Firm seeks ideas on county-themed gift box

Bespoke gift service Colleague Box is seeking help from Bondholders to decide how to encapsulate the best of Derbyshire in a single package.

The Derby firm, founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife team Adam and Natalie Bamford, is launching a Derbyshire gift box containing items that best-celebrate the county’s heritage, taste and creativity.

Initial research, using the couple’s own knowledge and their subsequent request for ideas from the public via social media, has revealed a wealth of potential products which could be included in the box.

But the pair also unearthed some Derbyshire brands and products that they were either unaware of or had forgotten were from the county.

So, the firm has issued another appeal to see if there are any other worthy contenders out there before the final shortlist of contents is agreed.

Natalie said: “We’ve had some wonderful feedback from people on social media, but we want to leave no stone unturned.

“Plenty of people suggested really famous Derbyshire products, like Bakewell puddings, Derbyshire oatcakes, Ashbourne gingerbread, Thornton’s chocolate and Hartington cheese.

“But we were also very pleasantly surprised to discover some amazing new brands – as well as ones we had forgotten were manufactured in the area.”

It is envisaged that the regional boxes would make perfect gifts for businesses to present to visitors from outside the region, or perhaps for hotels or Airbnbs to leave in rooms for their guests.

Natalie said: “Many of us also have friends and family who may have moved away from the area or even emigrated, so it would be really nice for them to receive a little reminder of home.”

The cost of the Derbyshire Box is yet to be determined, pending the final choice of contents.

Natalie said: “We’d love to hear more ideas if anyone has any. Not everything can go in the box, but we’re looking for the perfect combination of food, drinks and other products that shout ‘Derbyshire’.

“Given that so many brilliant products are made here, it may be that we look to create seasonal Derbyshire boxes or collate a different Derbyshire Box each year.”

To offer suggestions e-mail hello@colleaguebox.co.uk.