Every year around the same time, the wicker hamper makes its comeback. It turns up in catalogues stacked with beer, socks and a jar of chutney nobody asked for, wrapped in crinkly cellophane that takes three people and a pair of scissors to open. It photographs well for about a week. Then it goes in the shed, or worse, the bin.
Father's Day in Australia falls on 6 September 2026, and it's become a genuinely big deal for retailers. Recent research from the Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan found that around 4.7 million Australians were expected to spend a combined $720 million on gifts for dads, grandads, partners and father figures, with shoppers planning to spend an average of $145 per gift buyer. That's real money on the table, and a real opportunity for retailers who can package their Father's Day range in a way that feels considered rather than generic.
Enter the humble paper bag. Dressed up properly, a sturdy kraft bag can do everything a wicker hamper does, hold weight, look good under a bow, feel like a proper gift, without the storage headache or the landfill guilt. Here's how to build a Father's Day bundle that dads will actually want to open.
Why Ditch the Wicker Hamper?
Wicker baskets have had a good run, but they're increasingly out of step with what both retailers and shoppers actually want.
They're expensive to buy and expensive to store. A wicker hamper costs more than most bags before you've put a single item inside it, and a stockroom full of empty baskets waiting for stock day is dead space you're paying rent on.
They're bulky to ship and awkward to display. Baskets don't flat-pack. They take up shelf space, they're annoying to stack, and freight costs more when you're shipping air.
They usually can't be recycled. Once the ribbon and cellophane come off, most wicker and rattan hampers end up in general waste. A kraft paper bag, by contrast, is recyclable and biodegradable, and can be reused by the recipient long after the gift's been unwrapped.
They don't suit small-batch or made-to-order gifting. If you're a boutique retailer building bundles to order, a flat-packed bag you can assemble in seconds is far more practical than pre-buying baskets in bulk and hoping you guess the quantity right.
For consumers, the appeal is just as strong. A well-dressed paper bag bundle feels current and thoughtful rather than like something pulled off a supermarket shelf, and it's a lot easier to wrap, carry and post than a basket the size of a laundry hamper.
Creative "Hamper" Themes Using Paper Bags
The trick to a paper bag bundle is picking a bag that suits the weight and shape of what's going inside, then building a theme around it. Here are four Father's Day ideas to get started.
The Aussie BBQ Master Kit. Pack a set of tongs, a jar of rub or marinade, a bottle of hot sauce and a branded apron into a large, sturdy kraft paper bag with twisted handles. The reinforced base and taped handles mean it'll happily carry the weight of glass jars and metal tools without sagging, and the natural brown kraft look suits a rugged, backyard-BBQ aesthetic without any extra styling.
The Craft Beer or Cider Tasting Pack. For dads who'd rather sample than skoll, a two or three-bottle bundle works well in a bag built specifically for bottles. Reinforced wine bags with a sturdy base and secure handles keep bottles upright and stop them clinking together in transit, which matters if the bundle is being posted rather than handed over in person.
The Grooming and Skincare Edit. A beard oil, a good razor and a bar of soap don't weigh much, but they deserve to feel premium. A smaller kraft bag lined with tissue paper and finished with a wax seal or ribbon turns a handful of small items into something that looks like it came from a boutique, not a chemist shelf.
The "Last-Minute Legend" Grab Bag. For retailers, a pre-packed, ready-to-buy bundle solves the problem of the shopper who's walked in on 5 September with no plan. Think a chocolate bar, a novelty pair of socks and a scratchie or lottery ticket, bundled in a smaller printed bag near the checkout. Low cost, high margin, and it moves fast in the final week before Father's Day.
Retailers running any of these bundles at scale should look at custom printed paper bags, which let you stamp a Father's Day message or logo directly onto the bag itself, turning the packaging into a bit of free advertising every time it's carried out the door.
Elevating the Presentation
The difference between "gift in a paper bag" and "gift bundle in a paper bag" is almost entirely in the styling. A few small touches go a long way.
Line the bag with tissue paper. This is the single easiest upgrade available. A sheet or two of coloured or acid-free tissue paper tucked in before the contents go in, then fanned out over the top, instantly makes the bag look considered rather than thrown together. It also hides any awkward gaps or edges from oddly shaped items.
Fold the top down rather than leaving it open. A simple two or three-fold at the top of the bag, with a strip of ribbon or twine tied around it, gives a finished, gift-wrapped look without needing any wrapping paper at all.
Add a stamp or sticker. A rubber stamp with "Happy Father's Day" or a simple sun and BBQ tongs motif, or a custom sticker sealing the fold, adds a branded, personal touch in seconds. For retailers, this is a low-cost way to reinforce branding on every single bundle sold.
Use ribbon or raffia for texture. Kraft paper pairs naturally with jute twine or a woven ribbon, both of which read as more premium and more masculine than glossy gift-wrap bows.
Attach a tag with a short note or care instructions. If the bundle includes something like a leather wallet or a beard oil, a small tag explaining how to use or care for it adds a nice, thoughtful finishing touch.
None of this needs to take long. Most of these steps add under a minute per bundle, which matters if you're a retailer assembling dozens of them in the lead-up to Father's Day.
Will a Paper Bag Actually Hold Up?
This is the most common objection, and it's worth addressing directly. Modern kraft paper bags are not the flimsy lunch-bag style paper of decades past. Bags built with twisted paper handles, taped securely into a reinforced top edge, and a solid flat base are designed specifically to carry weight, including jars, bottles, tinned goods and grooming kits, without tearing or the handles pulling loose. Wine and bottle bags in particular are constructed with a heavier paper weight and a snugger fit around the base specifically so bottles don't shift or knock together.
The short version: if a bag is designed for retail or food service use, rather than a novelty gift-wrap bag, it can comfortably do the job a wicker hamper does, minus the bulk and the price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are paper bag hampers actually cheaper than wicker baskets? Generally yes. A quality kraft paper bag costs a fraction of a wicker basket, and buying in bulk brings the per-unit cost down further, which matters for retailers assembling bundles at volume.
Can paper bags really hold heavy items like bottles or jars? Yes, provided the bag is built for the job. Bags with reinforced twisted handles and a solid base are designed to carry glass and tinned items without tearing.
What's the best way to make a paper bag gift look less plain? Tissue paper, a folded and tied top, and a simple stamp or sticker are the three easiest upgrades, and together they take a bag from "packaging" to "gift" in a couple of minutes.
Can retailers get bags custom printed with their own branding for Father's Day? Yes. Custom printed bags can carry a logo, message or Father's Day design, and are a straightforward way to add branding to a seasonal bundle without much extra cost.
Wrapping It Up
Wicker hampers had their moment, but for Father's Day 2026, paper bag bundles offer everything shoppers and retailers actually want: they're cheaper, easier to store and ship, genuinely eco-friendly, and sturdy enough to carry whatever's going inside, from beer bottles to BBQ tools. Dress one up with tissue paper, a fold and a ribbon, and it holds its own against any basket on the shelf.
If you're prepping a Father's Day range this year, browse Smartbag's range of kraft paper bags, wine bags and custom printed options to put together bundles that are ready to sell well before 6 September.