Finding the perfect gift can be a stressful and sometimes painful process. You want it to be personal, but different. You’d like the receiver to feel special, and know that you took the time to think about them and appreciate who they are. You don’t want to give them something they can easily get themselves, or something they are just going to throw in the corner.
If you are in this conundrum right now, then you should head to the Kipco Tower to see Samar Al-Hajjaj at Original Basket Boutique. As soon as you walk into the store, you can see the impressive array of materials she has for baskets, and her incredible ability to piece unique items together to create the perfect present.
It isn’t magic, it is dedication.
“I enjoy what I do,” she told bazaar. “Anybody who enjoys what they do puts a little more effort than it being a job.”
When you think of gift baskets, it invokes pictures of wicker baskets with chocolate, coffee or tea. Indeed, at Original Basket Boutique you can get Feridies gourmet nuts in sweet or savory flavors, and all the other regular trappings of a snack gift basket. Or, you can go for something special.
For Al-Hajjaj special is a personal touch bound to make your gift giving experience a memorable one. At any given moment you will probably find her skirting around the store, gathering materials for her latest creation. It is in the back though, on the comfortable white sofa, where it all begins.
There you can get to know the warm and humorous Al-Hajjaj, and she finds out everything she needs in order to make it your special basket. She asks questions about the occasion, and what makes that person special. Some may have a piece they have already purchased, such as a favorite video game or a piece of jewelry. Others start from scratch, and only a budget in mind. No matter the occasion, or the gift, Al-Hajjaj is ready for any challenge.
“What we have is a complete gift basket company, so we have houseware, a baby line, a gourmet line, giftware occasions and accessories,” said Al-Hajjaj. “If we don’t have the item a customer is looking for, we will go out and find it for them. So we basically take the hassle out of gift giving.”
And they love to get creative. If someone is looking for a gift for the camping lover in their life she suggests using an old Kuwaiti portable aluminum barbecue grill as the basket, and fill it with sauces, utensils, and a GPS tracker. She will place the items on a bed of coal in the pan, and wrap it in the special foil wrap, and deliver it within 24 hours.
“When you think about it, it’s about putting all parts of the person in a basket with all the things they may like,” she said.
With five years experience putting these baskets together, Al-Hajjaj is bound to have some interesting ideas for your next occasion. She’s worked on all kinds of events from baby showers and bachelorette parties to corporate events. Every piece that leaves her store is a reflection of her talent, and the person’s interests.
For those that are looking for something more standard and quick, she invites them to search available items on her website. Go for a ready-made Crayola ensemble for the kid in your life, a pasta and snack basket for your new neighbor or a personalized bath basket for your loved one on Valentine’s Day, complete with embroidered towels.
So, next time you’re short on ideas for an occasion, head over to the Original Basket Boutique and take a moment with Al-Hajjaj on her white couch, and let her help you make the day a memorable one.
Visit the Original Basket Boutique on the M2 level of the Kipco Tower from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Contact them at meorders@obbgifts.com or by phone at 9972 8030, visit their website at www.obbgifts.com or www.obbme.com . You can also follow them on Instagram