Then there are the larger thank yous, a promotion helped along by a mentor, or a significant favour, where a fuller collection is appropriate. Match the size of the gift to the size of the gesture and you rarely misjudge it.

Keep the presentation neutral and consistent. A uniform look across every gift you send reads as deliberate, which matters when clients compare notes or when the same box appears on several desks. Avoid anything that dates quickly or ties you to one season if the gifts will go out over several weeks.

One honest note. If anyone at the gathering asks about ingredients or dietary suitability, point them to the published product information rather than answering yourself.

Placement is part of the styling, not an afterthought. A favour usually sits on the side plate, on the napkin, or just above the setting alongside the place card. Keep it consistent down the whole table, because an even line reads as considered while a scattered one looks rushed. If the box carries a printed name or date, angle it so guests see it as they sit.

Provenance gives a retirement gift the weight it should have. Lily O'brien's Chocolates O'Brien's has handcrafted its chocolates in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since 1992, and holds BRC Grade A+ accreditation for its production, so the hamper arrives as something made with genuine care rather than assembled for the sake of it. For a gift meant to say a career mattered, that kind of detail does real work.

Wedding favours run on two questions that couples always ask and rarely find a straight answer to: how many chocolates per guest, and when to order. Both have practical answers.