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Archive -Seychelles

Hampers & Gifts by 5Ms can pamper with a hamper! |24 March 2016

 

Hampers & Gifts by 5Ms is a family business. It consists of mostly handmade hampers though there are some ready-made ones. The business is run by Maria Thomas, a mother of three girls whom she said are good most of the time!

The 5Ms is the five members of the family at home – the husband, the three daughters and Maria herself. They all have a name which begins with M and that is where the business name comes from. But Maria manages everything

Maria loves creating gifts and eating chocolates. She said she is committed to hampers or anything to do with gifting.

“I love making other people happy. So running a gift business is perfect for me,” said Maria.

Maria believes her business is a first of its kind in Seychelles as they are into hampers specifically and almost all are handmade.

“We have ready-made ones, we do customised ones as well. Prices vary for items in Maria’s hampers. They can be from cheap to quite expensive depending on the occasion,” she says.

Maria says the business started from her love of hampers and gifting and from doing new things to challenge herself.

“I was at home for a while, not working. I asked myself what I can do that will be fun as well as bring a little income for the family. I thought of sewing but I’m not really an expert at that as I can only do the basics like sewing curtains, baby cot set, etc.

“I tried that but wasn’t really my thing. That’s when I thought of doing hampers for new borns. I did quite a lot of that at the beginning as people keep ordering them. So by having happy clients I realised that I can add more to that and that is when I thought, ok, I will do themed and personalised ones.

“I did a lot of research and managed to get in touch with a very experienced and well known hamper specialist from the US. She’s very helpful and was exactly what I needed to guide me. I’m thinking of taking a course in this field,” Maria explains.

She says demand for hampers is high, especially if they can be personalised and are unique.

Hampers & Gifts by 5Ms does not operate in a shop yet. Maria works at home everyday mostly on orders. She displays her hampers on Facebook.

“Rents are expensive and since I’m still investing specifically on hamper items, I will not have enough to rent a shop in town. If I do, then the hampers will be extremely expensive and most clients won’t be able to afford. But if I find a reasonable place (even if its old) I will consider as I wish to display and have a shop where one can come in and choose rather than just order like we’re doing now. I send emails to random addresses just so others know about our services,” says Maria.

Maria and her family live in the town area. To avoid clients being at her door every day, Hampers & Gifts by 5Ms procedure is clients order by Facebook, email or phone or any other form of contact. Then they can collect at Orion Mall for free or can have it delivered anywhere as the business also caters for delivery but for a fee.

“We have all types that you can possibly think of – for weddings, birthdays, hens night, congratulations, get well soon, newborns, over 18, bookworm… anything.. We are unique and we make hampers unique… we don’t just fill up the hamper with anything,” says Maria.

She says most of the time she discusses with her clients to see what they prefer or want. She has to know whether the recipient drinks, is diabetic, is sporty etc… so Hampers & Gifts by 5Ms can know what to include to make it special.

Hampers & Gifts by 5Ms also has special offers and discounts from time to time.

“As Facebook is my main advertising platform, people get to know of our offers from there. We also have a fun group where anyone and everyone can play for free and win something. We have different types of competitions. Actually, at the moment, we’re having the Easter competition for kids and adults where nice prizes are to be won. But of course most prizes will be hampers as this is what I do. But from time to time we will have prizes such as vouchers, weekend treat, dinner, etc (it gets better). Anyone can join. The group is called Play & Win! With Hampers & Gifts by 5Ms

“Although I do everything from taking orders, paying bits and pieces, customer care and after care, delivering, the business is a family one. My husband helps when I have big corporate orders and stays up till late to help. He delivers the orders from time to time when he is free or when I’m tired.

“The girls also help with the ribbons, or shredder or anything they can do when I’m busy. I try to keep them away when doing candy cones orders as they eat more than helping.

Hampers & Gifts by 5Ms contact details are 2557759 or maria@hampersngiftsby5ms.com. They also have a website which Maria tries to keep up to date on a daily basis www.hampersngiftsby5ms.com

They cater for all occasions including corporate orders, hamper packages with promotional products for hotels as well and also can personalise hampers.

“I’m sincerely thankful to my God, as He knows I’ve always wanted to have my own business and now I’ve been blessed and own one with my family. I am also thankful to Dr Erna Athanasius who has helped me a lot at the beginning. I’m really grateful though I have been so rude for not being able to send her a hamper yet… I will soon and it will be a big one… Thank you my hubby as he keeps up with all the mess I do around the house when making the perfect hampers. He understands and I love him for that.

“Last but not least thank you to all the clients, especially those who have been there since the beginning, those who’ve accepted my errors and bought again from me anyway. That gave me courage and the hampers get better everyday.

Thank you Seychelles NATION for the opportunity to feature in your paper.”

The accompanying photos show Maria and her kids and samples of the hampers she offers.

 

 

 

 

 

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