The third is presentation. A well-made boxed selection reads as considered on its own, without needing a vase or trimming. It travels by post if you are apart on the day, and it arrives intact rather than needing water within the hour. For a couple spending the evening together, it doubles as something to share after dinner.

As with any bought-in gift, check allergen information on the packaging or with the retailer directly if buying for someone whose dietary needs are not known well.

There is a sharing case too. If you are the one organising the team's festive spread, a larger box of wrapped pieces is easier to manage than anything that needs cutting or plating. People help themselves, the box stays tidy, and there is no waste from a half-eaten centrepiece at the end of the day.

There is also the question of who the gift is for. A young family is well served by a mixed hamper that has something for every age at the table. A couple might prefer a smaller boxed selection built around darker, single-origin cocoa. A colleague or a neighbour you want to thank sits comfortably with a share bag of individually wrapped pieces, easy to leave on a desk or hand over at the door.

Sending personalised chocolate photo box by post is straightforward, but the details that make it go smoothly are worth knowing, especially in the weeks around Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter when the courier network is at its busiest. A little understanding of how it works saves a lot of last-minute worry.

The end of the summer term brings the same small dilemma to a lot of households. You want to thank a teacher who has spent a year with your child, the budget is not endless, and you would rather not add to a staffroom already knee-deep in mugs and hand cream. A well-chosen box of chocolates avoids all three problems.