!

The versatility of wine hampers is why it makes such a pleasing gift. They can be modified to any special someone and can be filled with anything that would satisfy your special someone. When picking the hamper you want to give, give careful attention to what items your special someone enjoys - are they a red wine lover? Then wine hampers are a great idea! Are they a gourmet? Then fill the hamper with gourmet food products. Are they expecting a baby? Why not give them a hamper filled with helpful baby products.

Wine 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 Christmas hamper has become big business and, in an intriguing twist, customers are buying Christmas UK hampers to use for themselves instead of as a gift for that special someone. Often filled with well-loved Christmas treats such as shortbread, chocolate, wine, Christmas pudding and even turkey, they are purchased by individuals to be used over the Xmas period. Many wine hampers are purchased on a payment scheme over the year and then enjoyed for the holiday season, helping people afford the price of the special Christmas treats wanted over the Christmas period.

There are thousands of companies that specialize in selling hamper gifts and most of them can be found quickly and easily online. Many of them will have pre-packed UK hampers - such as wine hampers or food hampers - and some may allow you to modify a hamper and pack it with items of your choice. Almost all companies will deliver your hamper, making it a convenient and personal gift.

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

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