www.smartgiftsolutions.co.uk

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Gorgeous New Baby Hampers

Check out our brand new baby hampers for 2013... new baby hampers

We're busy updating all our hampers and gift baskets... we've started with our most popular section baby gifts... we've created more unique selections and you'll find that prices have come down and value for money has gone up!  With new suppliers on board we are delighted to offer our latest selection which includes the loveable little character 'Little Rufus' by 'The Little Dog' made here in the UK.

And with the 50th Anniversary of Puff the Magic Dragon we are delighted to offer a specially designed gift basket celebrating this most loveable character.  A delightful gift as no doubt many grand parents will delight in the story and the musical toy bringing back special memories of the song that first enchanged children back in 1963! We've tried to suit all budgets and tastes but if you have any ideas for us please leave a comment.

Saturday, 5 January 2013

Our New Year's Facebook Winner...

 

A big thank you to Charlie Natalie Frost for sharing her winning prize photo... champers and chocolates all round for the best memory of the year... well done Charlie.... we hope you enjoy and have a wonderful 2013!

Saturday, 29 December 2012

What's So Great About Cheese & Wine?



We offered a gorgeous selection of Festive hampers this year to suit different tastes and budgets but yet again our most popular hamper by far was our classic Cheese Wine and Pate Hamper!

I guess it's simply a classic gift choice.... who can resit delicious cheeses combined with good quality red or white wine, add in some savoury biscuits and pate and it provides the simple pleasures of live that most of us enjoy... to simply relax and indulge ourselves for a little while.. especially at Christmas Time. To buy this classic gift suitable for almost any occasion click here.



Win Champagne for the New Year!

Enter our Facebook New Year Competition and win yourself a fabulous prize of Champagne and Chocolates to ring in the New Year with friends and family.  Enter Here.

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

WIN A Christmas Hamper !

We're giving away a superb luxury Christmas Hamper !!  
Everything you'll need for a
traditional Festive Celebration is included !!
Click here to enter.... and good luck!!



Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Dribble in style...




At Smart Gift Solutions, we've recently been beavering away to create a new collection of gorgeous baby gifts, perfect for giving to new parents or buying yourself as a little treat... We know something a baby will always do is dribble, it's just something they can't seem to control! So, we've created a gift that will please any parent who doesn't want to see every cute outfit ruined, a giftbox filled with stylish yet practical bibs!


Our new range of luxury Baby Bandana Bib Gift Boxes come in all different colours and styles, and are beautifully gift wrapped  in tissue paper and packaged in a glossy box for the perfect gift! It's a great way to ensure that every baby can dribble in style. Featured to the right is our Ice Cool Blue Gift Box, colour coordinated in gorgeous shades of blue to suit any little boy on his daily journey through life as a professional dribbler! 3 bandana style bibs are included inside the gift box for £16.95, which are then wrapped in matching tissue paper and finished off with a sweet blue gingham bow! Each bib is made from stretch jersey cotton, and the reverse side is made from soft micro-fleece, for added warmth and cosyness! They are also easily secured using two nickel-free poppers, so they will not cause irritation on babies skin. 

There are lots more, which you can check out here, with lots of great designs that will make any outfit extra funky! Stripes, spots, stars... 


Monday, 20 August 2012

Afternoon Tea Is An Absolute Must...



Afternoon Tea is a beloved English tradition that can be enjoyed anywhere, including in your own home with family and friends, on a sunny picnic to your local park or at a delightfully romantic café in town... With the array of Great British events happening this summer, it is no wonder that Afternoon Tea is at the height of its popularity! We can't name anyone we know who didn't enjoy a deliciously sweet cup of tea, with a selection of tasty scones to nibble on while cheering our Team GB athletes at the Olympics, or celebrating the 60th anniversary with a cuppa watching the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on BBC! It is the simplicity of the occasion that is why our nation loves it so much...

  
One of our bestsellers here at Smart Gift Solutions is the fabulous Great British Tea and Scones Gift Box  that is filled with quintessentially English gifts to provide you with your very own Afternoon Tea experience or to give to a friend to have their own! You can bake your own delicious scones and fill them with strawberry jam and cream, nibble on scrumptious chocolate biscuits and handmade fudge, and make your own pot of Twinings Afternoon Tea, all for under £30. It's a fab way to join in the Great British Tea Craze, and share with friends, family and colleagues too...

If you're an Afternoon Tea fanatic, and love popping to your local café to enjoy some traditional tea and scones, let us know what your favourite places to go are via Facebook, Twitter or the comment box below - we'd love to know!





Tuesday, 14 August 2012

WELL DONE TEAM GB!

TEAM GB!
So... The Olympics has sadly come to an end, but what an incredible experience it has been - we've done a BRILLIANT job hosting the event here in London... The Great Britain Team have won a whopping 65 medals, 29 of those being Gold - what an incredible acheivement? AND our very own national heroes have set both Olympic and World Records. Our newspapers, magazines and radio shows have been filled non-stop with awe inspiring articles and interviews with our nations Team GB - it's been wonderful to have such talented people take the centre stage! Bring on Rio 2016...


Monday, 30 July 2012

The Benefits of Aromatherapy on your Body...

 
We recently posted about our new range of Aromatherapy Gift Baskets; created so you can indulge yourself with gorgeous Essential oils to soothe, relax and relieve your body and mind. But what exactly are the benefits of Aromatherapy and how can it affect your lifestyle, and what particular oils work best?



Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years as a natural medicine for both the mind and the body and has been clinically proven to improve and help with...
 
-         Boosting your immune system
-         Helping you to relax by easing your mind & body providing stress & anxiety relief
-         Insomnia
-         To regulate hormones (e.g. during the menopause)
-         To relieve menstrual cramps
-         Decreasing congestion
-         Killing fungal & bacterial infections
-         Increasing blood circulation 

But how exactly do the Essential Oils work?
 
The beautiful aromas from the oils help to release endorphins, instantly making your body and mental stale feel relaxed and calmer. It's sort of the same way you feel when you eat a gorgeous chocolate bar... Instantly happier! The body also absorbs the oils into the skin and blood stream, meaning massaging your body with essential oils instantly reaps therapeutic benefits! You know the feeling of massaging your chest with Tiger Balm when you’ve got a horrible cold, and you sinuses are relieved? That’s the magic of Aromatherapy!

There are particular oils which benefit different bodily functions – so we've complied a list of 10 Essential oils for you to refer to!
 
1)  Lavender is considered to be the most popular; and is most commonly used as a sedative, antiseptic, diuretic and can also soothe sores, burns and wounds. Lavender is considered effective for insomnia, with the oil being traditionally placed on the pillow before bed to ease sleep.

2)  Chamomile has antiseptic, antibacterial and digestive properties, and can be used to relax with its sweet and fruity aroma.

3)  Eucalyptus has anti-inflmmatory properties and has benefited asthma and bronchitis, and can relieve both muscular and rheumatic pains.

4)  Rose has both antidepressant and antispasmodic properties, and is perfect for uplifting a mood with its warm and sensual aroma.

5)  Jasmine can be beneficial for dry and sensitive skin, and with its floral scent it is considered to be rejuvenating and uplifting.

6)  Rosemary is often used in products for hair loss, as it is believed to stimulate hair growth.

7)  Sandalwood is used frequently in Asia, and is popular for the practice of meditation with its relaxing and therapeutic aroma. It can also be used for skin disorders and cystitis.

8)  Peppermint  is good for inflammation - with its cooling aroma it can numb uncomfortable muscular pain.

9)  Frankincense has healing properties that are great for wounds, blemishes, scars and dry skin.

10) Oregano can be used for increasing joint and muscle flexibility, and is believed to strengthen the immune system and improve digestive problems.


Although Aromatherapy is essentially a safe practice, there is of course the risk of allergic reaction to the oils as they are highly concentrated products that particular skin types may react negatively to. If the doseage used is too high, it may cause irritation, burns, nausea or headaches – so remember to use only the amount subscribed. Pregnant women should avoid using essential oils, as it can be a danger to both you and your unborn baby – for further information visit http://www.essentialoils.co.za/pregnancy.htm, where this is explained in thorough detail for those who are unaware of the risks.


Be sure to check out our Aromatherapy products at Smart Gift Solutions, where we have a range of Essential oils and Aromatherapy Gift Baskets for every woman to indulge with! If you are still unsure about the practice of Aromatherapy, or you wish to find out what other oils you can use, you can purchase our Aromatherapy Guide Book by Christine Westwood to discover more!

Tuesday, 24 July 2012

Aromatherapy Gift Baskets


Here at Smart Gift Solutions, we have designed a beautiful new range of Aromatherapy Gift Baskets, filled with gorgeous products for you to indulge yourself with. We love to use Essential Oils on our skin to help us relax and to ease our daily stresses; so we’ve provided you with a variety of luxury sets that mean you can do the same!

Do you spend the majority of the day on your feet, and come home with aching muscles and sore ankles? Well, we’ve created a unique pampering treat to make your soles feel brand new again! Our Wellbeing for Feet Gift Basket, for £29.95, includes a stylish portable foot massager suitable for your handbag, 100% natural Peppermint foot gel to freshen and revive after a day trapped in shoes and socks, and Reflexology Massage Socks to guide you through a relaxing foot massage! We've also included 4 scented tea candles to light around a bubble bath and an Organza drawstring bag filled with Bath Potion (200g) with aromas of Lavender, Orange and Sweet Basil to relieve your stresses! It's the perfect way to unwind, so if you know someone who is run off their feet lately... our Gift Set won't go unappreciated!

Perhaps it's your back that causes you pain when you get home... does it feel tense and sore? Our gorgeous Feel Good Gift Basket is filled with several different Essential Oils to help relieve your muscular pain after a stressful day! For £31.95, included are Feel Good Bath Salts with the gorgeous aroma of Orange Flower, a wooden body massager to increase circulation and relieve tension and 4 scented tealight candles. There is also 3 Essential Oils; a bottle of Massage and Bath Oil with aromas of Lavender, Fennel and Peppermint, a bottle of Sweet Almond Base Oil which is to dilute the Lavender Pure Essential Oil. Perfect for showing her you care, or as a luxurious Birthday Treat, the Feel Good basket is bound to make her feel good as knew!

If it's been a stressful week, and you need a whole weekend to pamper and relax to restore yourself, our deluxe Tranquil Dawn Gift Basket is bursting with everything a woman needs... Included for under £45, is a handmade Lavender Wheat filled bag which can be heated and used to soothe aches and pains, a delicious Bomb Cosmetics Sweet Cherry Pie Bath Blaster, a calming Tranquil Dawn CD by Llewellyn to transport you away from the stresses of daily life and a lilac eye gel mask to soothe your tired eyes... For the many more delightful treats included in our luxury gift basket, head over to our website. It's the perfect way to show a loved one you appreciate their hard work, and suits all occasions including Anniversaries, Birthdays and Thank Yous!

Later on this week we'll be posting about the benefits of Aromatherapy and what aromas work best, so stay tuned to find out how your life can be improved by the simple aromas of Essential Oils!  

Feel free to comment via our Facebook, Twitter or Blog on your views on Aromatherapy - do you swear by it? If so, what are your secrets, what works best for you?


Wednesday, 18 July 2012


There's nothing better than hearing from our customers :-) We love your feedback and all your lovely comments. We especially love all your comments on Facebook when we run competitions.  Here's a few of our favourites when we asked how you were coping with the prolonged rain ...




- "Splashing in puddles with Charlie and the dog!"

- "Enjoying showing off my new wellies and a great excuse for a fab new brolly!"

- " We are spending our time clearing out stuff in the house to make some extra cash and waiting for our caterpillars to turn into butterflies."

- "I've bought a huge umbrella that looks like a palm tree so every time it rains I can be safe in my own little palm tree Island!"

- "All you need is a good set of waterproofs and the fun you can have in the rain is limitless!  

Friday, 13 July 2012

It’s easy to ignore cows, or at least to forget how important they are to our food chain. Cow Appreciation Day sets out to change all of that, and to remind you just how integral cows are to our daily life, so... Happy Cow Appreciation Day!



Just for you here's a poem we like very much about the wonderful creature that is a cow...



The friendly cow all red and white, I love with all my heart:
She gives me cream with all her might,
To eat with apple-tart.

She wanders lowing here and there,
And yet she cannot stray,
All in the pleasant open air,
The pleasant light of day;

And blown by all the winds that pass
And wet with all the showers,
She walks among the meadow grass
And eats the meadow flowers.
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Friday, 29 June 2012

This Months Featured Supplier - Scottish Fine Soaps...



You may have recently seen our latest addition to Smart Gift Solutions - the 'Featured Supplier' button, which means you can check out the latest supplier we're loving... and this month, it's the fantastic Scottish Fine Soaps gifts!


With gifts for both Men and Women that suit any occasion - including pampering gifts for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Mother's Day, Father's Day or even to treat yourself, Scottish Fine Soaps are a brand that supply classic, luxurious products that not only make you feel beautiful but look beautiful too!

One of our favourite pampering gifts here at Smart Gifts is the Arboria Pampering Jute Bag for £24.85, which oozes delicate blossom fragrances to soothe and nourish your skin. Included in the gift selection is Arboria Hand and Nail Cream (100g), Arboria Hand Wash (350ml) and an Arboria Triple Milled Soap filled wtih cocoa butter and almond oil, perfect for sensitive skin. Packaged with classic tissue paper in a reusable bag, its a gift that is sure to please! 


Here at Smart Gift, we also stock Scottish Fine Soaps 'Honey B' collection, enriched with Vitamins A and E to restore your skins complexion and have you feeling fresh and rejuvenated! A particularly fabulous product is the Honey B Creme Handwash, that comes in a brilliantly designed bottle and is filled with moisturising Shea Butter to make your hands a pleasure to hold!

Don't forget to check out the other fantastic Scottish Fine Soaps we stock here at Smart Gifts... we're sure there'll be something that catches your eye!




Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Pamper Yourself This Summertime...



Sunny Days 

The wonderful Diamond Jubilee celebrations are coming to an end, and although the weather hasn't been fantastic - it seemed to rain at all the right moments! Hopefully the Sun will return for the London 2012 Olympics... Let us know via FacebookTwitter or in the comment box below how you celebrated the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend... Was anybody lucky enough to attend the Jubilee Concert, or take part in a Street Party?

So... although the weather may not shout 'Summer here I come...' we thought it appropriate to bring out a fabulous new range of gifts for women as Summer is now here, and we all know you'd love to be pampered! Created for you are 4 splendid new Pampering gifts, in our new Summer Time luxury range for women, perfect for indulging with this season...

Featured to the left is the first of our range, our deluxe 'Sunny Days' gift set priced at £39.50, filled with gorgeous products in a delightfully mellow yellow theme, to calm and relax and simply make you feel good after a hard day's work of sunbathing! Included is a gorgeous Lemongrass candle and soothing Lemon Verbena Bath Salts in a traditional bottle tied with velvet ribbon for that added luxurious touch! The jute bag is reusable too, meaning you can store the products afterwards, to take them away on holiday with the rest of your beauty products...

Lazy Days
Or, why not remind her of the fabulous city of Paris through our second deluxe gift set 'Lazy Days' - to forget all troubles and wind down with, perhaps with a glass of champagne! Both the luxurious soap bar and bath salts are packaged with a gorgeous velvet bow, for a special added touch!

Say It With Flowers
As you may already know, we've recently posted about our fabulous 'Say It With Flowers - Grow Me' gift, which you can send to a loved one to grow their own flower to remind themselves of you! Well... we've now created this beautiful gift set 'Say It With Flowers' for £28.50, so you can remind her that you care! Filled with Jasmine and Mandarin Bath Salts and quality soap by Bath House, she can pamper herself with the finest smells! 

Country Market 
Our final gift selection is our wonderfully romantic Country Market Jute Bag, priced at £28.75, and filled with gorgeous pampering treats - including crème brûlée lip balm, to make her lips deliciously kissable! in a loving red gingham theme, perfect for all occasions including Valentine's Day, Anniversaries or even just to let her know you care! 

Monday, 28 May 2012

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations!


We can't believe we're nearing to June... where have the past few months gone? It only feels like yesterday that we were sending Christmas treats to customers all over the world! It's madness, like the unusual English weather we've been receiving for the past few days... but we're not complaining!


With June on it's way, the celebrations will soon begin for The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - and we're more than excited to embrace the fabulous events that will be happening all over the UK! Including the BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace that we wish we were attending... did anyone else swoon over Gary Barlow discussing it on Graham Norton a few weeks ago?
Street parties will commence all over the UK on Sunday 3rd, and if you're getting involved, why don't you take along our Great British Tea and Scones Gift Set to share with your local neighbours or family and friends? It's designed with the Union Jack Flag and filled with delicious English treats, including quintessentially English Twinings Tea and Handmade Chocolate Fudge! It is the perfect way to start the celebrations for The Queen's 60th year in reign, and for under £30 it is affordable too! 

We also sell the Great British Afternoon Tea Jute Bag featured to the left, which includes a Union Jack designed mug, perfect for drinking your English Tea from this weekend! This too is priced at under £30, and includes Twinings and Elegant English biscuits to snack on with family and friends... it's the perfect celebratory gift to give to loved ones, or to bring along to celebrations too! 

If you want the chance to win some Diamond Jubilee inspired goodies, you can visit our Facebook page over the following week where we will be giving away 3 gifts for you! All you have to do for your chance to win, is simply Like and Share our 'Giveaway Status'... so like and share away and we could be sending a gift out to you that will be perfect for celebrating with this Jubilee Weekend!

We recently created a Pinterest page dedicated to inspiring our Smart Gift followers with ideas on how to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee too! Check it out for inspiration , including ways you could design Jubilee cupcakes! We'll be adding to it throughout the week too...

Let us know via Facebook, Twitter or in the comment box below how you'll be celebrating, we'd love to here how you'll be joining in! 

Thursday, 10 May 2012

Cupcakes and Cookies!

Mel & Sue
Did anybody watch The Great British Bake Off show last year, presented by the fabulous pair Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins? We certainly did, and what a fantastic show it was! I don't know about you, but I just love watching people cook (even if it's badly...), especially delicious cakes - and this programme showed some of the most gorgeous recipes live on air! So, we were thrilled to hear last month that it will be returning to our screens later this year... 

Only £3.50

If you want to get involved in the Summer festive season, and bake some delightful cakes to give to friends, family and colleagues at work - at Smart Gift Solutions we sell a fantastic little book published by Women's Weekly called 'Cupcakes & Cookies', which we sell for a wonderfully affordable £3.50! It's filled with 70 mouthwatering recipes, catered to large groups so you can bake for dinner parties, birthdays or even a box of Get Well cupcakes to cheer somebody up!



Yesterday we blogged about The  Christchurch Festival, where last year's winner of The Great British Bake Off, Jo Wheatley, is hosting the Bake Off! So if you're in the area on Saturday 18th May, head down to Christchurch in Dorset to see her! (Starts at 10am).



Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Christchurch Food & Wine Festival

A few days ago, we blogged about Torquay Food and Arts Festivalwhich was held last weekend to bring the best produce to both local citizens and visitors in Devon. This week we have another fantastic festival to talk to you about... The Christchurch Food & Wine Festival in Dorset, running from the 11th to the 20th of May - plenty of time to discover the 150 events that are taking place during the course of the week! Click here for a day to day list of the events which are being held at the Festival, for you to plan which ones to visit. 

The Christchurch Festival was initially created as a celebration for the Millennium, but after it's huge success it gradually evolved into an annual event, now celebrating it's13th year! With 60,000 visitors flocking to the Festival, which boasts celebrity chefs, International stalls, and free cooking demonstrations - it is no wonder it is considered one of the best Food Festivals in the UK! You can read more about the Festival here, where you're bound to find something you can enjoy...

Many of the events are free of charge and for affordable prices you can book tickets to see Musicals, wine and dine in fantastic restaurants with a selection of incredible food... you can even experience a Cheese and Wine lunch - which we'd be dying to try! As you may already know we have a love for Cheese and Wine here at Smart Gift Solutions. If you're not aware, check out our article all about it!

During the Festival, on the 19th of May,  The Great Christchurch Bake Day event will take place too, which you can get involved in by applying through the website! If you're thinking about applying, why don't you buy yourself a Baking File from our website to write your ideas down?

Don't forget to keep checking back to our blog, to discover what other Festivals are coming up this summer - as we're not limiting ourselves to certain parts of the UK... there is bound to be one near you! 

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Food and Drink Festivals

Here at Smart Gift Solutions, we enjoy hearing about the latest Food and Drink festivals that are happening around the UK... from Cheese and Wine to Beer celebrations, there is a festival to entertain and attract anyone! 

So, to keep you updated with the latest festivals this Summer season, we will provide you with regular blog posts about 2012 Food and Drink Festivals... Here you will find the best places to be, and how to get involved - and they won't be restricted to certain parts of the UK, you'll be bound to be near one or two! We'll even provide you with our latest hampers to join each festive celebration - so if you can't make a festival, you can celebrate at home!

To begin the Festival celebrations, you can head down to West England, for the Torquay Food and Arts Festival in Devon! Starting this Friday (the 4th) for a two-day feast of the finest foods, to celebrate one of the most "beautiful and productive landscapes in the UK", you can view some wonderful arts and crafts, and a range of producers of the best food! You'll be able to enjoy a hog roast from Poole Farm Pork, or to sample beautifully made local cider...

Don't forget to keep checking back to our blog to discover the next Festival you can check out! You can contact us via Facebook, Twitter or in the comment box below to tell us what Festivals you'll be visiting, and if you'll be at the Torquay Food and Arts Festival - like we wish we were!


If you're unable to start of the Summer season at Torquay, why don't you check out our Essentially English Hamper that will help you start of the celebrations of 2012 summer in your own home. Although it does not contain a Taste of the West... it is quintessentially English!


Wednesday, 2 May 2012

Pin To Win With Pinterest!

The new online community of Pinterest is a place where you can share pictures of things you love on your very own Pinboards - it's the ultimate scrapbook! You can visit our Pinterest page to see our boards, including What Inspires Us!

Through this brilliant website, Smart Gift Solutions are running a new competition which gives you the opportunity to win ANY gift you love from our Pinboards... All you have to do is simply pin the gift you love to your own Pinboard, and one lucky winner will be announced every fortnight!

To be involved in the competition, you must have an account with Pinterest - though it doesn't take long to sign up and get involved! So Get Pinning for the chance to win... Good Luck!

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Add Adorable Elmo to a Sesame Street Fan's Collection!

As you may already know, last week saw the UK release of 'Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey', the incredible story of the Kevin Clash - the voice behind Sesame Street's adored monster! You can check out the trailer here, if you haven't already seen it, to discover more about this fantastic film... It's one children and adults of all ages should see!

At Smart Gift Solutions, although we can't provide you with the real deal Elmo... you can buy your very own gorgeous teddy version, to give to friend's colleagues or family members that are fans of the legendary show! Or you can even keep it for yourself... Priced at £17.95, its the perfect affordable gift for a young girl or boy on their birthday, or as a quirky present for a colleague at work that you know secretly loves Sesame Street! 

If you've seen 'Being Elmo', let us know via Facebook, Twitter or in the comment box below - we'd be interested to know what you thought!