Birmingham crowned West Midlands “gift basket capital” as specialist sweet store explains how to build your own

With Christmas fast approaching, the question of what to get your friends can be a difficult one to answer, especially when you’re trying to find something for a whole family.

Figures from Google show an increase of just under a million searches for gift baskets and hampers, from 1,849,770 in November 2024 to 2,946,170 in December 2024. Birmingham was the gift basket capital for the West Midlands, with 67,500 searches in December 2024. Shropshire and Coventry followed this with 20,770 and 16,220, respectively.

Confectioners, Geraldo’s of Largs, shared their expert tips on what your hampers should contain, and explained how versatile they can be.

“Gift hampers can be tailored to several different occasions, from housewarmings, corporate gifts to the perfect way to cover a family at Christmas, and most importantly, they can take some of the stress out of knowing what to get,” explained Toni Dawson, owner of Geraldo’s.

“Although you can always buy pre-filled hampers, which may be perfect for your giftee, if you want something specially tailored, there are a few simple steps to follow to build a hamper which will make someone feel you’ve gone that extra mile for them.”

Step 1 – Pick a theme.

“What you put in your basket should depend on either the occasion or reflect the interests of the person you're giving it to,” said Toni.

Step 2 – Pick a base

“Whether it’s a basket, decorative box or something more outlandish like a small wooden crate, it’s important to choose something that fits your theme and is something which they can keep and re-use once the items inside are gone.”

Step 3 – Pick your items

“Balance is important, there should always be a standout product, your hero item so to speak, but it shouldn’t overshadow the other items in the hamper. Otherwise, you can risk making the other products seem like they’re there to fill space, taking the shine off the hamper as a whole.”

Step 4 – Arrangement

“Now you’ve got your base, and your items, you just need to arrange them. Your big-ticket hero item should be central, with the other items built out around it, covering the space within, giving your giftee plenty to look at.”

Step 5 – Something personal

“Remember, the idea of any gift is to show someone that you’re thinking about them, not just fulfilling an obligation. A small note, handwritten gift tag, or something similar can go a long way to adding that personal touch which can turn your basket of goodies from a nice present, into a cherished, more intimate gift.”

Hampers and gift baskets can vary wildly in price, as well as content, so Toni also gave her advice on when to buy and when to build your own. “As hampers and gift baskets have become more popular over time, the range of occasions and purposes they’re available for has grown, so you may be able to find what you’re looking for with a simple search.

“However, if you know the person you’re buying for has particular favourites, you may be able to make your own custom creation for less, while giving someone a more personal gift. Which option is the most cost-effective, however, will ultimately depend on their taste, and so you may need to consider budget when making your decision.”