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We will be mailing our next brochure towards the end of February. Anyone who has placed an order with us within the last 30 months will get it automatically - unless you have requested not to receive it.

Anyone making a brochure request who hasn't placed an order will be added to the mailing list.

We will also make the new brochure available as a download as soon as possible.

For the past 10 days we have been experiencing problems with our automated outbound emails confirming your order details.

We are still endeavouring to resolve the problem, but it's very likely that it will persist for some weeks to come.

During this period, please ensure to double-check all the details that you input, and print off a copy of your order at the end of the buying process.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Most of the Christmas deadlines have now passed. However, there are still a few items that can be ordered & despatched before Saturday 17th December.

Diaries, Record Books, Mouse-Mats, Paperweights, Keyrings, Fridge Magnets and Name Meaning & Birth Date Charts are all items that can still be delivered in time.

Lots of items can still be ordered for pre-Christmas delivery until the end of this week. Check individual products or categories to get final deadlines.

All of our personalised items (with the exception of the Delft birthplate & tile) can be ordered for pre-Christmas delivery up to 30th November.

Over the next week we will be updating the individual product categories and sub-categories with specific deadlines for items in the relevant groups.

This year we have found several new bauble designs to freshen up the look of your tree at Christmas. We particularly like the simplicity & colours of the Name Baubles (code 980110).

There's also a new tree decoration idea: wooden heart (290411) or tree (290410) shaped pendants that are hand-painted and decorated with your special messages.

As ever, there are some nice new little gift ideas for Grannys & Grandads too. Photoframes, cups & saucers or vases.

On Friday 14th October orders processed on the following date ranges have been confirmed as despatched by Airmail from Holland:

25th July - 9th August

16th August - 31st August

Items will usually arrive at UK addresses by Wednesday or Thursday this week.

Now that the backlog of orders has been cleared, and turnaround time for Delft items has returned to within the usual 6-10 weeks we ask customers to allow as standard practice, we will no longer publish the despatch details on our Latest News page.

Thank you one final time to all those customers who endured a substantial delay in the delivery of their orders. Your patience and understanding of circumstances outside of our control has been appreciated.

Jennie Matthews & Phil Hertel - Directors

Last Friday, 7th October, Orders processed on the following date ranges were despatched by Airmail from Holland:

19th July - 2nd August 2011

10th August - 15th August 2011

These plates will usually arrive by Wednesday to UK delivery addresses.

This means that the factory is fast approaching a return to the 6-8 week turnaround time that we would normally expect for the Delft items.

Thankyou once again to all our customers who have been so patient waiting for their plates & tiles - many of whom have been kind enough to advise that it was well worth it, as the plates look exactly the same as always.

The following orders were despatched from Holland last Friday, 30th September, and should be arriving at UK addresses in the next few days:

Orders dated 16th June - 28th June 2011

Orders dated 6th July - 18th July 2011

The June dated orders have now been added to this update as of today's date (6th October) as a result of further enquiries with the manufacturer. Apologies for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused, but we are entirely reliant on the manufacturer in Holland providing us with timely & accurate information - and this does not always happen...

The following despatches were made from Holland last Friday; these orders should be delivered within the next few days:

Orders dated 18th May - 14th June (111 Items)

Orders dated 30th June - 5th July (32 Items)

Apologies for the delay.

The Christmas 2011 edition has now been printed and will be mailed out to everyone who has placed an order with us in the last 3 years. It should reach your letterbox by the end of next week, so please let us know if you don't receive it & we'll put another in the post.

Alternatively, we will have the new edition available via download from our Homepage as soon as we receive it - you just need Adobe Acrobat installed on your PC to read it, which is a free piece of software. If you are happy to view it online & print just the pages you want, please let us know and we will stop mailing the brochure to you.

This morning we have received confirmation that a further 130 items are being despatched from Holland today. The following orders should begin to arrive at addresses in the UK over the next few days:

1. All orders on the previous update listed as 'broken in the kiln' except 227884, which will go next week.

2. All orders dated from 18th April to 17th May 2011

3. Orders dated 1st June to 7th June 2011 (order 228544)

We are hopeful that the backlog will be fully cleared with next week's despatches, and that the usual 6-8 week turnaround time will prevail within the next few weeks. Further despatch details will be published as soon as we receive them from the factory.

Once again, thankyou to all our customers who have shown resilience & patience through these difficult times.

Phil Hertel & Jennie Matthews; Directors

Orders processed from 9th March to 17th April despatched today.

Unfortunately there were 6 plates that broke in the kiln, so these will be remade & despatched ASAP - probably next week: 227872/2; 227884; 227984; 228008/2; 228023; 228073

There are also 4 remade plates going today: Customer surnames are WARNER, HILLS, GAY & ROBINSON

There will be further despatches at the beginning of next week. This page will be updated as soon as we receive the details.

Further to the information in the previous News Post, we would like to present the following estimate:

The 150 items scheduled for despatch on September 9th should include orders placed up to 25th April 2011

The next 250 items scheduled for despatch on September 16th should include orders placed from 26th April to approx. 14th July

Thus, a large proportion of the order backlog will be on its way to you directly from Holland within the next 17 days.

As soon as we receive the precise despatch information we will publish it here, but we thought you would want to know these estimates sooner rather than later in view of the length of time already waited patiently.

NB There will inevitably be a few plates that fracture in the kin. These will be remade immediately and will usually be despatched one week later.

We have now received an email from the manufacturer with some precise details about the manufacture & despatch of orders:

"Dear Phil,
I am sorry to inform you that the paint will be deliverd the 1st or 2nd September. Our schedule is as follows:
-          on the 2nd we will prepare the paint for printing
-          on the 3rd (Saturday) we produce the first 500 plates
-          in week 5-9 September at least 150 plates will be shipped on Friday
-          in week 12-16 September at least 250 plates will be shipped on Friday

When it is possible to produce more plates in the first two weeks, we certainly will do that."

Naturally, as soon as we receive the actual order numbers invloved, we will publish the Order Date ranges involved in this News Section. You will find your order date on the acknowledgement originally sent to you, or in the subject box of the email we have sent to you advising of the delay in despatching your Delft Plate order.

Thanks again to all of you have waited so patiently for your Delft orders. At last we have some concrete information regarding despatches.

Faithfully, Jennie Matthews & Phil Hertel - Directors

The new paint has been successfully tested with the new medium (the product that is mixed with the paint powder to turn it into a wet paint). The factory have now placed a bulk order for the paint products. Production will commence as soon as it's received.

We (Personal Presents) have now asked the manufacturer when they expect to receive the paint - and that information will be posted here as soon as we have it. We are confident that once the the paint is received, the first despatches should be within a week.

Can we once again thank our customers for their continued patience - especially those who have been waiting since March/April. It is now finally safe to say that the light is clearly visible at the end of the tunnel.

Sincerely, Phil Hertel & Jennie Matthews - Directors

This is the latest information received from the manufacturer:

"We have contacted the supplier of the paint. They think they have found the problem. The grains of the new paint are the same, (so they say) but they now think the problem is our medium. The paint is delivered as a powder, and we have to add medium to it to make it liquid. The medium we use is oil based, and they assume that the moisture makes the paint go “gritty”. So now they have sent us a complete prepared sample with their medium. We will receive that sample this week, so we can do another test next week. I will keep you informed how it goes."

Hopefully this means that despatches will recommence by the end of next week.

Thank you all for you continued patience with regard to this delay caused by the enforced move from a lead-based to a non-lead-based paint.

Phil Herte & Jennie Matthews - Directors

Unfortunately we must report that the issues with the new paint are ongoing. Here is the email we received from the factory this morning:

"The supplier [of the paint] is running some tests because they say that the grains are the same as our old paint, but it certainly isn’t. We’ve tested the paint ourselves, and also, if it was, we wouldn’t be having all these problems. So we are still grinding the paint ourselves, so that means there are no despatches for this week. But the worst news is that next week and the week after, we will be closed. So we are very ashamed to inform you that the first orders will be sent after our holidays. We did everything we could to try to send orders before our holiday, we even bought a new machine to grind the paint better, but unfortunately we didn’t succeed."

This means that the first despatches will not be any earlier than week commencing 8th August. We understand that you may wish to visit the manufacturer's website www.schoonhovenkeramiek.nl in order to assure themselves that the company is very much a going concern.

We must also offer the option for anyone to receive a full refund should they have already waited the 12 weeks we ask you to allow, and do not wish to continue waiting for their plate or tile - although we hope that you will understand that this matter is out of our control - but will eventually be resolved.

Phil Hertel & Jennie Matthews - Directors

Unfortunately there have been further problems relating to the grain of the new paint now being used for the Delft Blue Plates. Here is the email received from Holland this morning:

"We saw the results of the new plates at the beginning of this week, but they still were not good enough. We hoped that the 48 hours of [paint] grinding was enough, but unfortunately it wasn't. So we started grinding again, and this time for 5 days. But that means that we cannot start despatching until next week.

We have informed the supplier of our [problems with the] paint, and told them for the 3rd time that we need new paint asap, with a smaller grain, but it seems they do not understand the urgency of this case, and they do not understand why we need a smaller grain. We work with a fine gauze but also with a screen and they don't. So they are not very much cooperating. I am on the phone with these people 2 times a day, so you have to understand that I am taking this very seriously and I hope it will be solved soon."

Assuming that 5 days of grinding will produce a fine enough grain before the paint is mixed, then plates will start going out next week. It's also clear that the manufacturer has placed a new order for a paint with a finer grain so that there will not be a need for grinding, but at the moment they only have the coarse grain to work with. I have already requested an update early next week.

Thanks again for your continued patience.

Phil Hertel & Jennie Matthews; Directors.

Whilst we are disappointed to advise that there will not be any despatches today, we are delighted to report that the problems have been resolved and that there will be some despatches midway through next week. Here is the actual email text received from the manufacturer this morning:

"It seems we have finally found the problem! The grain of the new paint was much too thick/coarse, that is why it was impossible for us to print the paint through the gauze. So we had to grind the paint ourselves (which takes us 48 hours). Hopefully we can send you the first orders half of next week."

Once again, thank you all for your patience in this matter, but finally the end is in sight. Yours faithfully, Phil Hertel & Jennie Matthews - Directors.

Here is the latest information received from the manufacturer in Holland when I asked for an update on despatches:

"Unfortunately there are no despatches today, I'm so sorry. We are doing the best we can, but working with the new paint is much more complicated than we hoped.

The samples of the new paint we received and the actual kilograms of paint we've received after ordering is slightly different. This has to do with mixing the raw materials. So when we started producing, we noticed that there were no shades/nuances in the colour anymore. So yes, the plate was more dark, but the shades/nuances were gone, and that is not acceptable. And that had to do with the paint being too thick. So with adding more medium the paint will be thinner but hopefully not too pale, again. The test we've done today is looking promising, but we will know for sure on Monday when it comes out of the oven. If they are ok, we will start producing immediately and the whole week we will only be busy painting your orders. "

There has been a considerable delay in getting Delft plate orders despatched from Holland. We have just received a detailed update from our manufacturer, and in order to re-assure our customers that their orders are not forgotten, only delayed, we have reproduced the full update hereunder:

"Your orders were in fact ready, but when they came out of the oven the colour of the paint of the printing (so not the paint applied by hand) was much too pale and we decided that we really cannot send them like this. So we printed another 500 plates, and again the same problem. The problem now is, that the paint is running out due to all these remakes. We ordered new paint a month ago but last week our supplier informed us that they cannot deliver this paint anymore and they had to deliver an alternative and sent us a sample. This has to do with the environment, and every paint-supplier for ceramic industries has to deliver products that are lead-free. So we did a test with this new paint and, fortunately, the colour was much better, BUT the delivery time is longer. So we are now waiting for this new paint. And we expect to receive it this week so that we can start printing and painting again."

We've decided to continue to offer good value to our customers through the Summer months with the renewal of our 10% discount offer.

The discount applies to the vast majority of our products (Delft, Royal Mint and embroidered christening products being key exceptions). Just input the code SUM0611 into the checkout page 1 and click "Recalculate Basket" to discover the savings you'll make on your order.

Thanks to all of you who continue to be loyal customers - and to those of you who have decided to order from us for the first time.

This offer code expires 31st August 2011.

Our Spring edition is on its way to everyone who has placed an order in the last 3 years - so let us know if you don't receive it, or if you've changed address!

There are a number of new products in it, and we're already in the process of adding them to the website - just click on New Additions and you will see them all.

The Spring Edition is currently in production. We will automatically mail this out to all our existing customers before the end of February. Any potential customers requesting a brochure from our website until 5th February will be sent our current brochure. If you only want the Spring 2011 edition, please wait till 6th February before completing a brochure request.

Whilst some of the deadlines have now passed you can still buy all of our Christmas Baubles and have them delivered in time for Christmas Day.

The deadline for Bauble orders is Thursday 9th December - although if you leave it that late, you'll need to allow all the delivery days up to and including Christmas Eve... Whilst not ideal, please remember that the baubles are for EVERY year, not just the one!

After receiving a number of enquiries from customers, and discussion with our new supplier, we can now accomodate orders where customers are unable to send their pictures by email.

In these instances, please forward the order and payment by post to our address at Model Farm, adding £2.00 cost supplement for each calendar ordered. Please also lable the photos Jan through to Dec on the back.

Please do not hesitate to contact us on 01484 877261 should you have any further queries.

Good news regarding Delft Plates & Tiles despatched.

We have now received confirmation that more than 50 Plates & Tiles were despatched last Friday, 8th October - so these should be reaching our customers within the next day or two.

We have also received assurances that everything is being done to make further inroads into the backlog of orders from July.

However, it's now likely that orders placed within the first couple of weeks of August will also be affected by the unusual delay, so we will be contacting those customers individually to update them.

We have been advised that the only plates despatched on 1st October, were those that were remade due to errors or breakage. We have yet to be advised whether any orders were despatched on 8th October, but we have been re-assured that everything is being done to ensure that the plates will be sent as soon as feasible. Naturally, we are hoping very much that there will be a significant number despatched this coming Friday, but we are in the end very much in the hands of the Dutch manufacturer.

Anyone who does not wish to continue to wait, can of course choose to cancel their order, and they will be refunded in full.

Unfortunately, it's now likely that orders placed in the first 2 weeks of August will also be affected by the delay, so we will be endeavouring to contact those customers individually over the next few days.

We've just been informed by the manufacturer that there has been an unusually long delay in production of the Delft Plates this Summer. It's due to the high humidity that they've been experiencing, which causes malfunction to a particular piece of equipment involved in the production process. All orders placed between 29th JUNE and 31st JULY are affected by the delay. The next despatches are not expected until 1st October. Please accept our sincere apologies for this unusual and unforseen delay.

Good news regarding one of our premium product ranges. The manufacturer of The Fabulous Fairys and Fabulous Footballers prints and canvases has reduced their costs in this recessionary period, so we have immediately reduced our retail prices - by up to 15% on the large canvas. They are well illustrated & unique gifts that can be adapted for any special occasion.

We are preparing our next brochure currently. It will be automatically mailed out to everyone who's placed an order with us in the last 3 years - unless you've requested that we not do so - in the 2nd or 3rd week of September.

Please advise us if you've changed address since your last order - or if you'd rather not receive the brochure. We are happy to save both paper & postage costs!

Our relocation has now completed, and all the computer & phones systems are working. All the contact details have been updated on our website.

Thank you for your patience to any of you who experienced difficulties contacting us over the last few days.

Personal Presents will be relocating to new premises at the end of June. The move is currently scheduled for Thursday 24th - Friday 25th June.

There will inevitably be a degree of disruption whilst we get ourselves re-organised at the new premises. We will of course do our best to minimise the inconvenience to our customers, but please bear with us for what will hopefully just be a couple of days.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Our new brochure was mailed to our customer database in February. If you haven't received your copy, then please request a copy via the "Cataloguie Request" button at the top of the page.

We're now making some final corrections before sending this to the printer. Just a reminder that we'll be mailing it automatically to anyone who's actually placed an order over the last 3 years. The mailing is scheduled for the 2nd week of February.

Please Note: if your last order was prior to 2007, or you've only ever requested a brochure, you won't automatically receive the new one, so just email or phone us to request it.

Update 19th January 2010: Phone Systems fixed & functioning properly again - apologies for any inconvenience caused.

We are experiencing phone system problems and have booked an engineer to investigate ASAP. In the meantime, please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused, and please contact us via email - you can use tyhe "Feedback" button at the bottom of this page.

Unfortunately the Government have decided that VAT must return to 17.5% from 1st January 2010. This will account for most of the price differences that you will notice bewteen our brochure and the website.

This special, personalised Greetings from Santa DVD will drop the jaw of any child in the family - but specially those that still believe! This item (Code 610100) can be found in Gifts for Christmas category.

Great news for us all - and hopefully Royal Mail's workers as well, as I believe we can all understand the employment problems that they've been dealing with.

With immediate effect all strike actions have been cancelled until after Christmas at least!

In addition to Friday 23rd October & Saturday 24th October, Royal Mail have now announced strikes from Thursday 29th October to Saturday 1st November.

The strikes are 'rolling' - they do not affect all services on all of these dates - but it will mean delays in delivery of packages during what is the busiest time of year for us all.

Nonetheless, we believe that any orders placed by 30th November should still be delivered in time for Christmas, notwithstanding an announcement of permanent strike action.

Unfortunately, given the nature of our business - the size & value of individual items we sell - it does not justify the significant extra cost of courier services, so we really have no other choice than Royal Mail.

We sincerely hope that you, our customers, will bear with us during this period, and continue to place orders with us.

Phil Hertel & Jennie Matthews - Owners

Choosing presents for special friends and family can be a fun and rewarding experience but we all want our gifts to be special and meaningful and sometimes it`s hard to know where to start. On those occasions when you just can`t find any inspiration, shopping for gifts can quickly become gruelling and stressful. Yet there is a simple trick to avoid this and at the same time ensure that people will always love your gifts. The secret is to get personal – rather than trawling the shops waiting for the perfect present to jump out at you, spend a little time beforehand thinking about the person you are buying for, their hobbies and interests and what they mean to you and try to tailor your purchases accordingly.

For example, if your favourite cousin spends a lot of time in the office and not enough time with his kids, rather than giving him an unimaginative woolly jumper or yet another comedy tie, why not give him a personalised desk calendar packed with photos of his adoring family so he can see them even when he`s hard at work. Choosing personalised gifts is not rocket science and with just a little forward planning and thought it is possible to pick out the perfect personalised gift for anyone.

Giving personalised gifts, as opposed to off-the-shelf presents, is not only much more fun for you but also shows the recipient just how much you care. By taking the time to pick out something unique that is just for them, they`ll be left in no doubt of just how special you think they are. Personalised gifts work well for men, women and children alike; after all we all like to feel special every now and again.

Ladies love to be indulged so next time you`re looking for the perfect present for a lucky female, choose something that will make her feel valued. A personalised wine label can be a thoughtful way to send a personal message and give her a tasty treat at the same time. Or if you`re looking for a great gift for a special man, personalised cufflinks are a fabulous choice. Engraved with his initials, silver plated cufflinks look great and add a delightful personal touch to his regular work attire that will keep him smiling all day long.

Personalised gifts are also great for children with a staggering range of possible gift options, from personalised piggy banks with their own name on to bedroom accessories that let them assert their individuality. Little boys will enjoy saving their pocket money in a football-shaped bank with their name on it and girls will love putting up a personalised Tinkerbell bedroom door plaque to warn intruders to keep out. So whoever you are shopping for, next time you have a special occasion to celebrate try giving a personalised gift and show the recipient just how special they are.

Personal Presents now offer a beautiful range of personalised Swarovski crystal gifts. The Swarovski Company was founded in Austria in 1895 and has made stunning crystal miniatures, jewellery and chandeliers for over a century. The name is synonymous with beautiful crystal products and Personal Presents now offer Swarovski guardian angels, tree decorations and "sun-catchers", all personalised with an individual name.

Crystal has long been one of the most beautiful and stylish gifts to bestow on a loved one. Traditional crystal gifts such as glasses and decanters have been a staple choice for discerning gift buyers for decades but now, Personal Presents, the web’s leading supplier of personalised gifts and name jigsaws has a wide range of personalised crystal gifts for the young and old alike.

Phil Hertel, managing director of Personal Presents who specialise in christening gifts and personalised piggy banks said, “Our Swarovski sun-catchers are one of our most popular gifts for all age ranges from newborns to grandparents. They feature either a heart or a star as their centrepiece with guardian angels in a choice of four colours. They also come fully personalised with a first name and are as high a quality as you would expect from a Swarovski crystal product.”

The new Swarovski ‘guardian angels’ in glass and crystal can also be personalised and will add decorative sparkle in any room.

In addition to their delightful range of Swarovski gifts, Personal Presents also offer personalised crystal champagne flutes, cups and vases. The crystal cups are a particularly beautiful gift for any birth or christening and they can be engraved with up to three lines of commemorative text.

Mr Hertel from the firm who specialise in godparents gifts, added, “Many people struggle to buy meaningful presents for their loved ones on their anniversary but many forget that crystal is the traditional gift for the fifteenth wedding anniversary. Our personalised champagne flutes are an exceptionally thoughtful and appropriate gift for this occasion and can be engraved with your own personalised message to the happy couple.”

So, Phil, what do you buy the person who has everything?

“Well, these people tend to be those who have enough money to buy the things they normally want. They can go out whenever they like and buy the latest DVD, book or electronic gadget. What they can’t buy, however, are specifically personalised gifts and that’s where we come in. We have a range of crystal, jewellery, crockery, and other unusual gifts which can be personalised to the recipient.”

What about special occasions? We’ve often struggled finding a christening gift for a baby that doesn’t involve a cuddly toy or some sort of cup or plate.

“Buying presents for newborns and small children is notoriously difficult. We all want to buy something appropriate and traditional but the choice for little kids is pretty limited and the ranges tend to be rather old-fashioned. What our customers like is the ability to choose a well-loved christening gift but have it personalised with the name of the child as well as the place and date of the christening, in a design that is both likeable and different from all the rest. We have a wide range of moneyboxes, candles, plates and photo frames which can all contain the essential details but in original designs that we have spent many years discovering.

We’ve all been in a situation where someone we love has asked for a specific gift that we think is a bit boring. What can we do to liven up these presents?

Gifts have been exchanged by humans for many hundreds of years. Over recent decades the notion of giving for birthdays and Christmas has become ingrained into our society but with so much choice of giftware currently available it can be hard to decide what constitutes a great present. Now, Personal Presents, the web’s leading supplier of personalised gifts, has a wide range of gift ideas to inspire those struggling to find a suitable gift.

Gift giving can be traced back to Roman days when presents were exchanged during the New Year celebrations. Many of these gifts were simple and included a few sacred twigs or vegetables in honour of their fertility goddess. During the Yule in Northern Europe gifts such as bread and alcohol were exchanged.

Phil Hertel, managing director of Personal Presents who specialise in christening gifts and personalised piggy banks said, “Even though most of the early gift giving was undertaken on a voluntary basis there are those historical leaders who have ensured that they received plenty of presents themselves. Emperor Caligula of Rome declared to his people that he would be receiving presents on New Year’s Day and gifts he deemed inadequate for his stature were ridiculed. A few hundred years later, Henry III closed down the merchants of England one December because he was unimpressed with the amount of their monetary gifts.”

There are many things that make a great gift but three of the most important are effort, thought and planning. As many men will know, racing around for their wife or girlfriend’s gift on the afternoon of Christmas Eve rarely produces stunning results. Good presents are carefully considered and the gift receiver knows that there has been time and effort invested in the purchase.

Mr Hertel added, “Buying a great gift takes time and effort. It requires the giver to think carefully about the person they are buying for, their likes and dislikes and to come up with an imaginative and personal present that demonstrates they have thought hard about it, and not just picked up the first thing they saw at their local supermarket.”

There is no better way of showing thought and effort in a present than personalising it for the gift receiver. Rather than picking up a present from a local store, ordering a personalised present including the person’s name, photograph or birth date demonstrates thought, effort and consideration – the hallmarks of a great gift.

What do you buy the person who has everything? This is a common question asked by all of us as we search our local shopping centres for gift ideas for colleagues, friends and family. Many of us face these dilemmas when choosing gifts and so Phil Hertel from Personal Presents, the web’s leading supplier of personalised gifts has some answers.

So, Phil, what do you buy the person who has everything?

What about special occasions? We’ve often struggled finding a christening gift for a baby that doesn’t involve a cuddly toy or some sort of cup or plate.

We’ve all been in a situation where someone we love has asked for a specific gift that we think is a bit boring. What can we do to liven up these presents?

“There are many occasions where a bottle of champagne is the only or most appropriate gift to give to someone. Wedding anniversaries, exam or job success or special birthdays all call for a bottle of bubbly. At Personal Presents we have a range of personalised champagne style labels and wine boxes which turn a bottle of Moet (or a bottle of red or white) into a highly personalised gift. The label can be changed to something specific to the recipient and it can be presented in a highly personalised wooden wine box containing a photograph and your own specific message.”

Finally, we have all been faced with buying for children and wanting to avoid the latest fad toys that are all the rage now but will be tomorrow’s forgotten items. What can you suggest?

“Personalised kids gifts are one of our biggest sellers. We offer everything from jigsaws to personalised colouring pencils and so it’s easy to buy a traditional gift for a child whilst adding that special extra touch by making it very specific to the little one. We even offer CDs for children with music containing the specific child’s name, there are literally hundreds of names to choose from!”

As the “back to school” build up approaches, it’s important to prepare students for the upcoming term of hard work and play. Personal Presents, the web’s leading supplier of personalised gifts, is ready for the rush with their range of personalised pencils and labels.

For children, no season flies by quicker than summer. Being away from school is a novelty at first, but the initial thrill can soon turn to boredom as school mates lose touch and the days stretch out. While youngsters may not see it this way initially, Personal Presents’ range of school essentials will get them raring to get back into class to show off their personalised goodies.

Phil Hertel, from the firm who also offer christening gifts and personalised anniversary gifts said, “Our Back To School range has been carefully designed to turn everyday academic essentials into a great gift that children will love.”

The back to school range is a one stop shop for study essentials, including colouring pencils and pencil sets to bag tags and name tapes. The selection also features a new addition, which is a stamp for books. This is especially useful for marking textbooks and storybooks that have been bought for classroom study.

Mr Hertel added, “So many children will have similar items in school, whether they are clothes, books or stationery. By making use of our range, you can avoid fall-outs at school over who took whose pencil case!”

As the personalised aspect of the range proves to be so popular, the products are often a great incentive both at home and in class.

Mr Hertel added, “Many of our customers are teachers, who use the pencils as a reward for good behaviour and excellent work. It’s a great way to treat a child who has performed well and they will be proud to use the product every day.”

Known as “the big day for little people”, a christening is a wonderful time for all the family and friends to gather around and celebrate the birth of a new baby, but it can also be a time of stress. Personal Presents, the nation’s favourite online personalised gifts supplier, offer their advice on planning and perfecting this precious day.

When the service is booked, it’s important to make sure that all in attendance are seated before the ceremony starts. As some churches offer christening services as part of the Sunday service, it is only courteous to make sure the service runs as smoothly as possible, without the added disturbances caused by latecomers. Invite the guests to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

The child’s outfit is a key component of the ritual, and will normally be a long white or cream gown. Some families choose to keep their gowns as family heirlooms, so buying a new gown may not be necessary. Christening gifts and accessories will definitely be an area to pay attention to, as these will be gifts that the child will cherish throughout their lives.

Phil Hertel, from the firm who also offer personalised anniversary gifts said, “This is a monumental day in one’s childhood and Personal Presents realise the importance and sentiment it, which is why we provide a range of gifts that can be given with care and love.”

Available in a variety of styles, the firm’s range of christening bootees and bibs are suitable for both boys and girls and will complement any christening gown. For those who wish to impart faith to the young, a prayers and Bible set, perfect for young children as they grow and learn, is also available at Personal Presents.

Another point to keep in mind is that churches may be cold, even in the summer. Make sure the baby is wrapped up well in order to avoid tears at the font with a special christening shawl from Personal Presents.

Mr Hertel added, “Our Ivory Silk Shawl is the ultimate christening present. Soft and luxurious, it will be sure to be part of a child’s early memories. Embroidered with the child’s name in one corner, and date of christening in another corner, the shawl can complete the christening ensemble, and will be cherished.”

If you have chosen godparents for the child, you can show your appreciation with the firm’s range of gifts for godparents. A stunning china cup, which can be personalised with the name of the recipient and your message of thanks, is available and will be deeply treasured and serve as a tasteful reminder of the special day.

Mr Hertel added, “The presents that we supply are all chosen and produced with great care. While some may take some time to be produced, they are most certainly worth the wait, and we’re sure that the little one at the centre of the big day will appreciate the effort in years to come.”

When there is a new addition to the family, finding the right gift can be difficult, especially when you are keen to break away from staple gifts such as clothing or toys. Now Personal Presents, the leading providers of personalised gifts online, are encouraging gift givers everywhere to go Dutch for the perfect gift. Journalist Tina Clough went to find out more....

Encouraging gift givers to invest in one of their Delft Birthplates, the team at Personal Presents believe that they have not only captured part of Holland’s artistic heritage but are able to offer something truly unique.

The range, which earns its name from the Dutch city of Delft where the style of the ceramics (and the clay used to make them) first came from, is a traditional art which stretches back to as early as the 17^th century and is regarded as part of Holland’s artistic heritage. The artists that carry on the legacy to present day have spent most of their working lives seeing the strong and steady demand for these plates.

Just like a newborn, the journey from conception to production is crucial; the birthplates are made with a fresh mould. After this, each plate is hand-painted with the greatest care and accuracy, to include details of the birth including the baby’s name, place of birth and weight. One of the most charming details featured on the plate is the traditional clock on the wall, which is set to the time of the baby’s birth. The plates are only painted by highly-trained artists, who each have their own style, which really adds to the uniqueness of the piece. This painstaking process takes place over an average period of five to six weeks, after which your plate will be sent to you.

Phil Hertel, from the firm who also offer christening gifts and personalised anniversary gifts said, “The Delft range has always been a popular product for us because it is so unique and different to all of the other items out there, and of course, it’s highly personal, as it’s entirely bespoke. It may take a while longer to receive, but it is definitely worth the wait.”

Steeped in sentimental value, the pieces are sure to become family heirlooms that can be passed on from generation to generation. And because so much effort and culture goes into making them, they possess artistic value of the highest standard.

Cheap imitations are available on the internet, produced en masse, but lack the authenticity of the original Delft tradition and often leave customers disappointed. Customers buying from Personal Presents can be sure to receive the real thing, authenticated by a unique serial number, painted on the back of the plate.

Testimonials on the site prove that the Delftware has become a ritual for many families who wish to commemorate new members, whether it be children, grandchildren or other.

Mr Hertel added, “The tradition is not strictly just for newborns – it is also a common custom to have a plate made for new additions to the family by marriage, and many of our customers order plates for their new son or daughter-in-law as a way of welcoming them into their family. This is a great sentimental tradition, and would make the perfect gift.”

Finding the ideal gift for first time parents that is bespoke in nature can be a tricky task, especially with so many products saturating the current marketplace. Now Personal Presents, the leading providers of personalised gifts online, are offering an exclusive range of elegant newborn gift solutions for that magical time, with some especially designed to be cherished for years to come.

A range of record books from renowned artist Anne Geddes are available, with her signature style of babies posing in adorable outfits adorning the pages. There’s space for notes and photographs to document important days in the newborn’s life – from first smile to first haircut!

Personal Presents also supply Baby Talk Boxes – a sweet way to remember funny things that your child may say in their early years and will definitely provide entertainment in years to come!

Memories books are also proving to be popular with visitors to their site. Asking a series of questions to the parents, it’s a great way to give the reader a real insight into how the parents were feeling at the time and the book is sure to be a family heirloom for years to come. With a choice of either a book for a girl or for a boy, it can be a truly personalised gift.

There are also various memories books made especially for the grandparents which will certainly end up being important family heirlooms, since their memories really do span generations beyond the memories of the new parents.

Phil Hertel, Managing Director of Personal Presents, who also stock a range of christening gifts, birthplates and nursery accessories, believes that these gifts are the perfect way to congratulate new parents & grandparents. He said, “Although the birth of a baby can be stressful, it’s important to record the details at the time, as the stress doesn’t last forever! Our record and memories books help the new parents to keep track of the growth of their baby, and to remember those special moments.”

Of course photographs tell a story, but it’s much more special when a book detailing your childhood years is presented to you.

Mr Hertel added, “The books are not only precious for the parents, but are amazing for the child to look at, when they are old enough. They are highly sentimental pieces, and so I would definitely recommend the books as a newborn present.”

Please be advised that we won't be publishing a new brochure until August 2009 - the Christmas 2009 edition - and accept our apologies for the absence of the Summer edition that had originally been planned for this year.

We will continue to distribute the latest edition (2009 - Spring Edition B) until the new version is printed in August, but please be aware that we have had to implement some price increases effective from 1st July, and that some of our suppliers are no longer trading due to the current economic crisis.

All those who have placed an order with us during the last 24 months will automatically receive the new brochure when we mail it out in September, so our previous customers have no need to make a brochure request online.

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!

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

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.

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...

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."

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

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!!!.

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