Give yourself time. Personalised print adds a step to the order, so build in a buffer rather than ordering the night before you need it, and allow longer in the busy run-up to Christmas.

Used well, a personalised box says you thought about the person, not just the occasion. For most givers, that is exactly the impression worth making.

The case for a mixed collection is simple. It sidesteps the guesswork of a single flavour, it gives him range to work through rather than a box finished in one sitting, and it reads as generous without needing an excuse. Birthdays, a new job, Father's Day, a thank you, or no occasion at all: a large box covers the lot, which makes it the reliable default when you are not sure what else to choose.

Skip the flowers, choose a large mixed collection, and add his name if you want the personal touch. It is a practical gift that suits almost any man and almost any occasion, which is precisely why it works when the usual ideas have run out.

Provenance gives a retirement gift the weight it should have. Lily 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.

Under the lid, the chocolates are the same handcrafted collections Lily O'Brien's has made in Newbridge, Co. Kildare since 1992, so personalising the outside does not mean compromising on what is inside. That balance is the point. The recipient gets something that looks made for them and tastes the way the brand has always tasted.