Stort Valley Gifting

07/08/2025

Happy Gottcha Day to the favourite here at Stort Valley! Many of you know and love Fig, our official Chief Happiness Officer. Five years ago she came home with us and, whilst she was a very difficult puppy, after lots of work with trainers including, plenty of patience and self-discipline on our part, she has become one of the most affectionate and loving dogs out there.

Whenever people visit, after the first minute of barking, she demands their attention, offers herself up for cuddles and always waves goodbye when they leave. If you haven’t met Fig then why not stop by and say hello?

Photo shows Emma and Rob standing outside their office with Fig, a black cockapoo wearing a customised Stort Valley Gifting jacket.

07/07/2025

Did you know Essex has its very own take on the classic Pimm’s?

Distilled in the heart of Chelmsford by our friends at Essex Spirits Co. this delicious seasonal tipple is packed with local summer fruits – and we reckon it tastes just as good, maybe even better than the original!

It’s only available for a few months each year and always flies off the shelves. With temperatures set to soar, it makes the perfect long drink for sunny weather. We love it paired with Riverside Spirits Cucumber Gin, topped with lemonade and fresh fruit – refreshing, and full of flavour.

Why not pop in and see what other local delights we have in store – from craft beers and ciders to English sparkling wine and more. And don’t miss our BBQ section where you will find flavoured oils, marinades, dressings, meat rubs, and an incredible garlic mayo that’s a perfect substitute for Spanish aioli.

You’ll find us at 5 West Place, Harlow, CM20 2GY – just off Edinburgh Way.

01/07/2025

Two years of the Hamper Hub!

Two years ago, we moved back to Harlow and into our beloved Hamper Hub. It was a huge step for us, going from offices to our own premises with a warehouse, 3 offices and a showroom.

However, now more than ever we know that it was the right move for us. When people hear the words “Hamper company” they either think big brands like Fortum & Mason or John Lewis or a small operation working out of their home. So often people walk into our offices and said “Wow, we didn’t realise you actually had a warehouse”. We don’t aim to be one of the big guys, we love what we do and like to think we are that middle ground, offering something a little bit different and special with our personalised ribbon and, at the same time, supporting local producers.

To all of you who have visited us and supported us over the past few years, a heartfelt thank you. We wouldn’t be Stort Valley Gifting without you. And, if you haven't yet visited, why not pop down and say hi. You may even find some tasters available!

25/06/2025

It has been a busy week so far at the Hamper Hub with plenty of gifts flying out the door. On Monday, we were delighted to attend the Adobe UK event at the House of Lords and after drinks with Emma from BETA in Covent Garden we hopped in a taxi to the London Palladium where we got to see Rachel Zegler performing Don't Cry for Me Argentina from the balcony.

20/06/2025

Today is Bring Your Dog To Work Day so of course our grid had to feature Fig! Fig has been coming to work with us since she was just a few months old and is a firm favourite wherever she goes, often being recognised as “The Stort Valley Dog” when out on her daily walks.

When we had a team of Events staff, they used to come in early just for a cuddle before they left for the day. Having an office dog brings so many benefits; it doesn’t just make people smile, it also reduces stress and helps us get up more.

The weather at the moment is a bit too much for Fig so she is relaxing on one (yes, she has several) chaise longues, greeting delivery drivers and providing, as always, some office cheer.

14/06/2025

Happy birthday to our Chief Happiness Officer!

Everyone’s favourite team member at Stort Valley is turning five today. Fig joined the team at just eight weeks old and is loved by many. Participating in every meeting, attending events and ensuring that visitors are made to feel welcome, Fig is probably our most enthusiastic employee although HR sometimes raise concerns about her lack of respect for personal space.

Fig shares her birthday with another important person in our lives, Emma’s Mum Sylvia. She might not be an employee but she is incredibly supportive especially at Christmas when she prepares home cooked freezer meals for the late night finishes.

Happy birthday Sylvia and Fig.

06/06/2025

We had a great day yesterday at the House of Lords celebrating with participants on the Small & Might Programme. These kinds of events where we meet so many inspirational businesses, are so much fun and we truly appreciate being part of such a suppportive, friendly community.

Plus, we got to come away with a fab fascinator from Miss Ballooniverse - Thank you to Small Business Britain, Xero, ARU Peterborough and all the team for such a wonderful afternoon.

05/06/2025

Recently we were asked to put together a gift box for a local networking groupBNI Hertford - Synergy who were doing a presentation about their businesses and, as part of that, wanted to give away some delicious, locally sourced treats.

We collated all the logos of the different companies participating in the presentation, printed them onto ribbon and put together a selection of food and drink, tailored to their budget and dietary requirements (Gin-o-cello was a must!)

Giving a gift like this leaves a lasting impression and doesn't have to be costly, we tailor everything to your budget. And, with no minimum order numbers, you don't have to be stuck ordering extras that you don't need.

Why not pop down and see us for a chat. You can find us at 5 West Place, Harlow, CM20 2GY - right off Edinburgh Way.

30/05/2025

We always feel honoured when we are asked to put together gifts for BNI - The World's Leading Referral Organization leaders. This week we have sent out several including this one, ordered by a chapter as a gesture of thanks for the lovely Franky Davies - Polaine, Executive Director of BNI Cambridge, Essex, London East & Suffolk. Thank you so much to BNI Discovery for ordering from us and we hope you enjoy your treats Franky!

Truly humbled and grateful for the love 🥰 BNi Discovery Essex today. It’s been an absolute pleasure looking after you for your 1st 4 months and I cannot wait to watch you go on and smash it over the next year, that you all for being so amazing, your gifts were so incredibly thoughtful and not expected but so appreciated. Love you all lots x

29/05/2025

We have worked with F:Entrepreneur for a few years and, every month they host a free breakfast event with a speaker for their . As part of this, not only do you get to hear from some incredibly inspirational females who are experts in their field but you also get a tasty treat with the F:Entrepreneur logo ribbon which we print in-house for their team. This month we sent out delicious bars from our newest producer GrannySlice.

We love working with such a wide range of different organisations and seeing how they show their appreciation with thoughtful gifts. Gifting, even using your own branding doesn't have to be expensive and it leaves such a lasting impression.

Each month we welcome members of our for a live breakfast session and send them a little treat courtesy of Stort Valley Gifting!

Tomorrow we are talking all about personal branding with Maggie Sarfo - we can’t wait!

Pic shows the chocolate and f:Entrepreneur ribbon being put together!

16/05/2025

When Ali walked into our office and said he had a product to show us, we weren’t sure what he had planned or whether it would fit in our range. However, the moment we tasted his GrannySlice delicious date bars we knew they would be the perfect addition to our hampers and we placed an order on the spot!

Now based just a few miles from our office, Ali grew up in war-torn Iraq. His inspiration was his Granny who, during very difficult times, always kept their storage room stocked with dates and told Ali that, if they ran out of food, they could survive on just 7 dates a day, due to their abundance of nutrients. Ali moved to Syria, where he began cultivating recipes using his much-loved dates. When he left the Middle East and travelled to London Ali began trading at London markets including the renowned Spitalfields market.

We are stocking all 4 flavours of date bars; sea salt (Emma’s favourite), hazelnut, dried orange, and peanut butter. One of our customers described a bar as “a fudgy, brownie like texture, with a really indulgent feel – I love that it feels naughty but is completely natural” and it is flying out the door already with over 100 bars snapped up in our first week of sales.

Why not come in and try one for yourself? You can find us at 5West Place, Harlow, CM20 2GY – open Monday – Friday from 9.30am.

30/04/2025

Are you looking to connect with other local companies in an informal environment?

Our popular local business networking is back on the 15th May from 6.00pm. Typically attracting 40-50 attendees, our free quarterly networking event allows businesses to connect over a local beer, gin or soft drink. No pitches, sponsorship and a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. Everyone welcome, whatever the size or nature of your business.

Pre-registration is required via https://forms.office.com/e/Lu5qyMXvLE