Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Why Hampers Are Ideal For All Occasion

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, 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 later times, hampers have come to be less presents of essentials and more presents of little treats, such as wine hampers for example. An emphasis is placed on the best products such as gourmet jams, quality chocolates, exotic coffee beans, quality wines and other expensive products that can be enjoyed as a indulgence and will store long enough for the recipient to take their time in using the item.

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 thoughtful present. They can be adapted to any special someone and can be filled with whatever would satisfy your special someone. When picking the hamper you want to give, give careful consideration to what goods your special someone wants - are they a white wine lover? Then wine hampers are a great idea! Are they a foodie? Then fill the hamper with premium food products. Are they expecting a baby? Why not give them a hamper filled with handy baby products.

Wine hampers can be used for any occasion - 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 big business and, in an intriguing twist, customers are buying Christmas hampers to use for themselves instead of as a gift for other people. Often packed with special Xmas luxuries such as shortbread, chocolate, wine, Xmas pudding and even turkey, they are bought by individuals to be used over the holiday season. Many hampers are bought on a payment scheme over the year and then used for the holiday season, helping people afford the price of the wonderful Xmas luxuries needed during the Christmas period.

There are lots of companies that specialize in making hamper presents and most of them can be found quickly and simply on the world wide web. Many of them will have pre-packed hampers - such as wine hampers or food hampers - and some may allow you to personalize a hamper and fill it with items of your choice. Almost all companies will deliver your hamper, making it a convenient and welcomed gift.

Of course, you don't have to use a professional to make a beautiful hamper and it can be even more considerate to make your own. When putting together a hamper, give careful thought to what they might like. Use handy products and luxury items that your special someone may not consider to buy for themselves, to make it even more lovely. UK hampers also work best when filled with products that won't spoil easily, such as wine for wine hampers. If you do intend on filling in products that have to be kept cool or will go off, then make sure the hamper is given as soon as possible and make sure your special someone understands that the goods must be used as soon as possible.

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