I’ve always been interested in promoting ‘Australian-made’ and so for a long time I’ve looked for interesting ways to promote home grown innovation.
Of course, Australian food and wine have a deservedly excellent reputation so with this in mind, i’ve decided to start a ‘pop up online store’ to promote Aussie products by way of Christmas hampers. This brings together my love of Australiana, creating a new online alternative and …shopping! What a great combo!
Christmas hampers are mostly very traditional so I’d like to offer something a bit different. With my pop up store, you can choose the traditional option but also one with a contemporary slant and a luxury alternative.
So what would go into a ‘true blue’ Aussie Christmas hamper? My thoughts are some of the regulars – like Tim Tams. While not a ‘just for Christmas’ item, who doesn’t eat packets of them over the festive Aussie summer season? Then there’s wine. We have some fantastic Shiraz… just right for that family get together. And I’m even learning to love Chardonnay… the less oaken varieties have won me over so they would need to be well represented. Living as I do in Victoria, I would need to have in my basket some of our fantastic cheeses and relishes possibly from the Yarra Valley. My mouth is watering at the idea. Perhaps a bottle of sparkling wine of the Domaine Chandon variety or something equally gorgeous to accompany that cheese platter? A Botrytis Riesling from the Yarrawood Vineyard? Or a classic Rose from Dominique Portet also of the Yarra Valley. So many choices!
Now normally I wouldn’t share this with you so soon but I’m taking a tip from Austin Kleon and his book ‘Show your Work’ and while this isn’t about my art (as his book refers) but to a new ideas I’m developing, I still thought it a good idea to start getting things out into the world and worry less about waiting til it’s absolutely ‘ready’. It may also generate some great ideas or even some Australian producers who’d be interested in collaborating with me. Therefore: I’ll be opening my ‘store’ in just a few weeks in time for Christmas orders. Look forward to sharing some Aussie delights with you. I’d love to hear what you’d like to find in your Australian Christmas Hamper? Do tell me!
Pamela Sutton-Legaud CFRE MBA 
Great idea! I think I’d add some fabulous locally produced olive oil, balsamic vinegar, olives and some special salt from the Murray. Maybe give the Vegemite a miss but yes to Tim Tams!
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Pamela, I think you have hit on something there. So much Australian is remarkably unobserved by the rest of the world. Good for you! I do admire your boundless energy and enthusiasm, inspirational ideas and you have a canny knack of creating the reality…I could taste the cheese and chutney and reminisce about my many Yarra Valley visits for wine. Fergussons and Domaine Chandon fervently in mind. I will look out for your launch!
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