The economic recession causes many families to cut back on their spending, Personal Presents, the leading providers of personalised gifts online, are finding light at the end of the tunnel, after many parents are finding it the ideal time to teach their children about financial responsibility.

Encouraging children UK-wide to save their pocket money for a rainy day or to encourage saving for a special purchase or spending money for a forthcoming summer break, the beautiful piggy banks available from the Buckinghamshire based firm have grown in popularity, especially with parents who are keen to encourage saving in their offspring in order to prepare themselves for periods of financial difficulty.

Mr Hertel, from the firm who offer christening gifts, personalised anniversary gifts and even birthplates, said, “Our personalised piggy banks are fantastic for teaching children how to save and what better time than during the downturn!"

Offering bespoke designs to cater to all tastes, Personalised Presents offer football and rugby ball shapes to suit those sports enthusiasts, distinctive zodiac signs for the astrologically inclined, piggy banks for traditionalists, bible shaped piggy banks ideal for christening and communions, teddy bear shaped banks for bear lovers and even toadstool or mushroom banks complete with fairies and pixies for the whimsical!

Due to significant increases in raw material and manufacturing costs for a large proportion of our wood-based 'nursery' products, we are forced to make significant price increases from 1st JULY 2009

The products involved are the complete range of Nursery Accessories - Ark, Bedtime Angel, Elliephant, Farmer, Footballer, Honey Bear, Lovebear and Train Designs - including the 3D Coatpegs and Door Plaques.

In addition, a large number of the Jigsaw Names and Puzzles will also be effected, including the popular Caterpillar Puzzle along with the Character Name Jigsaws and the 40pc Jigsaws.

The new prices will come into effect from 6.00pm on Tuesday 30th June, so if you are interested in these products and wish to avoid these large prices increases, PLEASE PLACE YOUR ORDER BY 5.30pm ON 30th JUNE.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the price increases, but we have been unable to convince the manufacturer to keep their wholesale prices down in order to make them affordable to the average family during these difficult economic times.

Indeed, some of the increases are so severe, it is probable that we will no longer sell some of the really expensive items.

Conveying the traditional message of love and best wishes, today’s baby shower is a world apart from the original showers dating back to the ancient cultures of the Romans and Egyptians.  Fashionable sitcoms like ‘Sex and The City’ and ‘Friends’ have really boosted the popularity of the baby shower during the 90’s, and rebranded as a stylish yet  sophisticated affair giving ‘yummy mummy’s’ the chance to celebrate the birth of their new arrival.  

Now Personal Presents, the the specialist online retailer of personalised gifts, is offering tips to those in charge of the mum-to-be’s celebratory bash.

With an increase in mothers who return to work after giving birth and for single mums who support their children almost entirely, comes a trend for a shower that is akin to an engagement party or wedding on the scale of grandeur.

Jennie Matthews, from the firm who offer christening gifts, personalised anniversary gifts and even birthplates, said, “It is most common to hold a baby shower during the last trimester, when complications are usually out of the way.  Many mothers begin to get fed up, and impatient, during the last few weeks of the pregnancy and holding a baby shower can really take their mind off the frustration and keep them focused on something extremely positive.  Holding a baby shower is also a great way to show the mum-to-be that you are all behind her and ready to offer a helping hand.”

It is acceptable for budding party organisers who are reluctant to pay for the whole soiree, to ask guests to all chip in some money towards food, decorations and drinks, but you should make sure that you create a budget plan way in advance to make sure that essential items are catered for.  Any budget should take into account the cake, decorations, food, napkins, invitations, stamps and going home goody bags containing a favour for each guest.

For the organiser looking for a truly unique gift for the mother to be, Personal Presents offer everything to make a baby shower a success.  Offering baby birth charts, offering an interesting and often amusing summary of information relating to the little ones birth date including news, entertainment and sports snippets from the date the child was born, ideal for those who would prefer to hang on until after the birth before buying a gift.

Alternatively, for the gift giver who likes to be prepared, the Sleepy Bear Memory Plate is ideal.  This bone China plate comes rimmed with a design suitable for a Christening, naming ceremony or shower and comes complete with a pen so that your guests and friends can write their special messages and best wishes to finish it off nicely.  Once these messages have been written, the details can then be "fired on" in your home oven at 170c, to make them a permanent fixture.

Measuring 22cm in diameter, each plate is personalised with the name of the child and two lines of text.  It is also possible to select either pink, teal or blue for your background colour, adding to the bespoke nature of this gift.

Ms Matthews from the Buckinghamshire based firm who specialise in baby shower and christening gifts, which are bespoke in nature, added, “Here at Personal presents, we even offer an invitation service, producing bespoke invitations in quantities of 12.  Organisers can send us a drawing or photo and we can produce something personal and tailored to suit the event they have in mind.”

Considered by many as a keepsake to mark someone’s rite of passage, Christening gifts have been given for thousands of years as a token of love and best wishes for the path ahead. Now Phil Hertel from Personal Presents, the specialist online retailer of personalised gifts, is keen to keep the tradition alive with a new take on this traditional favourite...

Christianity took on many of the customs practiced by those in pre-Christian Europe including Easter and Christmas. It was thought that by doing so it would make this forward-thinking religion more acceptable to those in the pagan community.  Gift giving began as a ritual practiced by the pagans, which was then superseded by Christianity to coincide with the gifts given to baby Jesus in the form of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.  Today, Christening gifts have taken on a new lease of life, and swapping Gold for Silver, today’s tokens of love and affection tend to be of a plated nature.

Mr Hertel, from the firm who offer christening gifts, personalised anniversary gifts and specially birthplates, said, “The tradition of giving silver plated gifts came originally from the age old saying ‘he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth’, considered to be setting someone up for a wealthy life, the Apostle Spoon has long been a token of prosperity and a favourite with gift-givers everywhere.  Christening gifts in the 21^st century are constantly evolving and this is why it is much more common for newborns to receive China, candles, or gifts made from pewter.”

The Stork Tankard, available from Personal Presents, is the ideal gift in Pewter, as it offers the receiver something that he or she can treasure into later life.  Priced at just £22.99, this is a beautiful gift that will certainly not have a huge impact on the pocket.

For gift-givers looking for something quirky, the Zodiac Tiles Range gives an interesting take on the traditional Christening keepsake. This exclusive item was designed specially for Personal Presents in England and is a great way to preserve those important birth details along with the basic data for your Aquarius child. 

Mr Hertel added, “This is a truly unique product and is hugely successful partly down to the attention to detail this superb item has to offer.  Each of the illustrations on the tile is carefully hand coloured, making each one unique. The baby`s birth details are expertly hand-personalised in 22ct liquid gold, and all that has to be specified by the customer is the star sign and birth details."

Developed in 1760 by John Spilsbury, a London mapmaker and engraver, the jigsaw puzzle is still praised in the development of brain function and hand eye coordination in younger children.  Here Phil Hertel from Personal Presents, tells us why parents should take time out to engage with their youngsters on an educational platform.

Actively working to improve several functions of the brain simultaneously, children who do jigsaws on a regular basis develop the ability to reason, analyze, develop logical thought and problem solving skills, quicker than children who are left with toys lacking in stimulation.

Mr Hertel, managing director of the firm who offer christening gifts, personalised anniversary gifts and even birthplates, said, “In today’s society, most toys are mass produced and are based on the latest film or celebrity- earlier this week there were even reports of a ‘Susan Boyle’ doll being created!  From our experiences of talking to parents, many of them seem to miss toys that are both educational and personal, which is why we began to create a unique line of name jigsaws, to cater for this gap in the market.”

Offering jigsaws to suit all ages and learning stages, Personal Presents have jigsaws to better suit boys or girls, and there is even a 252-piece jigsaw suitable for Grannies and Granddads!  A staple of the forward-thinking range is the character name puzzle, a custom-made name puzzle that is the ideal learning companion for any child learning to spell their name before starting nursery or primary school.

Mr Hertel, from the south Buckinghamshire based firm, who offer personalised gifts to an online market added, “Giving your child a head start when it comes to learning is a priority for most parents, but the problem is that many of them succumb to their child’s requests for the latest computer game, which can often restrict interaction and development.  We have had extremely positive feedback from the parents who have purchased our puzzles, especially as they are tailor made to include your child’s name.”

Other unique additions to the range now include, the Bus Puzzle, the Photo Puzzle, an ideal gift for family members, the Caterpillar Name Puzzle and the England Supporters Puzzle- A footie fans must have item!

Mr Hertel added, “Jigsaws are a great pastime for people of all ages, and a traditional toy that has stood the test of time.  I would encourage anyone interested in any of our puzzles to visit our website at www.personalpresents.co.uk, or contact us on +44 (0) 1753 783370 and we will be very happy to help.”

At last parents are encouraging their youngsters to play with their food (well sort of!), after the launch of The Magic Custard Kits from Personal Presents, allowing every parent to preserve their child’s innocence and measurements forever.

Taking personalised gifts to the very next level, The Magic Custard Kits are a safe to use do-it-yourself kit that allows you to cast an exact copy of your child`s hand or foot in plaster, making a great keepsake for when your little cherubs grow up and have families of their own.

Mr Hertel, managing director of the firm who offer christening gifts, personalised anniversary gifts and birthplates, said, “The Magic Custard Kits are great, they are proving to be extremely popular with first time parents as well as with parents who have had children previously. Photos and video are certainly a great way to record the past, but nothing compares to an actual cast.  What’s more, the casts created are reallly artistic and make great ornaments or gifts for proud grandparents or aunts & uncles.”

Each kit contains mould powder, casting powder and a pot of paint, plus a detailed step-by-step guide of how to make your cast.

23-year-old Lisa Wilkinson from Nottingham received a casting kit for her first born earlier this year, she said, “When I had my first baby, Callum, we got so many beautiful gifts.  Relatives got us everything from clothes to toys, but it was great to receive something a little bit different.  These casting kits are great and we loved the thought of copying our little boy's hand and footprints. I would certainly recommend them to friends and family who have young children.”

Mr Hertel from the firm who also offer godparents gifts and nursery accessories, added, “Each kit includes enough material to make several baby casts of a baby from 0-6 months of age, or enough material to create an exact replica of an adult's hand - Madam Tussauds eat your heart out!”

For customers really interested in this process, Personal Presents also offer a selection of similar products, including their ‘Precious Prints’ product.  Taking an alternative angle on hand and footprint preservation, these novel kits come complete with full instructions, a child-safe paint pad and all the self-adhesive letters you`ll need to add your baby`s name and date of birth, making for a truly personal piece of artwork. 

Mrs Quinn Smith recently purchased these kits for both of her children, she said, “I have put them up in their bedrooms for them and everyone who has seen them has commented on how wonderful they are. They are a fantastic gift for a parent to receive and am now going to purchase another one for my niece who has just had a baby girl today!!!”

Today the candle is a staple of any family home, used to create a mood, reflect that homely feel or used purely for decorative purposes, but where did the fascination with one of the world’s most popular gifts first begin and where will it end? Phil Hertel from the specialist online retailer of personalised gifts, Personal Presents, sees the future of the candle taking on more of a creative edge and personal message - here he explains why...

Taken from the Latin term meaning ‘torch’ or ‘to make bright’ the candle dates back as far as 3000 BC to the time of the Egyptians.  These first beeswax candles were often accompanied by rush lights, or torches, which were a slightly different variation of the traditional candle, made by soaking reeds in molten tallow.  Later variations of the gift included candles made from whale fat developed by the Chinese during the Oin Dynasty, burning an oily fish, known as the  ‘candlefish’ on a forked stick and even those made from rendered animal fat.

Thankfully, today the candle making process takes on a much more environmentally friendly edge consisting of paraffin, or in some cases beeswax, soy and other natural waxes. Today’s candles will often take on an entirely new design, shape or in some cases a personalised edge.

Mr Hertel, managing director of the firm who offer christening gifts, personalised anniversary gifts and even birthplates, said, “We are finding that candles are still extremely popular, but in my opinion the candle of 2009 has to be personalised in nature.  Personalised gifts, have become something of a rarity in recent years, making them even more desirable.

“Most of the candles we sell are designed to commemorate the birth of a baby, or a Christening, but we do have candles that can be given as gifts from the little ones to their grandparents and family friends at Christmas and Easter.  We offer a bespoke service that allows the customer to add whichever name they choose, colour scheme and dependant on which candle you select, you can even add a special message to mark any occasion on your chosen candle.”

With prices starting from as little as £9.99 for some designs, there really is no excuse for not allowing the candle tradition to live on well into the next decade- so what are you waiting for?

Personal Presents the specialist online retailer of personalised gifts, have launched a brand new range of products which are being dubbed by the experts as ‘childhood innovation at its very best’.

The new lines have been named ‘Fabulous Fairys’ and ‘Fabulous Footballers’, and are a unique way to ‘capture the moment’ - whether that be a birthday or social occasion. These detailed canvas prints are bespoke to order and can feature any special occasions in additional to the usual birth, christening or naming occasions we cater for.

Finished with acrylic paint, glitter and jewels as appropriate, each canvas is then hand-stretched over a 38mm stretcher bar and delivered ready to hang.

Phil Hertel, managing director of the firm who offer everything from christening gifts to personalised anniversary gifts, said, “It is becoming increasingly difficult to find something special for the younger relative, and the new ‘Fabulous Fairys’ and ‘Fabulous Footballers’ range encapsulate what it means to be young. Their bright designs and decoration make sure that these personalised presents are something which can be enjoyed by youngsters but also valued as a keepsake for later on in life.”

These canvas prints also allow the customer to choose from a selection of four different fairys or footballers in various colours to represent a certain team or colour preference. 

With celebrities everywhere opting for bright canvas prints for their youngsters, it seems that artful inspiration is set to become a big thing in childhood decoration and something set to stay well into 2010.

Mr Hertel, from the Buckinghamshire based firm who also offer godparents gifts, newborn gifts and name jigsaws, added, “This product has had a very warm reception from our customers so far and we are keen to see this success continue.  It is an ideal choice for youngsters between the ages of three and ten, and as many will already know, buying for these age groups can be difficult. 

“I have lost count of the times I hear stories about children being bought toys, only to find the box more exciting and these canvas prints can be kept into adulthood as a memory of times once passed.”

Presents with a bespoke blend of personalisation and flair have long been a thing of the past, commercial brands have saturated the market with gifts that are mass-produced, cheaply made and lack that creative edge.  Now South Buckinghamshire based firm, Personal Presents are surviving the credit crunch by a brand new highly tuned and targeted marketing strategy, bucking aimed at bringing personalised presents to gift givers everywhere.

Phil Hertel, managing director of the firm who offer everything from christening gifts to personalised anniversary gifts, said, "There is a huge gap in the market for good honest products that encapsulate the excitement of receiving something original and hand-made, and since the credit crunch hit we have employed new methods aimed at surviving these hard times.  These new methods include the implementation of a brand new online marketing strategy overseen by Top Position, the search engine optimization specialists, and by expanding our existing product line." 

Whilst High Street chains such as Argos, Woolworths, Adams and Barratts are axing jobs or closing their doors permanently, firms such as Personal Presents are paving the way for stores offering individual items, which is a godsend for both shoppers and the economy more widely.

Between December and February this year, sales figures for the UK, were down 1.4 per-cent, but according to Mr Hertel, this is because companies are failing to reach the expectations of the 2009 consumer and failing to reach those who matter.

Mr Hertel added, "With decreased job security and lack of public spending, stores need to be upping their game, to create something worthy of the money, and I think that this is where Personal Presents really comes in to its own."

The firm opened its doors back in 1995, offering products for every occasion, and after taking on board the expertise of Jennie Matthews, the firms co owner and director, who previously worked at the Heinz Baby Club, it was found that card shops and gift shops often fail to offer godparents gifts, nursery accessories and birthplates. 

Mr Hertel from the firm who are fighting hard to stay in business, added, "Most of our business is conducted online, and we are finding that we are getting more custom from overseas consumers, in particular from Canada, Japan, Sweden and South Africa.  Our site has amazed us all and we are now receiving over 300,000 hits to the site every month from people looking for personalised gifts with a difference." 

Favourites gifts of 2009 so far, include, their Magic Custard Casting Kit, which allows you to cast an exact copy of your child's hands or feet in plaster, their Godparent candles, and their Christening Bootees, all aimed at inducing an emotional reaction from anyone lucky enough to receive one! 

For more information on the bespoke products offered by Personal Presents, visit their website at www.personalpresents.co.uk

A great new customer information and product news feature page is being launched on 1st April 2009

We will be endeavouring to cover a wide range of topics and information for our customers, potential customers - and those of you who are simply browsing!

Examples will be new product development, personalised product news, features on how to make the most of the personalised products that we have on offer - and some customer feedback on popular product ranges that may have escaped your attention to date.

If you have any particular area of interest, or suggestions on features, then please let us know via email

Editor, Personal Presents

The new brochure is now available. It's being sent automatically to all of our customers who have placed an order in the last couple of years, and to anyone who requests a brochure from our website.

We have some new product designs specially for Easter, along with a brand new range of "Fabulous Footballer (for the boys) & Fairy (for the girls)" prints that we think are fantastic; they can be bought framed or unframed, and personalised for births, christenings or any other special occasion.

The new products will be uploaded to our website over the course of this week - so apologies if you receive the brochure and want to order online before we get this job done! In the meantime, you can of course place an order over the phone.

We've just introduced a facility for customers to add their comments about the products that they've purchased from us - to help any potential customers reach a purchasing decision.

The comments area can be found at the bottom of each product page - please have a go!!

We have now launched an "International Delivery" option to our website. PLEASE NOTE: not all products are avilable for delivery abroad - you will not be able to add these to your Shopping Cart.

You will find that the delivery costs for multiple product orders can be quite high due to the fact that the goods are usually individually despatched from different manufacturers. We would therefore advise that you contact us by email (infor@personalpresents.co.uk) for a special quote in these circumstances.

Inevitably there will be some glitches remaining in the system, so thanks in advance for your patience.

A staggering 12% of the UK's households change address each year!

If you've changed address since placing your last order and would like to keep receiving our brochures, then please advise us when you place a new order (or request a brochure) so that we can stop sending brochures to the old address as well as helping the environment!!!.