5 March 2017

A box of love goods - win a Canberra Day hamper from The Local Larder

Join the conversation
12

I wanted to give someone a thank you gift. Something that was classy, interesting and said more than a bottle of plonk on special from the local bottles shop. And flowers wouldn’t do because it was for a man and, well, sometimes that just doesn’t quite work as a thankyou. Especially in a professional context. So I was excited to discover the quality and value-for-money hampers of local Canberra products by The Local Larder. Ahead of Canberra Day, these are sure to be a popular product.

Local Larder 1

The Local Larder is founded by Rachel Evagelou, who is well known to many Canberrans as the bright, chirpy and fabulously vintage dressed face behind Shop Handmade. Sadly, the shop is no more after the building was demolished to make way for a new city residential centre. Rachel is now selling locally produced food, wine and gift items online.

Rachel photo

The venture began six weeks before Christmas in response to ‘desperate cries’ from customers who wanted to get their handmade shopping done. Rachel began promoting at the December Handmade market, and business has spread quickly through those in the know since then.

What’s in the hampers?

There are a selection online that includes ‘thank you’ and ‘thank you very much’ selections (I purchased one of the latter; for $60 the hamper included a lemon and soy candle, a box of Himalayan rock salt and wakame dark chocolate from Jasper + Myrtle, and a bottle of Shaw Vintage Estate Sparkling Cuvee.)

Thank you very much hamper that I purchased

The iconic Canberra Bus Stop range that was a stellar seller from Handmade is represented with a Trevor Dickinson designed selection of items. And then there is the ‘Canberra Really Lovely Place’ welcoming packs, that includes items designed to welcome even the most reluctant new Canberrans (including the fabulously named Canberra does not suck lollies). Who could not help but be won over?

Canberra bus stops

Rachel said that her hampers are really popular with people who buy them to welcome new colleagues or friends to Canberra. She has been doing many special hampers for newbies to Canberra at this time of year. “Canberra has such a transient population,” she said. “People are always coming and going. Our hampers are really popular both to welcome new people and to send overseas to people homesick for Canberra.”

Local Larder 2

Her hampers are also popular with corporate clients. Rachel recently prepared 40 hampers for attendees at a conference at the Hyatt, which included custom packaged chocolates and other items bearing the corporate logo. She has also done corporate hampers incorporating Indigenous artwork adorned sunglass cases.

Rachel attributes the success of her online hamper business to the fact that consumer want to provide value gifts that are special and unique, rather than gimmicky items that will never be used. “Locally produced items have more meaning behind them, and more thought and love have gone into them,” she said.

Rachel is a proud Canberran, who is committed to promoting regional product. “I have always been a proud Canberran, and I loved how Canberra really came alive during our centenary year. We produce some amazing food and wine that really deserves a space. It is difficult, for example, for many local producers to be stocked by major supermarkets. I want to give these producers a voice and a place for them to showcase their love goods.”

You can purchase the Local Larder items online, or visit Rachel at the next Handmade market from 18-19 March at EPIC.

Canberra Day Giveaway

Canberra lovely place

To celebrate Canberra Day, the Riot-ACT has one ‘Canberra Really Lovely Place’ hamper valued at $85 to give away. To enter, simply tell us what you love about Canberra in the comments to this post. We will announce the best winning entry on Monday 13 March.

Join the conversation

12
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

I love all the entrepreneurs and pop ups in Canberra. There are just so many awesome small businesses that we are really spoilt for choice – if we can find them of course hahaha. A beautiful city of beautiful souls – what’s not to love about Canberra?

These are a few of my favourite things: that particular dazzling sunshine you get on frosty winter mornings; tempering those scorching summer winds with a swim in the river; the glorious autumn leaf colour of our historical tree plantings; and seeing snow on the Brindabellas.

I love that I can see green hills wherever I go. <3

I love that Canberra has 4 beautiful seasons!
I’ve lived here since 1977 and love it!
For about a year or so during this time, I moved to FNQ. I would fly back to Canberra as often as I could manage and noticing the glorious change of seasons used to make me nearly cry!
Pure beauty ?how lucky are we? ?

I like that Canberra is what you make of it. Since moving here I have found an amazing variety of activities, locations and people to enjoy and I have been a fierce advocate for Canberra ever since. Canberra: it is what you make it.

People who say Canberra is boring just don’t want to open their eyes to what’s right in front of them, Canberra has an amazing community spirit and I love how much support for local businesses there is, the food scene is growing everyday and businesses are thriving, Canberra is the place to be and I will definitely be staying to see it grow more and more!

iheartcanberra11:07 am 04 Mar 17

What *isn’t* there to love about Canberra town, our nation’s capital? Almost heaven, picturehouse, surrounded by mountains and rolling measures. Basically, a hub of awesome! And that’s why ‘iheartcanberra’! 😀

Sueannematthews10:55 am 04 Mar 17

Canberra is lovely. Like a warm hug. All the curvy roads and roundabouts, curvy bus stops and rounded hills. It is better than you think – with passionate foodies, musos and artists. I’ve never felt as “at home” as I do in Canberra

Melissa Carrington10:26 am 04 Mar 17

I love the Canberra community spirit.

I love so much about Canberra, to put it all into words would result in a novel. Beyond the usual mentions of its proximity to the mountains and the stunningly perfect south coast, the different seasons and the lack of traffic congestion (mostly), the nearby hiking tracks in Namadgi and Tidbinbilla (I’m currently doing 52 different hikes in 52 weeks around Canberra to explore more) and so many others I would love to mention but my favourite thing is the people. We recently had a French exchange student stay with us for two weeks. Every time we went anywhere, even just a walk around the lake, the hello’s, nods and smiles from strangers warmed my heart and surprised our visitor. Love the sense of community. Love that there is opportunities that a city provides without compromising on that sense of community. Oh and I also love March so much…. hot air balloons, lights in the night, fireworks to music. All free! What’s not to love…..

I think Canberra really punches above its weight as a great place to live. There are so many superb restaurants, always an interesting exhibition or performance to see, and yet a 15 minute drive can have you exploring unspoiled natural beauty. Love my Canberra 🙂

I really love that Canberra, despite what the rest of country thinks, always has something going on, and there’s a real soul here, we live and create a life here that’s different.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.