Meet the Merchant: Letter Box Hamper

Some businesses start with a bold idea. Others begin with a small moment of realisation. Letter Box Hamper happened because one man looked at the traditional hamper world and thought… we can do this better.

We sat down with founder Jonathan Winfield to hear how a simple spark in Cornwall grew into one of the most thoughtful postable gift brands in the UK.

Business: Letter Box Hamper
Founder: Jonathan Winfield
Location: Cornwall

What inspired you to start your business?

Letter Box Hamper is a business born out of a desire to revamp the hamper industry. Our thoughtful, personalised, small hampers make for the perfect postable present, each beautifully hand wrapped and delivered as a surprise, straight through letter boxes.

I founded Letter Box Hamper in 2014 after moving to Cornwall and falling in love with the slower pace of life. I soon discovered an incredible array of food and drink producers right on my doorstep, each passionate about their produce as well as their environmental credentials.

This immediately struck a chord with me—my background is in sustainability, and I was all too aware of the need to reduce food waste and improve packaging options, which was particularly pertinent in the hamper industry.

I noticed that most food hampers were oversized, packed with more items than recipients actually wanted, and wrapped in unsustainable packaging. There was a clear gap in the market for smaller hampers that tackled food waste and packaging concerns without sacrificing quality or convenience—and that's how Letter Box Hamper was born.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far?

You always have to innovate and keep changing, updating products and processes to stay fresh and front of mind for customers.

What makes your business special?

People really seem to love the old-school vibe we bring to gift wrapping: classic parcel paper, natural twine, the whole traditional aesthetic.

Also, people love the price point and that they know it's going to be delivered hassle-free to their recipients.

What’s your favourite product and why?

Cheese Lovers Letter Box Hamper – a cheese and biscuits delivery through the letter box!

What’s the top piece of advice you would give to fellow small business owners?

Start small and build – the best research you can do is to get started and get customer feedback along the way.

What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received?

An olive oil subscription delivery – completely out of the blue and just when needed! And with a lovely community and environmental story behind it.

Let's post some happiness

Fancy popping some joy through someone's letterbox? Let's chat and find the perfect surprise together.