Volunteering with the VSO in Zambia!

Every now and again, someone at Porter and Woodman does something extraordinary, so we get the chance to report on something other than new products and special offers – this is one of those times!

Since finishing his degree in Criminology at Southampton University, Sam Williams (the son of our Operations Director, Ian and Accounts Manager, Ann) has been working at Porter and Woodman in various roles, saving up and filling in time for a very important time in his life – he’ll be volunteering for the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in Zambia.

Here’s his story:

“On Saturday 16th February I am climbing Mount Snowdon to raise funds for VSO which will help them to continue the fantastic work which they currently carry out. VSO, like myself, are committed to overcoming poverty and hopefully with your assistance, this fight will only become stronger.

“I have been given a fantastic opportunity to volunteer in Zambia for 12 weeks through VSO. When in Zambia, fellow volunteers and I both from the UK and Zambia will address and tackle the issue of HIV/AIDS. This is an issue I feel very strongly about so I am delighted to be given this chance to try and make a positive impact towards those communities who need some assistance in tackling this issue.

“Through volunteers working together as a group, VSO aims to improve the lives of others by finding and achieving long-term, sustainable and positive solutions to four key development areas. These are health, participation and governance, secure livelihoods and education. By donating, you will help VSO to send more volunteers like myself to some of the least developed countries in the world through the VSO ICS programme.

“This programme, which I have been accepted onto, sends 18-25 year olds to volunteer for three months in countries in Africa and Asia. By donating, you are actively assisting other individuals like myself to go abroad and volunteer and make a real positive contribution to those communities who are most in need of support.”

We’re all very proud of Sam and his selfless attitude to those less fortunate than us. We wish him all the best in his adventure and hope that he manages to help as many people as possible during his time in Zambia.

If you’d like any more information about the VSO, then please visit their website at www.vso.org.uk

Sam’s Just Giving page is at www.justgiving.com/Sam-Williams0991 if you’d like to help with a donation.

A Wine and Hamper Gift Isn't Just For Christmas!

Christmas is over, the New Year is well underway and the dust has settled after our busiest trading period of the year. However, that doesn't mean it's quiet at Porter and Woodman Group - far from it!

We are currently preparing for the Valentine's and Mother's Days gift trade, for which we have a beautiful range of gifts that can be individually personalised with a message for your loved one.

We are also developing a range of seed planter gifts using our rustic crates. Each gift can be individually personalised on the side of the crate. These will include seed and bulb growing crates from our new 'Grow A Gift UK' site, which will be fully launched later this year.

Throughout the year, we also provide a range of gifts for corporate clients that can be printed with their corporate logo and used for special promotions, apology gifts, end of financial year celebration gifts, internet promotions, staff gifts, etc.

On top of all that, we have Easter, Father's Day, Summer promotions and Halloween to prepare for!

It just goes to show that 'A Wine and Hamper Gift isn't just for Christmas!'

If you would like any more information, please call 01384 445844 or e-mail sales@porterandwoodman.co.uk

Biggest week for deliveries

The Print Department is just finishing off the last of the gift branding; the gifts have all been packed and matched with their job sheets and print; and now we move into our biggest week for deliveries...

... and it's not just a case of getting the gifts out the door, Porter and Woodman offers a number of delivery options:

• Simple bulk deliveries to one address
• Multiple bulk deliveries to a number of addresses
• One-off individual delivery
• Multiple deliveries of individual gifts to a mailing list

It makes for a very busy week, with very careful attention to detail to ensure that everything goes out smoothly - after all, Christmas comes but once a year!

Call us on 01384 445844 or visit www.wineandhampergifts.co.uk to find out more.

Packing for Christmas

So now it's the turn of our Warehouse and Packing department...

The next two weeks are crucial at Porter and Woodman as we pick and pack the hampers ready for the Christmas deliveries.

Most of the printed tags, lids, sashes, compliments slips and gift cards are ready to be matched up to their orders by now, although there are still orders coming through, even now!

Our loyal and long-serving Warehouse staff work doubly-hard at this time of year; firstly packing all the gifts, then ensuring that they are matched up with the correct print, personalisation and delivery dockets.

It's hard, but rewarding work and the whole company comes together to help, making it a great atmosphere in the build-up to Christmas - but we won't lie, it's a big relief when we can shut the doors as the last delivery goes out. Then we can really enjoy Christmas!

Quick Reminder!
Final order day for guaranteed Christmas delivery is Friday 7th December - SO PLEASE HURRY!!!!

Visit www.wineandhampergifts.co.uk, e-mail sales@wineandhampergifts.co.uk or call 01384 445844 for more info.

It's all go in the Print Department

With the print order deadline just gone by and Christmas only a few weeks away, the Print Department is flat out printing all the corporate branding and personalisation for this year's gifts.

In fact, our screen-print department has been busy since the end of September with print for Christmas, but in the next few weeks more print will go through than at any other time of year.

If you haven't ordered yet, we can still take orders for unprinted Wine and Hamper Gifts until Tuesday 4th December - SO PLEASE HURRY!!!

Call us on 01384 445844 or visit www.wineandhampergifts.co.uk for more details.

...and now Christmas really gets going!

 ... it's early in November, but Christmas is already underway for Porter and Woodman!

The Sales Office has been working hard processing all of the orders that have been coming in since September and now the Print Services department is converting all the print requests into proofs, then sending finished artwork on approved jobs down to the Print Room.

There's a real buzz about the place, so it feels like Christmas already!

If you haven't placed an order yet, take a look at the Wine and Hamper Gifts website. You can also register for our e-mail news or 'like' our Facebook page - so watch out for special offers on gifts in the coming weeks.

Porter and Woodman - making Christmas special for your clients and staff!

...and now over to the Sales Office

It's now the beginning of October and the Sales Office takes over in our Christmas Story.

The brochure is printed and on prospective clients' desks, marketing has been in place since May, a PDF of the brochure available since July, the website in place 3 months earlier than the previous year, so now it's the turn of the Team in the Sales Office.

You might think that they sit there waiting for October to come, but that's not the case. All through the year, they are processing orders and giving advice to customers on our other businesses - Chalkboards UK, WoodenBox UK and Print Services, so when the Wine and Hamper Gifts orders start coming in, they really have their work cut out!

If you would like to know more about our beautiful range of corporate gifts, please give them a call on 01384 445844.

If you'd like to see just what goes into one of our gifts, we have a great little YouTube clip to show you.

Our corporate branded wine hampers are great as a 'thank you' to customers or staff - after all, it is a Porter and Woodman gift!