Chocolate, in the name of research

The other evening I was relaxing on my lounge, watching House Hunters and eating chocolate. Nothing earth shattering there but I noticed or thought I did that the taste of the chocolate was different. Still yummy just different. Have you ever noticed any difference in a family block of Cadbury milk chocolate and a bite size share pack?

I'd never really thought about it before or noticed it really but I generally only buy the family size :-). The other week at IGA they had their Favourite on a 'too good to not buy' special and in this mix are small packs of our, well favourites! This is where the taste testing started. I had a block of Cadbury Dairy Milk at home that I'd bought the week before when they were half price. Can't go passed a special like that. I actually bought a 'few' blocks ;-)

This brings us to the 'this tastes different' research, ahem. There is definitely a difference. I found the larger block nicer and a bit smoother. I wonder why that is? Or is it just me? I might have to buy the share size, snack size, family size and the larger 350g size and do a blind tasting - all in the name of research of course! I wonder if I can get some government funding?

Have you ever noticed a difference? I do know that the UK Cadbury's is slightly different to ours as we need to have a higher melt temperature, so that effects the texture/taste a bit. I just don't know why the size of a chocolate bar would change the taste. Oooo, another thought, I wonder if other brands have the same taste difference - the research expands! I like this kind of research ;-)

Let me know if you've done any research on this topic and what your results were. A fun fact finding mission if ever there was one.

Chocolate, same but different or all in the head? I'm off to find out....

Our Top 5 Gifts of ALL Time

12 years, that's how long Rainbow Designs, the small business that could, has been around! Who'd have thought? I had hoped but you just never know when starting a business if it (or you) will go the distance. It's been a big old marathon, let me tell you, with many, many ups and downs but Rainbow Designs has survived. Sometimes it's been hanging on by just a thread and other times it's been getting gold medals and high fives. As the old cliche goes 'it's been a roller coaster ride' and I am sure will continue to be!

Over the years there have been many gifts to come and go, some just never popular and some so popular our suppliers ran out of stock but then we've had our 'old faithfuls' that have stood the test of time. Rainbow Designs started very small, with just 3 gifts all based on lollies, and over time expanded to include some glorious hampers. Some didn't worked but many found a place here at Rainbow Designs and some even became our all time favourites!

So, without further waffling, here are our Top 5 Gifts of ALL Time! (dramatic much??)

Coming in at number five with a very impressive display of modesty and chocolate goodness is:

Choco-Lot Gift Hamper - it's had a couple of changes over the years we've sold it but still remains a firm favourite, both with us and our customers!

Next up in position number 4 is:

Sweet Selection Hamper! Yay! This hamper has been with us since almost the beginning and never ceases to delight. We love this hamper!

Coming in at number 3:

Big Lolly Box! This little beauty has been with us since the VERY beginning and not surprisingly, given it's LOLLIES, is Mr Popularity! 

Number 2 is another stayer and been with us since the beginning:

Medium Sweet Tooth Box! Well done you - lollies and chocolates, who would love to receive this gift??

Drum roll please....brrbrrbrrrbrrr. Rainbow Designs' ALL time NUMBER 1 gift is:

Sweet Celebration Hamper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HIP HOORAY, for he's a lolly good fellow, for he's a lolly good fellow and so say ALL of us (and you!)!

As you can see our amazing customers are amazing sweet tooths! Lollies for as far as the eye can see or the belly can eat ;-)

It doesn't surprise me at all that our Top 5 Gifts are all lolly or chocolate based, that's what our business has been all about and the owner is a big sweet tooth herself!

Here's to many more chocolates being consumed and sent all across Australia to be enjoyed - thanks everyone for keeping Rainbow Designs alive, her owner appreciates it like you would not believe.

Winter is here and our Lolly Boxes are back!

And so the months whizz on by, how do you all keep up! Time's a bit of a blur and I'm finding it so hard keeping up with it all zooming by and me staying behind. As you may (or may not depending on your care factor) know we stopped our lolly and chocolate boxes with the idea of them coming back in the early part of this year. Early part of this year, gone! So much thought and pondering has been going on and finally we've flicked the switch and our boxes are back. Yay! They've only been back a few weeks now but have shown that they are still as popular as they also were. Phew!

Even though the lolly/chocolate boxes are back we made a few changes in how they're done. With this came a few teething problems but, happy days, these seemed to have been all sorted and we are back to providing fabulously yummy lolly gifts. These gift boxes are being packaged up at our super suppliers warehouse down in Melbourne, where our gorgeous gift hampers are made so I am confident that the quality and care is going to be top notch.

I am so thankful to have met such lovely people who have been behind me and my business for such a long time now, they're my own little cheer squad! To be honest, if it wasn't for them Rainbow Designs would not still be around. I've had my struggles as a small business owner, not only having to do everything on my own but not having anyone to bounce things off or just have a morning coffee with can be tough. It can be isolating and little bit scary. Working with another business has been the confidence builder and belief I have needed to keep things trucking along. It's nice to have someone to bounce ideas off and to step and help me out when things have got a bit tough and overwhelming for me. Yay for small business owners and their care factor.

May the lollies be with you!

~ Jacqui - Owner of Rainbow Designs

Easter without Easter Eggs??

Seeing as Rainbow Designs no longer does it's (fabulous) lolly and chocolate gift boxes (for now anyway) we also won't be doing our Easter egg boxes. We will have some yummy chocolatey alternatives to Easter eggs in the form of our Gift Hampers (which are available year round so you needn't wait for Easter!). Some comprise of just chocolates and some have a mix of chocolates, lollies and even champagne - happy Easter indeed!

Our Chocolate Easter Hampers start at $59 and include delivery although we also have a few hampers starting at just $50. ALL of our hamper prices include Australia wide delivery, fabulous gift packaging and a gift tag with your message.

Chocolate Savour Hamper - $80 delivered!

Chocoholics Gift Hamper - $75 delivered

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

1st of March and it is raining, hello Autumn! Not just raining but bucketing down, a perfect day for staying inside and writing, drinking coffee, eating chocolate and contemplating life.

What a year 2015 was, it went by in a blur. Rainbow Designs moved up north (along with its owner) and still happily resides on the banks of the Tweed River. Thankfully for the levy, especially on days like today!

You may (or may not) have noticed that Rainbow Designs is currently only selling our lovely Gift Hampers. I have been working with the company that provides these fabulous hampers for about 10 years now (oh my) and for now am going to continue this partnership and just focus on the gift hampers. I've had a tough past year and need to gather my thoughts and rest my very weary body for a bit so have decided to stop doing my lolly and chocolate boxes, for now anyway. There is no saying I won't bring them back for for the moment they're having a break. I know these were my main point of difference from other online gift shops but to be honest they weren't raking in the millions (like some people seem to think!), don't get me wrong, they were popular and I was sending out hundreds every year but I just need a break. I'm not as young as I once was :-)

So for now, Rainbow Designs is still open for business and still providing wonderful gifts with a smile and a bucket load of yumminess and will be for the forseeable future. I hope you continue to support my small business and enjoy gift giving and surprising your friends and family with our gift hampers for many, many years to come!

Thank you everyone who has supported me on my Rainbow Designs adventure, it's been fun and I look forward to many more fun times.

Jacqui 

Beer Gift Hampers

Some people are just naturally difficult to buy for! Each year as their birthday approaches you somehow manage to work yourself up into a sweat trying to decide what they need.

Let our beer hampers come to the rescue...ranging from $60 up to $130 (postage included) these beer hampers will brighten the day of any beer (or cider) loving recipient.

Beer is the most widely consumed alcohol and the third most popular drink after water and tea. It is also one of the oldest prepared beverages - did you know the Egyptians were working a little under the influence as they built the pyramids in Giza? And in Ancient Babylonia if you brewed a bad batch, you would be drowned. Now that's a serious hobby!

Here are a few of our popular gift hampers.

After Work Beers Hamper - $130

This After Work Beers Hampers is the ultimate in gift hampers - a mix of brews for the beer connoisseur to sample and enjoy.

This hamper features 12 different international and Australian beers, Lime Soya Stix, beer nuts and corn chips, all presented in a wonderful hamper for easy gift giving.

If you send this gift, there might even be a beer or two in it for you if they are feeling generous.

The Ultimate Cider Gift Box - $60

If they love cider then this Ultimate Cider Gift Box is for them.

Fun, affordable and full of quality products, their birthday will be a winner with this gift arriving on their doorstep.

This cider gift box includes apple cider, pear cider, roasted peanuts and a quality made cider glass. This gift box is a taste sensation and makes a change from our lager packs.

His Favourite Hamper - $90

Four premium boutique beers, corn chips, salsa, beer nuts, caramel coated peanuts and pretzels. This mix of food and drink items to tempt your taste buds sounds pretty good doesn't it?

It is definitely one of our most popular beer packs and one of my personal favourites.

And what's more, if you have forgotten their birthday, you can also choose express post on any of these hamper options to ensure it arrives as soon as possible.

You might have heard the quote "I've got 99 problems and beer solves them all" - well from your perspective it solves the biggest problem of all, what to buy them for their birthday.

Father's Day is Sunday 6 September 2015

Father's Day is one of those events that sneaks up on us every year. While we may have dad constantly in our heart, sometimes we struggle to order the gifts on time because... well... life just gets in the way.

At Rainbow Designs, we have a great range of lolly gifts and hampers to please the fussiest of dads and here are some of our favourites.

Big Chocolate Box: $43

A very impressive kilo sized chocolate box presented in a fabulous, reusable keepsake tin.

Lollies include, but are not limited to, M&Ms, freckles, clinkers, chocolate bullets, caramel buds, milk buds, cobbers, fantas, jaffas and smarties.

Yum, yum and yum!

Boutique Beer and Savoury Snacks Gift Hamper: $130

Craft beer is all the rage at the moment and for good reason, we think this beer and savoury snacks hamper will go down very well.

You even get a beer glass and coasters - what more could dad want?

Snacks include pretzels, corn chips, nuts and salsa.

Nuts About Sweets Gift Hamper: $60

This one has it all. Nuts, fudge, chocolate covered macadamia and three noodle boxes filled with lollies.

If you want to share this one with dad, best be there when it arrives because the contents won't last long.

Big Lolly  Box: $43

Equally as popular as our Big Chocolate Box, our Big Lolly Box is a popular choice for dad.

Presented in a reusable tin, lollies include jellybabies, snakes, raspberries, race cars, pineapple, milk bottles, strawberry & creams, chicos, jellybeans, red frogs, bananas, sherbies, redskins, milko chews, minties, gummi bears and licorice allsorts.

And if that's not enough, postage is included in the price of all hampers and lolly gifts, making shopping as simple as possible.

If you do decide to order one of our fantastic hampers (marked TGH - which stands for traditional gift hamper), we do recommend you order using Express Post to guarantee its arrival before Father's Day.

I know from your gift orders that many of you are super organised, and here I am still trying to work out my father's day plans,

What will you be getting up to on Father's Day?