With another Christmas just around the corner, attention is turning to that old issue of what to get for the special people in our lives. And given 2020 has been a draining year for many of us, stress-free shopping is the order of the day.

This is where a good gift hamper comes in to play. Being presented with a hamper full of treats is a thrill for anybody and they’re relatively simple to whip up. You can personalise the hamper to your gift recipient’s tastes or interests and creating one yourself can be quite economical – you can make the contents as simple or elaborate as your budget allows.

Our hamper box crates come in two handy sizes – 30cm and 22cm – which look beautifully rustic and are an ideal size for boxing up a few treats. They also come with added straw paper for extra protection, so all that’s left for you to do is find some goodies to nestle in there.

But if you’re needing some inspiration as to what to put in the hamper, try one of these combinations.

A comforting cuppa

You can’t go too far wrong with a new mug (or two!), especially when they’re paired with a few other enticing goodies. Staying at home to make a morning coffee has become very de rigueur in 2020, after all.

We have a whole range of mugs to suit everyone’s tastes, but we particularly like the Stevens Snug Mugs in Seafoam or the Momento Havanna Mugs in Light Pink. Try pairing the mugs with a bag of their favourite coffee beans or plunger brew or some boutique tea like the varieties found at Noble & Savage. You could also try pairing a beautiful ceramic mug with a new KeepCup so they’re covered for a delicious beverage both at home and away.

And if you’ve got even more budget to work with, the coffee friend in your life might appreciate something from our elegant Bialetti range. Try adding an espresso maker or a shiny, new coffee press to the mix.

Cheers to the season

Of course, if your gift recipient is keen on something a little stronger than tea or coffee, some glassware for toasting the festive season wouldn’t go amiss. Our Luigi Bormioli beer glasses are ideal – you can opt for the elegant Luigi Bormioli Schumann beer glass or perhaps the more unique shape of the Luigi Bormioli Birrateque IPA beer glasses, which come in a set of two. Pair these with a couple of boutique ales and you have the perfect gift for the beer aficionado in your life.

If you’re buying for someone who usually opts for wine over beer, try pairing a couple of our Luigi Bormioli wine glasses with the ingredients for making a delicious, chilled wine spritzer to be enjoyed in the summer months.

But if your friend or family member already has cupboards positively bursting with glassware, fear not – a bar tool or two might be just the ticket. A sleek waiters corkscrew or champagne stopper from our Social Club range will also fit easily into a gift hamper along with a bottle of their favourite drop.

A little dinner magic

When you’re choosing a gift for that person who already has everything, a hamper filled with foods or condiments that are that little bit different is a nice, simple choice. Our Hunt & Gather range has a variety of sauces or spreads to throw into that mix. You could also add one or two of the Hunt & Gather gourmet salts to a hamper for any enthusiastic home chefs in your life. From the Sea Salt Flakes with Charcoal (great for seasoning red meat, especially on the BBQ) to the Smokey Chipotle Grinder or Classic Kiwi with Horopito Grinder, there’s something for everybody’s tastes.

And relax…

Our smaller hamper box crate lends itself to a little indulgence courtesy of The Aromatherapy Co. Whether it’s the delightful amber and rose scent or the equally lovely white gardenia fragrance, an Aromatherapy Co. candle gives a room some ambience and also subtly scents the room even when it’s not being burnt. You could pair the candles with their matching scented diffusers or nourishing hand creams – or go the whole hog and pop all three in the hamper for gifting (although you may have to upgrade to the larger hamper box crate if you do).

They’ll be all ready to relax – and so will you, knowing that another year of festive giving is sorted.