Getting Personal

                A unique gift that is tempting and tasty too | Retro Sweet Hampers from GettingPersonal.co.uk
            
                Everyone enjoys a treat once in a while but it's sometimes difficult to justify splashing out for ourselves on "non-essential" items, particularly in the current economic climate. So next time you are looking for a special gift for a loved one, why not forget about practical presents for once and treat them to something they would never buy themselves. Of course everyone needs warm jumpers and socks at some point but these are the sort of things we can think about any time of the year, when someone special is celebrating a birthday, anniversary or any other occasion, why not give them the chance to focus on the lighter side of life? Choose a gift that will appeal to their taste buds and that they can share with their close friends. The look on their face when they open your tasty package is sure to be just as sweet as the delicious contents.

Of course giving edible gifts may not seem like a unique idea, after all a box of chocolates has long been a popular gift choice among relatives and colleagues. But a fancy box of Belgian chocolates is for those with no imagination, or perhaps your Great Aunt Brenda. Instead, opt for something a little more fun like a retro sweet hamper, that better reflects the personality of the recipient and shows them just how thoughtful you are. 

Out with the old, in with the old school

When it comes to sweet treats, anyone will tell you that they just don't make them like they used to. Remember back to your carefree schooldays when it was all about having fun with your friends and sharing stories, inside jokes and, best of all, sweets. A trip to the local corner shop after school turned you quite literally into a kid in a sweetie shop and the staggering choice of delights stored in big glass jars behind the counter was enough to make anyone's mouth water. From bright red kola cubes to fizzy sherbet and sticky toffees, there was so much to choose from. For many of us, those few small coins each week as pocket money was our first real taste of independence so of course choosing how to spend was an important decision that required careful thought. 

Fast forward to today…when was the last time you spent any time browsing cakes and sweets and enjoying the thrill of imagining how each might taste? When you are looking for a unique gift, try to remember that feeling and give them the chance to experience it again. A fantastic and thoughtful tasty gift idea that is so much more fun than boring old chocolates is a retro sweet hamper. Essentially creating a mini sweet shop all of their own, the lucky recipient will feel like Charlie Bucket when he found his golden ticket. All our old favourites are here from chocolate mice to Gobstoppers and Love Hearts making a retro sweet hamper a tasty trip down memory lane. The best thing about a retro sweet hamper, particularly when you give it to someone of your own generation, is the way it rekindles old memories so that this small gift can be shared with friends and spark off a whole evening of gossip and laughter that will last long after the last sweetie paper has been discarded. And of course the actual container of a retro sweet hamper can be reused and is the ideal place to collect tokens of new memories so that each time the owner opens it they will be sure to smile.

The Personal Touch

Instead of a full retro sweet hamper, or perhaps as well as, you could also choose a more personalised approach and choose a personalised sweet jar with a special label designed with the recipient in mind. Think of a special message that will say so much more about your feelings than a plain old box of chocolates ever could. Crammed full of delights such as candy necklaces, Dib Dabs and of course flying saucers, the retro sweet jar is a great gift idea for someone else or you could always buy it yourself and make a unique centrepiece for your own party.

Whether you choose a retro sweet hamper or smaller jars of candies you can be sure that everyone will enjoy reminiscing about the old days but don't forget you aren't schoolchildren anymore and now you can wash down your favourite sweets with anything you want. So for a unique night in to celebrate a birthday or just to celebrate old friendships, why not pop a cork on something fizzy, turn up the volume on those classic tunes, throw open the lid on one or two retro sweet hamper and see where the evening takes you. And don't worry if the fun and stories look like they'll go on forever, at least now you are allowed to stay out as late as you like!

Related article: Don't tamper with their hamper (Retro Sweet Hamper)