Are You Struggling To Find Great Gift Ideas?

Many people struggle when it comes to finding the perfect gift.  It does not matter how well your know somebody, we all choose and buy gifts with a little trepidation.  Will they like it?  Is it to their taste?  Has somebody else bought them the same gift?

One way to ensure that you do no duplicate your gift giving efforts is to give a gift basket.  These are fun gifts to both give and receive, and with so much choice the likelihood that they will receive the same gift from somebody else is very slim.

Gift baskets also make great gifts because generally you can ask most suppliers to create a basket that include all the goodies the recipient will love.  World of Hampers creates beautiful gift baskets and is happy to work closely with their customers to create a basket that will not only impress the recipient, but amaze them as well.

World of Hampers has recently collaborated with a supplier, which means that they can not only bring you a choice of their very own beautiful signature gift baskets, but offer you a wider variety by partnering with one of their suppliers.  Currently World of Hampers has a range of over 100 gift baskets and gifts covering just about any occasion.

World of Hampers signature gift baskets include but are not limited to the following:

Valentines Gifts - Our Top Picks

With Valentines looming we have compiled a list of our top picks for Valentines Gifts.  Most of these have been designed and crafted by very talented UK crafters.

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Surprise someone you love. Open this gorgeous little heart shaped tin to reveal a matching pair of miniature glass vials each containing 3 or 4 little flowers. One for each of you.  Available from Glasspirations Little Flower Range.

Sizes: Tin 10cm x 10cm - Vials 5cm Tall x 2.5cm  - Price £19.00
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This Cherub Figurine is made from resin and has been finished in a soft white effect giving the impression of stone or marble.  Each set of 4 letters is priced and sold as a set of 4 and is available from Little Gift Corner.

Dimensions: Height 5.5cm - Price £10.99 - Free UK delivery.

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This stunning gift basket comprises of bath and shower products all wrapped up in this gorgeous birdcage, which has been finished off with red roses and butterflies.  If you are looking for a Valentines gift that will leave a lasting impression, then this is the one you have been looking for.  Available from World of Hampers.  Price £47.99 plus P&P

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Birdcage Love. One of a selection of Valentine's Day cards and other products available from Kit Stoner - Independent Phoenix Trader. £1.50 for one card, or £1.20 each if you buy with a selection of 10 or more. P&P for one card is 60p; for larger quantities the standard postage charge is £2.50. I am happy to write your card on your behalf and send direct to the recipient if you want to add an air of mystery! Available from Kit Stoner - Independent Phoenix Trader

Please Note:  This card perfectly compliments the Birdcage Gift Basket by World of Hampers.  

We have an arrangement in place that if you purchase both we can send the card directly to 

World of Hampers to include with your gift basket package.  Just let us know you would like to do 

this at time of purchase.
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Large Teddy Bear from Hidden Treasure Gifts

This cute teddy can be personalised with a message on each foot, 15 characters per foot.

(Our bear is suitable for ages 1 year and over)

Height: 30 CM Width: 20 CM Depth: 18 CM

£29.99 plus £3.95p+p

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Hanging Heart Love Birds from Desired Gifts

Painted and decorated to your requirements, could possibly add initials or names to the two birds

10cm £3.50 20cm- £5.00

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Range of triple scented Vintage Inspired Teacups & Modern cup candles using EcoSoya® Wax from Belisama Candles ~ these are a beautiful alternative to jars and are perfect as a gift for the candle lover ~ burn time's vary from around 10-35 hours depending on cup size ~ cant give exact as every cup is slightly different size to others from mini coffee cups to larger cups~ Individually priced as some are bone china and are branded ~ others are just made in China !!!!  Gold Metallic Gift boxes with coloured tissue paper available separately for £4 to finish that gift off perfectl

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World of Hampers would like to thank the following businesses for allowing us to showcase their products.

Glasspirations

Little Gift Corner

Kit Stoner - Independent Phoenix Trader

Hidden Treasure Gifts

Desired Gifts

Belisama Candles

Should Gift Baskets Be Boxed And Wrapped?

This Christmas we have been asked by some of our customers how they go about wrapping their gift basket.  Some have asked for it to be boxed so that they can wrap their gift.  This raised the question of whether it was a good idea to add additional wrap to your gift basket before presenting it to the recipient.

Many may argue that this is because the contents can be seen in the gift basket and there is no surprise when handing the gift over if it is not boxed and wrapped with appropriate wrapping paper.  I suppose there is some sense in this, however as most gift baskets are already wrapped (albeit in clear cellophane) I do not feel there is any need for further wrapping.  It is very rare that you have a very clear view of everything in the basket, and I personally feel that boxing and wrapping a gift basket spoils the overall effect when presenting the gift to the recipient.

Most gift baskets are designed to impress whoever receives it with the layout and overall finish including the bow, and I feel that by boxing and wrapping a gift basket, you detract from the first impression of your gift.

I wondered about this when I handed over the gift baskets I had made for my grandchildren.  My first thought was, would they not bother with them because they could see most of what the basket contained.  I need not have worried,  They were so enthralled by the teasing of little bits of the inner gifts showing through, that they totally ignored the regular wrapped gifts and were intent at opening the basket to see all that it held.  With reluctance and a bit of encouragement from their mother they eventually went back to open their other presents, only to dive back into their gift baskets once this was done.

If a gift basket had this effect on young children, then what effect would it have on an adult.  So no I do not think that if a gift basket has been beautifully finished that it ever needs to be boxed and wrapped.

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For beautiful gift baskets that do not need to be boxed and wrapped before presenting to the receiver, please visit World of Hampers 

Gift Basket Design Inspiration

I have recently written a few articles and blog posts on gift basket design in the UK.  I cannot reiterate enough the importance of design in a gift basket.  I recently watched a gift basket design video, where the instructor commented that there was no right or wrong way of doing a gift basket.  To a point I agree,  You can do almost anything you like when designing a gift basket, however surely creative inspiration must come into play or gift baskets will not impress anybody.

I find this to be the largest problem in the UK gift basket industry.  There seems to be very little creativity when putting gift baskets together.  Most UK gift basket suppliers lay all their products flat within the basket, unless of course the basket has a handle, then some may consider building their basket up using the handle as a stabilising point.  Or they place everything within the basket to keep them stabilised.  There is no height to the basket and most of the products are placed beneath the rim of the basket.

I am sad to say that most (not all) gift basket suppliers in the UK think that putting a gift basket together is easy.  You grab a few items, put them in a basket, wrap in cellophane, and finish with a pull bow.  This is why most gift basket look pretty much the same in the UK - You've seen one you've seen them all.  It frustrates me no end.  Where is the creative flair?  Where is your stamp on your finished product?

I may offend a few people with this article, but with YouTube videos, Pinterest and other places for inspiration I find it totally unforgivable that the UK gift basket industry is suffering due to this lack of creativity.  The gift basket industry in the UK is nowhere as large as it could be, remember that the gift basket industry in the US is a multi billion dollar industry.

If you really want to create a great gift basket and make your customers sit up and take notice, start using a variety of containers.  Gift basket containers do not have to be baskets, just about anything with a cavity to fill can be used as the base of your gift basket.  You do not have to use pull bows, take the time to create a beautiful bow for a change.  Add a few embellishments.  All of these little touches add your personal creative touch to the basket, and will help turn your gift basket from something pretty, but mediocre into something of beauty that will be admired.

Being in the UK gift basket industry, this is something I am passionate about and I am not afraid of the competition, in fact I welcome it.  I need others to step up to the mark so that I can continually learn and evolve as a gift basket designer myself.  I need the UK gift basket industry to start getting creative and push the boundaries.  I need the excitement of competition.  When gift baskets all look pretty much the same there is no competition between gift basket designers, nobody pushing the boundaries and in turn making you push your own boundaries.  Competition is healthy for any business and everybody should welcome it.

I am currently reading a book on gift basket design and the author states that in one of her classes everyone was supplied with exactly the same products and told to make a gift basket from start to finish with what they had been given.  According to the author each and every basket was different and unique in their own right. Creativity is something that comes from within.  Everybody looks at products differently and has their own idea of what the finished product should look like.  Nobody can read your mind or see what your minds eye can see, and that is why each finished gift basket was unique even though exactly the same products were used.

Gift basket designers in the UK need to start pushing the boat out.  If in need of inspiration, use YouTube, check gift basket designs on Pinterest.  Do not copy these ideas, use them rather to find your inspiration for creating an outstanding gift basket.  Remember if you copy you not only infringe copyright laws, but you are back to the same problem of gift baskets all looking pretty much the same.  Do not be afraid to experiment with different containers, if you find that your basket does not look great with the way you have laid it out, change the layout.  There is no fixed way to design a basket, it all boils down to inspiration, creativity and experimenting, if you start with these you will be well on your way to being a great gift basket designer and not just a mediocre one.

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World of Hampers creates beautiful gift baskets for all occasions.  Please check out our website http://www.worldofhampers.co.uk 

10 Great Gift Giving Tips

Deciding on a gift for somebody is a personal choice and should reflect the receivers likes and interests.  Giving gifts though is so much more than just choosing a gift, the way the gift is given also has a big impact. We have compiled a list of tips to make gift giving easier.

• When buying toys for a child, take the toy out of it's original packaging before wrapping.  This enables the child to enjoy their gift immediately.  Making a young child wait while removing all those fiddly ties and screws that hold the toy in place in it's packaging, can result in a meltdown and subsequent tantrum.

• Young children do not know the value of products.  Buying gifts for your children of equal value can result in the child thinking that their sibling is more favoured because he/she received more gifts or bigger gifts.  Do not worry about the cost when it comes to children, rather ensure that children receive gifts of similar sizes and similar amounts, regardless of the value.  For example you spent £100 each on your children and one gift was significantly smaller than the other the child with the smaller gift will feel that they have lost out, or giving one child 5 gifts and another 2 gifts because they totalled equal value would make the child with the lesser amount of gifts feel that they have been short changed.  Young children do not care if you spent £50 on them and £70 on their sibling, they just want to know that they received the same amount of gifts or gifts of the same size.

• Think about what the recipient of the gift would like to receive.  It does not matter whether you love it or hate it, just that the recipient will love it.  Too many times people buy gifts based on their own personal tastes, which can result in the recipient of the gift receiving something they do not really like.

• This tip applies to Christmas in particular, we have all been there, when you agree not to buy each other gifts and the other person goes ahead and buys a gift anyway.  Buy a few extra gifts when doing Christmas shopping.  These do not need to be expensive, items like a box of chocolates, candles, a photo frame or deodorant sets should cover it.  This way if somebody has broken your agreement and gone ahead and bought you a gift anyway, you can reciprocate with a small gift of your own. Do not worry if your agreement is not broken, you will not be left with these gifts as you can use these to have a bit of fun on Christmas day.  Use them as prizes for winning board games or have a Pass the Parcel game.   

• Probably one of the most important tips.  Respect your budget.  Gift giving is not a competition.  If your friends or family go ahead and buy you a really expensive gift, you do not have to compete.  Keep within your budget.  If you have only allowed £10 per person, stick to that.  Do not feel obligated to splash out just because somebody else has.  Friends and family should understand your situation and appreciate the thought that you have put into their gifts, rather than the monetary value.

• Be careful when giving gag gifts.  The book on "How To Grow Hair" that you bought as a gag gift for bald Uncle Harry could backfire if he happens to be in a bad mood when he opens the gift.

• When buying gifts for children, always discuss with the parents.  Perhaps the parents may think your gift unsuitable or you may end up buying the same gift.  I remember my son's first Christmas.  My then mother in law would not tell me what she had bought for him and he ended up with three duplicate gifts.  Needless to say gifts were always discussed after that.

• Re-gifting - Although I have never tried re-gifting, I do believe that if you do this you need to be very careful.  Re-gifting can hurt the feelings of those that originally gave you the gift especially if they feel they took the time to choose a gift they thought you would love.  If you are going to re-gift then ensure you do this with somebody that is not know to the person that originally gave you the gift, like perhaps a work colleague.

• Add a special message to your greeting card, like "Saw this and thought of you".  Also take the time to wrap your gift with care.  Remember that all gifts do not need elaborate wrappings though.  A gift basket for example does not need additional wrapping, and although you can see some of the items in the basket you cannot see them all and boxing and wrapping a gift basket will spoil the overall effect.  Treat a gift basket much the same as flowers,  the presentation itself requires that the gift does not need additional wrapping.

• Don't believe anyone that tells you they don't want anything.  Listen out for hints and observe.  Perhaps your Mum will see something in the store and remark on it, or perhaps she saw a jumper while out shopping and the look on her face tells you she loves it, if she puts it down again, go back when she is not around and buy that jumper for her.  She will be so happy that you noticed.   Little hints or observations like this can result in your buying the perfect gift.  

We hope these tips have been helpful to you and that by using them you will ensure that you give gifts that are chosen with love, wrapped with care and that the recipient of the gift appreciates the effort you have put into their gift. After all it really is the thought that counts and if you use these tips it will show how much you care.

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Gift baskets make perfect gifts no matter what the occasion or what the recipients tastes are.  Gift baskets can easily be made up and themed to anybodies interests and personal taste.  For more information on our gift baskets please visit our website World of Hampers

Christmas Gift Baskets

With just over a month to Christmas we are showcasing our Christmas gift baskets.  These make perfect gifts for Christmas and each basket has been designed to incorporate Christmas in the contents, embellishments and colours.  Gift baskets of distinction for the discerning gift giver.  If you are looking to impress, then look no further than a World of Hampers gift basket. 

Santa Christmas Gift Basket

£35.99

This gift basket is designed for Christmas and one of our best designs to date.  The basket was designed around the Christmas period and is a gift sure to impress whoever receives it.  Only   Free standard UK mainland delivery

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Yuletide Christmas Gift Basket

 £38.99

A gorgeous wooden Christmas planter crammed full of delicious chocolate. Free standard UK mainland delivery.

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Tea Break Christmas Gift Basket

£35.99

This lovely gift basket is the perfect gift for those that need to put their feet up and have a well deserved break and cuppa.  Filled with tea, biscuits and a bumper crossword book, what more do you need for that well earned break.   Finished with a gorgeous Christmas bow and embellishment making this a fabulous Christmas gift.  Free standard UK mainland delivery.

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Christmas Shopper Gift Basket

£47.99

This lovely Christmas hamper is bursting full of goodies.  With sweets, chocolates, tea, hot chocolate and Christmas pudding.  This basket looks fabulous from all angles.  Free standard UK mainland delivery,

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Seasons Greetings Christmas Gift Basket

£39.99

This cute little shopper is crammed full of treats for Christmas. Treat them this Christmas with this hamper filled with treats in a cute shopper wicker basket.  Free standard UK mainland delivery.

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To order these gift baskets along with gift baskets that would make perfect Christmas gifts, please visit our website www.worldofhampers.co.uk  You have the option of choosing a basket that has already been made up or choosing from our Create your own range.  You get to choose the basket, the fillers and the bow and we will put it all together into a fabulous gift basket that you would be proud to give.

This Weeks Feature Gift Basket

Hello everyone.  Well with Halloween behind us we are fast tracking to Christmas.  With only seven weeks till Christmas everyone's thoughts are turning to Christmas gifts.  So we thought this would be a good time to feature one of our Christmas gift baskets.

My personal favourite is the Bumper Family Gift Basket.  With the recession still in force and many battling with funding, a gift for the entire family seems to be the obvious solution, especially if you feel obligated to buy gifts for an entire family.

So why this gift basket?  Buying individual gifts can be costly.  With this in mind, we designed a basket with the entire family in mind and filled it with hot drinks, chocolates and snacks for the adults,  sweets and games for the kids and a tasty Christmas pud for the whole family to enjoy.

Rather than stress about getting the right gift for each individual in a family, this basket does it all.  One single gift that the entire family will enjoy unwrapping, and with so many sweets, snacks and games it just spells fun for the whole family.  The games will ensure fun for everyone on Christmas day and not just the kids. 

You can find this wonderful gift basket here:  Family Bumper Christmas Gift Basket

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