In an era marked by economic uncertainty, rising costs, and increasing barriers for companies across the UK, small businesses are proving their resilience and ability to drive meaningful change. Despite the challenges, SME's, like us at hampers.com, are demonstrating that even in the toughest of times, small businesses can have a big impact.
With over 45 years of experience in the gifting industry, we have not only weathered economic storms but also thrived, becoming one of the UK’s largest privately owned gift hamper companies. Our journey is a testament our adaptability, dedication, and unwavering commitment to fostering joy and connection, even during challenging times. By embedding sustainability, premium quality, and a customer-first ethos into every facet of our business, hampers.com demonstrates that true success isn’t just measured by profit - it’s built on values that resonate deeply with people and communities.
Since our founding in 1979, hampers.com has delivered over 3.75 million carefully curated hampers to private customers and corporate clients. Under the dynamic leadership of Patrick Gore and Hannah Lia, who took the helm in 2019, hampers.com has undergone a remarkable transformation.
By integrating a values-driven approach into every step of our operations, hampers.com has achieved an impressive 87% revenue growth since 2019. This achievement underscores our ability to not only expand, but also give back, both to people and the planet.
Elevating gifting with care and expertise
hampers.com’s mission is simple: to bring joy and wholehearted togetherness to gifting, creating moments that matter and bring people together, even from afar. Every hamper is hand-picked and hand-packed with care by some of the longest serving hand-packers in the industry, ensuring that each gift delivers a thoughtful, meaningful moment for the recipient.
Our meticulous attention to detail shines throughout our sourcing process, where every food and drink item is carefully taste-tested and expertly paired in-house, to create a truly harmonious tasting experience. Beyond this, we always go the extra mile by prioritising the sourcing of artisan food and drink from small, sustainable UK suppliers - championing local craftsmanship and helping fellow small businesses flourish in the process.
This hands-on approach has resonated with customers, earning us an average review score of 4.8/5 stars from nearly 29,000 verified reviews. We also maintain an impressive 97% on-time delivery rate, even during peak trading periods, ensuring customers can always rely on us for timely, high-quality service.
Sustainability at the core
At hampers.com, we're more than just a gifting company; our business is a force for positive environmental change. Achieving Certified Carbon Neutral status was a major milestone in our sustainability journey, reflecting our commitment to reducing our environmental impact. Exemplifying this, in 2024 alone, we offset 492 tonnes of CO2 and partnered with impactful projects like the Renewable Solar Power Project in India and the Methane Recovery Project in Brazil.
Beyond this, eco-conscious practices are woven into every aspect of hampers.com. From using FSC-certified cardboard and biodegradable packaging to working with couriers that prioritise electric vehicles, hampers.com ensures that every step of our operations is environmentally responsible. Even our headquarters is equipped with energy-efficient lighting and heating systems to minimise energy consumption, proving that no business is too small to make a difference.
Supporting communities
Our commitment to positive change extends beyond our environmental efforts to our support for local communities. As an Accredited Real Living Wage employer, hampers.com ensures fair pay and benefits for all staff, including private healthcare for permanent employees.
Excess stock is donated to Oxford Food Hub, while partnerships with organisations like Oxfordshire Mind help to support mental health initiatives in the local community. We also proudly sponsors the Didcot Casual Girls Football Team, fostering opportunities for local young athletes.
Delivering joy at scale
Whether managing 300 orders during quieter seasons or scaling up to 10,000 daily orders at Christmas, hampers.com combines agility with meticulous care. Despite the challenges of peak trading, we achieved a 4.73/5 customer satisfaction score in November 2024, alongside a perfect 5/5 recommendation rating, showcasing our ability to maintain excellence under pressure.
Looking ahead to 2025, hampers.com is preparing to pursue B Corp certification, a milestone that will further cement our position as a leader in sustainability and ethical business practices.
Adding to our accolades, hampers.com has also been shortlisted for the 2025 Small Business of the Year Award hosted by Business Awards UK, recognising our outstanding contributions to innovation, sustainability, and community impact. Through every step of this journey, we remain steadfast in our mission to bring joy and connection to gifting while making a positive impact on people and the planet.
“At hampers.com, we want to show that small businesses have the power to create ripples of positive change that reach far beyond their size,” explained Director, Hannah Lia. “By staying true to our values - supporting communities, championing sustainability, and delivering seamless customer care - we can make a meaningful difference, one gift at a time.”.
Through embedding a value-led approach, championing sustainability and focusing on creating heartfelt customer experiences, hampers.com showcases the unique ability of small businesses to innovate, inspire, and leave a lasting impact in ways that larger corporations often cannot.
Whether it’s empowering local artisans, reducing our environmental footprint, or delivering joy to even the most remote corners of the UK, hampers.com proves that small businesses have the power to change lives. In doing so, we want to remind other small businesses that even the smallest actions, when driven by intention and care, can create waves of positivity that extend far and wide.