Blog

With the end of financial year (EOFY) fast approaching, we begin to reflect on our top performers over the past 12 months. Employees who have dug deep, gone beyond and achieved outstanding results both individually and to the benefit of the business.

The question facing many employers and senior managers is not only how to retain these high achievers, but how to recognise, reward, motivate them to continue achieving and hold them up as a model to inspire other staff members.

For many, public recognition and an acknowledgement of their efforts goes a long way to achieving these goals. Here we explore the top five gifts for standout staff and how to appropriately recognise our most exceptional employees.

5 Best Corporate Gifts for Standout Performers:

1. Top Perform

Every man needs a cave. A den. A sanctuary from the outside world. A place to call his own.

Creating the ultimate man cave comes down to a combination of the right ingredients to give your guy his own special refuge.

We go on a journey to uncover the top seven Man Cave must-haves to ensure his special sanctuary ticks all the boxes and keeps him refreshed and raring to go when he returns to the outside world.

7 Man Cave Must-Haves No Guy Can Go Without

1.    Quench his thirst

Let’s face it: no man cave is complete without a few of his favourite beverages. And in a large majority of cases this equals beer. And what could be better than sipping (or slurping) his choice of ale from an Engraved

You’re married! You’ve tied the knot, celebrated your special day and been hungover on your honeymoon. Now it’s time to return home to married life. But the secret to a happy marriage doesn’t end with your wedding day. Here we share with you insider tips for newlyweds on how to create the perfect love nest and keep that ‘just married’ spark alive for all eternity.

Keep the spark alive: 7 insider tips for newlyweds

 1.    Keep up the effort

The secret to maintaining a happy and healthy marriage is keeping up the effort. This doesn’t mean you won’t disagree, or at times take your partner for granted, but putting in the effort to make them feel special and celebrate the good times goes a long way.

Surprise your spouse by setting the dinner table for a romantic meal fo

Ahh, our mums. They’re the backbone of the family, giving us love, food, support (and pocket money) whenever it’s been most needed.

While we can tell them how much we love them every day of the year, Mother’s Day is the ideal time to really show your appreciation with a gift that’s perfect for their personality. But how do you find the right gift without breaking the bank?

From specialised hampers to heartfelt treats, we’ve compiled a list of the best presents to suit every type of mum this Mother’s Day, on Sunday 12 May 2019.

Read on to see how to give the main lady in your life a ‘mum-umental’ surprise.  

From specialised hampers to heart

Are you planning a wedding and wondering if you’re coming in under – or over – the budget of a standard Australian bash? According to a recent survey by WeddedWonderland.com, the average couple is spending $53,168 on their wedding.

While this might seem like a bit of a staggering number, the survey also showed that couples’ priorities are shifting, with a new wave of savvy shoppers bagging their bargains online. Here, we give you a sneak peek into what other betrothed couples are spending on their big day, and share some tips and tricks to help you get big style on a smaller budget.

Cost 1: The stationery and invites    

According to the WeddedWonderland.com survey, the average couple is spending about $784 just to get the word out about their celebration.

When you think about the fact th

For a very large number of us, our mum is the most influential female role model over the course of our life. She inspires us, challenges us to be our best and loves us unconditionally.

This Mother’s Day, personalised favours is being #inspiredbymums of all varieties and here we share with you unique and thoughtful Mother’s Day gifts for the most inspirational lady in your life.

 First time mums

 The very first Mother’s Day is a very special one in every woman’s life. If your friend, sister, wife or any other woman in your life is celebrating her first Mother’s Day this May, you need to honour this milestone with a beautiful and bespoke gift fitting of the

For many of us, Easter means just one thing: chocolate eggs, and plenty of them. But while they’re delicious as a one-off, too many sugar-laden treats can certainly spell disaster for our little ones (as well as the adults who are trying to keep them sane!) There are lots of other reasons to try to steer clear of a chocolate overload come Easter morning: the kids in your life might also have allergies, or be too young to indulge in a bit of cocoa.

For a gift that lasts longer than it takes to remove a foil wrapper, take a look at our list of the best non-chocolatey children’s Easter gift ideas for 2019 – they’re sure to give the sweet tooth a break (even if just for a little while!)

Bringing together two families - with two very different sets of expectations for what the big day should entail - can be a tricky part of anyone’s wedding planning. And that’s even beforeyou throw in a difference in cultural backgrounds! Being raised in two different cultures means that, as a couple, you might have different ways of communicating, a different understanding of family dynamics, and a different way of looking at the world. So how can you make your union work, when you’re also uniting two different cultures? To celebrate National Harmony Day, we’re delving into the world of cross-cultural wedding planning, and sharing the top six tips to ensure your celebrations are a rousing success.

1. Say it with a sand ceremony

Firstly, you’ll need to decide whether your wedding is going to feature two distinct ceremonies, or if you’ll host a combined ceremony that celebrates elements of both cultures. Budget and logistics migh

Buying for a new baby – or more accurately, their parents-to-be – can be a tad tricky: you want to get something pretty and practical, but you’re also pretty sure they’ll receive enough baby wipes and cotton washcloths to last them several lifetimes. For modern baby shower presents, it’s time to look a little outside the box. To make sure your next purchase doesn’t end up on the ‘regifting’ pile, first check out this list of 2019’s top six baby shower gift ideas… the new parents (and your wallet!) will be pleased you did.

1. A long-lasting memento they’ll treasure

If you’ve already got a bub of your own, you’ll know that you can become completely overwhelmed with presents

Personalised Favours Founder and Joint Managing Director, Melissa Wilkinson, has two babies – one is the personalised wedding and special occasions online store she began from her second bedroom almost ten years ago as the cornerstone of her global online empire, and the other is her four-month-old daughter, Jaz. On the eve of International Women’s Day 2019, Mel shares an honest account of the challenges and triumphs in her journey so far and helps women everywhere understand how they can achieve #balanceforbetter across all aspects of their lives.

Finding Better Balance

Although Melissa is only relatively new to the juggle of motherhood and running your own business, she already sees the renewed perspective being both a mum and a business owner has bou

On the eve of the 41^st Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and just over a year after Australia voted ‘Yes’ to marriage equality for all people, we thought it only fitting to ask: what are the best gifts to give same sex couples when they tie the knot?

Well friends, the answer is simple. The best same sex wedding gifts are thoughtful, heartfelt and customised to reflect the unique identity of the individual couple – just the same as the best wedding gifts for any couple the world over. Because after all, love is love.

Top 5 same sex wedding gift ideas

If you

How your fur babies can play a part in your paw-fect big day. They shared your home before your bride or groom, and once you met the love of your life, their approval was more important than your mum or dads. They nursed you through first dates and broken hearts, and gave their fur for you to cry into. In celebration of 'Love Your Pet Day', we're showing you how to include your beloved pooch in your big day.

Canine capers Did you know that Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world? Dogs are the most common pet, with 38 per cent of households owning a pup, and these numbers are only climbing higher. Licks and love aside, our four-legged friends are scientifically proven to provide us w

As International Fashion Week (IFW) propels around the globe from New York to Milan, London to Paris, we have followed in close pursuit to gauge the latest and greatest looks for brides in 2019. Here we bring you some of the highlights.

Meghan Markle-inspired

Echoing the sentiments of Bridal Fashion Week, which took place in New York in October last year, many of the looks at IFW are inspired by the ethereal beauty and timeless style of the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. Dubbed the style highlight of the year by fashionistas and bridal watchers the world over, her wedding to Prince Harry placed a renewed focus on letting simplicity and natural beauty shine through.

Asking the important people in your life to be part of your wedding party is an important milestone in your wedding journey. So, you want to make it as memorable and meaningful as possible. We've searched far and wide to bring you the six most original ways to pop the question to all the members of your 'I Do' Crew.

For the Ladies

Bridesquad. Bridesminions. Bridesmaids. Whatever you choose to call the nearest and dearest ladies in your life you have chosen to stand beside you on your big day, here's some inspired ways to ask them, so they couldn't refuse even if they wanted to!

1. Wine and Cheese-yes please!

What brings women all over the world closer together than the per

A personalised gift for every stage of your love

Valentine's Day is a special time of year. A time to recognise and reward the ones you love most with thoughtful and heartfelt gifts to express how much they really mean to you. As relationships change and progress, from that first rush of overwhelming feeling to a sense of companionship and mutual affection, we help you find the perfect personalised gift for every stage of your love.

Stage 1: Head over heels

It's official: you've found "The One." From that first glance to your now all-consuming attraction, you know undoubtedly this is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Everything they say is funny, witty, sexy and in most cases, quite literally the best words you've ever heard spoken. You delight in every touch, sight, sound and sensation and they have absolutely zero annoying quirks (yet)!  

After six weeks of fun in the sun, it's time for students across the nation to pull on their shoes (complete with blister blocks and the whitest socks they'll see) and grab their respective uniforms for the start of another school year. Some will run willingly toward the school gates, while others might take a little more convincing.

Whatever way they begin, a customised back to school gift will help to entice and delight them to start their school year off right.

Hottest looks for a sensationally stylish on-point wedding celebration  A new year brings with it fresh wedding inspiration and 2019 is no exception. What was SO HOT in 2018 might not even still be A THING and what you thought was to-die-for at your cousin Sal's wedding only two years ago can now seem dated and daggy. Never fear! Taking inspiration from experts around the globe, we have scoured high and low to bring you the top wedding trends for 2019 to help you create a simply sensational and stylishly on-point wedding celebration.

1. A splash of colour

Pantone has announced its colour of 2019 as a bright, sunny, pink-orange hue named 'Living Coral'. This year, the muted

The breeze is warm and the sand is hot. Summer is here! What a perfect season to celebrate. Summer is the ideal season for celebrations of every kind, and celebrations of love are no exception. Whether you're planning an Engagement Party, Wedding, Vow Renewal or simply a celebration of love and life, we share with you our top tips to create a truly sensational summer celebration.

1. Keep it cool

Possibly the most important factor to enjoy your summer celebrations is to ensure yourselves and your guests stay cool and well

Central Coast wedding and special occasion online marketplace, Personalised Favours, has cemented its position as a wedding industry leader, winning ‘Best Bonbonniere’ in NSW for the 5fth year in a row at the 22nd Australian Bridal Industry Awards (ABIA).

Following on from its national win at ABIA’s coveted Designer of Dreams award in June this year, Personalised Favours has attributed exceptional customer service and continual innovation as the key to its success.
With more than 25,000 registrations for the ABIA program every year, brides and grooms are asked to rate each of their vendors across the four pillars of perfection -- Quality of Product, Quality of Service, Attitude of Staff and Value for Money.

Founder and Joint Managing Director, Melissa Wil

We love this time of year. Love is in the air, everyone is winding down from a big year at work, and the general consensus is that folks are ready for a big knees-up party. Read on to find out if a Christmas Day wedding could be everything you've ho-ho-hoped for.

Thinking of getting married at the most festive time of the year? You're not alone - well, certainly not historically. In the UK during the 18th and 19th centuries, Christmas Day was a very popular date for weddings, with churches holding specialty nuptials every 25 December. While this may seem like a romantic choice, it was usually more of a necessity - according to findmypast.co.uk, Christmas and Boxing Day weddings occurred predominantly because it was the only day young, working-class couples could ensure they were allowed off work.

In many large cities like London, churches often offered free weddings and baptisms on Christmas Day, making it a cost-effective option,

"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me; a partridge in a pear tree."

While we've all heard the infamous strains of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' in every shopping centre, at every school concert and around every corner between here and eternity each festive season; what exactly is the 'twelve days of Christmas?' Where did it come from and what does it mean? We investigate one of the greatest mysteries of Christmas tradition and uncover why this simple concept has had such a great impact on Christmas as we know it.  

What are the 12 days of Christmas?

According to Christian religion, the twelve days of Christmas actually begins on December 25 (yep, that's right, Christmas Day), and i

Kris Kringle is fast becoming the staple of many an office Christmas party, festive family function or friends' Christmas catch-up. Love it or loathe it, there is no escaping that you will most likely be involved in at least one form of Kris Kringle gift-swapping shenanigans this festive season.
To make your Kris Kringle purchasing as painless as possible, we're sharing with you our ultimate Kris Kringle Gift Guide - with customised gift choices under $10, $20, $50 and $100, to suit any Kris Kringle budget.

Personalised Christmas Gifts under $15

Perfect for office parties, corporate Christmas functions or stocking fillers for the kids, customised Christmas gifts under $10 come in handy in more ways than one.

Christmas is looming large and with less than five weeks until the sacks have to be filled with presents aplenty and the stockings stuffed with gifts galore, we decided to give you a helping hand to make sure you cross off everyone on your Christmas list - even those who are notoriously hard-to-buy-for. Whether it's Brother-in-Law Barry who always has the latest and greatest of everything on the market, or Cousin Carmel who is known for complaining about any gifts she - we share with you how to find customised Christmas gifts that will please even the most difficult of recipients.

Chris

With only six weeks left until the fat man in the suit squeezes down our chimneys to bring joy and elation to children all over the world, it's well and truly time to get that Christmas list in order, and decide who's been naughty and who's been nice in 2018. From relatives to ring-ins, spouses to workplace superiors, we share with you the top gift ideas for everyone on your ever-expanding Christmas list, to keep you merry and bright this festive season.

Top gifts for teachers

Buying your child's teacher a meaningful gift they haven't already received or aren't likely to get 30 times over this year, can be a difficult task. Rather than opting for the standard stationery, coffee mug or chocolate treats that teachers receive by the tru

Everyone has that someone who is impossible to buy for. Whether it be the crazy uncle, the brother who has everything or the co-worker you hardly know but got for Kris Kringle.

Don't stress, because this year Personalised Favours has you covered. We have a complete range of personalised gifts to suit all budgets from engraved Christmas Decorations, personalised beer mugs and champagne glasses all the way through to Engraved Wine Boxes.

Receive free artwork and unlimited revisions with all orders and free delivery Australia and New Zealand wide on orders over $100.

Whether it's 'Anti-Valentine's Day', 'Singles Awareness Day' or 'Galentine's Day', across the world, those who are unlucky in love are reclaiming the sickly-sweet celebrations in ways that suit them. In honour of 'Singles Day' on 11 November - terribly named because the date 11 / 11 looks like some lonely, bare sticks - we're rewriting the singledom story, and showing you how to celebrate your solo self in three easy steps.

Step One: Shop up a storm, because there's nobody there to judge you

Here's a puzzle for you: what would you say is the biggest shopping day in China? It's not the Boxing Day sales like here in Aus, and they don't head off to trample each other in the 'Black Friday' sales like our American cousins, either. Instead, the biggest retail day of the calendar is 'Singles Day' on 11 November. There are online flash sales aplenty and deals to be found in stores, as single Chinese guys and girls

Christmas: we know it's the season to be merry, but is it also the perfect time for you to say "I do"? With holiday-themed weddings now trendier than ever, we look at simple, classic ways to incorporate a little Halloween, Easter or Yuletide spirit into your big day.

Let us blow your mind for a second: a holiday-themed wedding doesn't have to be as over-the-top as a five-year-old's rainbow My Little Pony birthday party. It's not all just ugly Christmas sweaters for the bridesmaids, or carved jack-o-lanterns as table centrepieces. In fact, a holiday-themed wedding can take some of the stress out of planning your big day, because when you get married on a holiday, you've got a colour palette, style and atmosphere already established.

And yes, it is possible to have a classy themed wedding - all you'll need are a few unexpected nods to the holiday you're celebrating. Here are four of the biggest holidays on the wedding pl

They're the patient angels who teach our kids their A-B-Cs and 1-2-3s, put up with their germs and jokes, and generally make a huge difference in their lives. In celebration of World Teachers' Day this Friday 26 October, we've compiled the best gifts for the teacher who is changing your child's world. 

1. A stylish writing piece that says "hand's off!" in the staff room

Writing countless reports and marking endless essays can really take its toll on a teacher's hand (not to mention their ballpoint) - so why not give them something functional, comfortable and beautiful to write with instead? The Christmas Engraved Crystal Pen adds a litt

They look so cute in their little flower girl dresses, mini-tuxedos and adorable accessories, sprinkling petals and bearing rings; but they can also be unpredictable, exhausted and can throw a tantrum bigger than Bridezilla herself. Children at weddings: it's a conundrum for brides and grooms the world over. Here we explore the dos and don'ts of having kids at your wedding. The call you make on this common wedding etiquette issue can make or break the happiest day of your life.

What type of wedding are you having?

The question of kids at your wedding may be largely taken out of your ha

Whether you're a country girl at heart, or you just prefer a relaxed, back-to-nature vibe over dollars and diamantes, a rustic-themed wedding could be right up your road.

If you're starting out on your wedding planning journey, it's easy to incorporate a rustic theme into your venue, and then build from the ground up - start out with an original barn, heritage building, winery or farmyard field, and add wildflowers to your bouquet and wooden tables without linen. But if you've already locked in the nearest surf club and you've still got your heart set on the rustic vibe, never fear: a few well-chosen decorations and bonbonniere can give any venue the laid-back, rustic country wedding vibe of your dreams.

First impressions count

Chances are, if you're reading this, your life has in some way been impacted by breast cancer. Whether it's affected your mum, sister, aunty, grandma, neighbour or BFF, the sad fact is: too many of us have a story to tell about the occurrence of breast cancer in our lives. With 50 Australian women diagnosed and 8 Australian women losing their battle with breast cancer every day (more than 3,000 will lose their lives to breast cancer this year), it's time to take action.

Supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation

Before you book the booze cruise and set up the shot glasses, check out these tips to ensure your Hen's party is the best one of her life. Being asked by the bride-to-be to plan her all-important Hens party is a pretty big deal. After all, she'll be surrounded by some of her closest girlfriends and family members, and you want to make it a night for everyone to remember, for all the right reasons.

From budgeting to bridal gifts, this 'how to' guide will make sure your Hen is the happiest chick on the block.

Set up her last-ever big date

It seems obvious, but the first thing you'll need to do is pick a date for the event. Be sure to give people plenty of notice, as it can be hard to find a day that will work for everyone. Of cours

The ring is on your finger and the news is out! You're engaged and it's time to PAR-TAY. Spring is the perfect time to celebrate, so we're sharing with you our guide to hosting the perfect engagement event.

Who to host?

If you're planning an engagement celebration, it's important to think about who will host the event. Traditionally the bride's parents were responsible for playing host to engagement festivities, however these days it's completely up to you. Who hosts the event will determine important elements including venue, budget and theme, so best to get this settled before you progress any further.

So, the love of your life has bent down on one knee and you've got the new bling on your hot little hand, but what happens next?

While a lot of saving, plotting and planning goes into the perfect proposal, not many of us give much thought to the steps that come afterwards. In fact, most people just fly by the seat of their (tuxedo) pants , which can cause unnecessary stress for everyone. Before you start blowing up balloons for the engagement party, we've put together a step-by-step list of pre-wedding protocols to help guide you through this busy time.

1. Family comes first

It's vital that the first people who find out about your impending nuptials are those nearest and dearest to you. Usually, this i

The season of rebirth and new beginnings, there is little wonder spring is still the most sought-after wedding season in Australia. Picturesque scenery and pleasant weather continue to make spring our most popular wedding season. But that's not all, We explore all the reasons why spring is the best season for weddings and celebrate the start of this Spring Wedding Season with the launch of our exclusive Rose Gold Luxe Collection.

1. New beginnings
   From Bambi to flower buds, spring is the season for renewal, fresh starts and new beginnings , the perfect time to begin your new life as a married couple. Spring is also associated with fertility, so any couples making baby plans straight away might want to consider a

Leaving a high-flying career in corporate banking to become Joint Managing Director of a personalised wedding favours and special occasion online store is an unusual choice for most 30-something dads. But this is exactly what MD Matthew Mosse-Robinson did back in 2013. And he's never looked back. Joining forces with sister-in-law and PF Founder Melissa Wilkinson, together they have transformed the company from a backyard operation into a multimillion dollar international enterprise, dispatching 3000 orders across Australasia and the US every month.

As the token male staff member and honorary 'Office Dad' we ask the all-important question: what do we get our MD for Father's Day?

Dads play an important role in the life of their little girl. Protector, provider and in many cases a role model for the man you will one day marry. There is often not a more pinnacle event in a father-daughter relationship than when your Dad walks you down the aisle. So, with Father's Day fast approaching we thought we'd share with you nine of the best ways to involve your Dad on your wedding day and make him a special part of your 'I Do' celebrations.

1. Involve him in the planning
   
   The key to involving dad in your wedding planning is to play to his strengths. Think about what he's good at and interested in - let him be your financial planner, wedding website developer, venue critic or use his contacts to source you the best photographer/caterer/florist he can find
   
   

Every year you promise you're going to get Dad a truly great gift for Father's Day because, well, he deserves it - and then it kinda creeps up on you and before you know it, it's here and your account balance reads like a Parramatta Eels score, so you grab him a half-price box of Favourites and promise yourself next year it will be different. If this sounds like you, we've found a solution.

Afterpay is the way of the future and here we share with you why we especially love Afterpay for Father's Day.  

Give Dad a great gift on time

The most obvious benefit of Afterpay is the 'Buy Now, Pay Later' principle. Taking the old-school concept of lay-bys to the next level, Afterpay allows you to purchase a gift right now and pay it off later using regular instalments, with zero interest. This means you'll be able to show up to your Father's Day celebrations with a zinger of a Dad's Day present - think an

Beat your siblings to the best present with these unique Father's Day gifts

They're regularly portrayed as the bumbling, goofy sidekick to mum, whose main role in the household is to fix things that are broken and be on-hand at Saturday morning sports. But today's fathers are more than just a stereotype. They're quirky, unique, fun and smart (if still a little embarrassing) - which are all of the things a great dad should be. Father's Day is the ideal opportunity to say thanks to the main man in your life. Whether they're your biological dad, a stepdad, an uncle or a fantastic father figure, our dads can have a tremendous impact on our lives. And because there's no 'one size fits all' model for how a dad should be, we're sharing a special Father's Day guide to help you to get the perfect pressie for every type of papa.

The New Dad

What a rollercoaster it's been. When a baby comes in to the world, every