Considering Buying A Hamper For A Gift? Read This First

Does your calendar remind you that you have an important occasion coming up? A birthday or anniversary, farewell or welcome, housewarming or engagement … the list goes on. Often, there’s no reason to give a gift to someone you care for. And again, sometimes you need to pamper yourself too. 

Choosing the perfect gift to fit the occasion is a challenge, no matter how well you know the person. You are also constrained by time, budget and availability. 

But no worries - there’s one gift that ticks all the right boxes. The gift hamper! 

What Are Hampers?

In some places across the world, they are called gift baskets, bundles or boxes. No matter what you call them, what matters is what’s inside. 

There are really no rules for what goes into a gift hamper. You can select a variety of items based on a theme such as spa, aromatherapy, healthy snacks, gourmet foods, wine and cheese, chocolates, fruit, yoga, travel, art, literature or music. Other popular themes are event based such as breakfast, afternoon tea, Easter, New Year or Christmas. You can put together a hamper based on contents or occasion, hampers for him and her, wedding or baby showers. Chocolate, tea or coffee hampers are for people who love them. 

Packaging is a major part of the hamper concept. Traditionally, the word “hamper” referred to a basket but today you can package your gifts in a variety of other ways. Wicker baskets still remain the most popular choice, especially if you are hand delivering the hamper. Wooden or metal boxes, cartons and trays are a great option too. You can decorate them with pretty fabric, lace, ribbons or colored paper, and add a card with a message to express your feelings. 

In other words, all you need is inspiration, imagination, creativity and a bit of effort and patience to put together the perfect gift hamper.

Why We Love Gift Baskets

There are plenty of reasons to love gift hampers:

• They are exciting to create and receive

• Hampers can hold a variety of items

• You can add a few expensive things, some fun stuff, keepsakes, consumables

• They are personalized

• Hampers can be customized to suit any occasion

• They are a gift that keeps on giving

• Hampers are a great choice for your loved ones, as well as for people you don’t really know well

• They make great corporate gifts

• You can give them to individuals, couples or families

• They’re available online and can be delivered anywhere

• You can choose to create them yourself, or pick one that’s available off the shelf

• Hampers often contain stuff that people may not purchase for themselves

How To Select The Perfect Hamper

While the idea seems like a lot of fun, with oodles of opportunity to express your creativity, a few tips would certainly come in handy. 

1. Know Your Recipient: This is top priority, and you need to spend some time analyzing the person’s preferences, likes and dislikes. For instance, if they are senior citizens, they would hardly appreciate tech gadgets, snacks that they can’t consume for health reasons or fire hazard items such as candles. Your recipient may have allergies to nuts or perfume, or certain values such as vegetarianism, they may be vegan or anti-silk. If your hamper is intended for someone you don’t know well, it’s wise to pick neutral items that anyone can use. 

2. Quality over Quantity: One of the pitfalls with gift hampers is that you’re tempted to pack them with a lot of stuff. Imagine your own reaction when you get a bunch of tacky items that won’t last, and aren’t worth keeping. Select quality items, in smaller sizes if your budget doesn’t stretch. You can add one or two cheaper, fun things. Remember that the gift represents both giver and receiver, so why look like a cheapskate?

3. Presentation: It’s all very well to say never judge a book by its cover - but when it comes to gifting, the cover is a big part of what lies within. No one would like to receive a bunch of items thrown randomly into a paper bag or carton. That speaks of a don’t care attitude and a lack of class. Don’t neglect the quality of the container, gift wrapping or the message. Ensure that you select a trusted delivery service that delivers to the location you want. 

4. Know the Occasion: If your hamper is intended to mark an event or occasion, stay with the theme. It could be to mark a new job, a promotion or moving into a new home, retirement or a milestone birthday or anniversary. If it’s a gift to pamper someone, or yourself, splurge on exclusive or hand-crafted items. See the self care hamper range at rest and digest for more ideas. 

5. Customization: Many professional gift hamper services offer personalization and customization options. This would make your gift more special and tell the recipient that you’ve put some thought into selecting the gift. Customizing may not be an option when you’re putting together corporate hampers, but here too, you can add a personal touch that speaks to age, gender and personal tastes. 

6. Budget: Ensure that you keep a budget in mind when you select your hampers. It’s all too easy to overspend when you’re purchasing a variety of items. Stay within your budget, and select fewer items keeping quality as your priority. Most online services offer price range options that you can choose in sync with your budget. Some companies may charge an extra fee for remote locations, so keep that in mind when you’re budgeting. If you’re pampering yourself, let the budget go!