Pictured above: Jeremy and Rachel Marshall Roberts of Hay
Hampers
A hamper gift company celebrating 25 years in business has
launched new services on its website, thanks to a grant from the
Food and Drink innovation Network (iNet).
Lincolnshire-based Hay Hampers has used the Innovation Support
Grant (ISG) to develop its website and introduce a system that
automatically alerts customers when someone's birthday, anniversary
or special occasion is coming up.
The grant has also allowed Hay Hampers to add a personalised
labelling service for its champagnes and wines at its website
www.hampers.co.uk - marking the start of the next chapter in
the family firm's life.
The moves are designed to use the latest technology to promote
the firm's fine food and wine hamper gifts all year round, and help
increase sales throughout the year.
"Christmas is very important to us, as it's the time of year
that traditionally hampers are sent," said Rachel Marshall Roberts,
who runs Hay Hampers with husband Jeremy in Corby Glen, near
Grantham. "But fine food and wine make perfect gifts for birthdays,
anniversaries and other special occasions all year round, as well
as being ideal for corporate gifts, so we have introduced
additional promotion and marketing tools at www.hampers.co.uk.
"The grant has allowed us to install a reminder service to
customers, a personalised labelling system for wine and champagne
gifts, and will also support the marketing and promotion of these
new services. I am looking forward to dealing with
companies and private individuals that have a culture of
giving and rewarding…people who haven't got time to go out
shopping but want to give something really nice to people."
Hay Hampers was launched in 1984, and initially began selling
hampers to businesses in Leicestershire and the East Midlands,
before gradually expanding and gaining customers worldwide. It now
offers hampers for a range of occasions from just under £30
to £500.
After receiving an Innovation Support Grant of £7,600, Hay
Hampers hopes to increase its penetration into the corporate market
and supply hampers as part of company motivation schemes, for golf
days and as gifts to employees, customers and clients.
The new reminder service is also aimed at helping customers to
remember special birthdays and events, and encourage them to send a
gift via Hay Hampers.
"We want to get across the message that a hamper isn't just for
Christmas," added Rachel.
The Food and Drink iNet Lincolnshire business adviser Rachel
Linstead said: "Innovation Support Grants are designed to encourage
innovation in businesses, and this project at Hay Hampers fitted
the bill perfectly. The firm is making use of new technology, and
opening a new chapter in its life."
The Food and Drink iNet is aiming to foster innovation in the
region's food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn
new ideas into new business through the development of new
technologies and products. It's also hoping to stimulate new
processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help
boost the sector.
Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and
Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by the Food & Drink
Forum and including Food Processing Faraday, Nottingham Trent
University, the University of Lincoln, and the University of
Nottingham.
Around £250,000 in Innovation Support Grants has been
allocated to around 50 food and drink firms across the East
Midlands by the Food and Drink iNet since the iNet was launched in
2008. The iNet hopes to have more funding allocated as part of a
new contract in 2010, said Peter Maycock, Food and Drink iNet
project director.
Firms wanting more information should contact the Food and Drink
iNet on 0845 521 2066 or visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk
For information about support for innovation that is available
in the East Midlands, visit www.eminnovation.org.uk