Businesses See 45% Increase in Corporate Gift Sales as Year-End Approaches

Johannesburg – NetFlorist reports a notable 45% rise in corporate gifting for the year-end period of 2025, compared to average sales throughout the year, as South African companies increased gifting to employees and clients in anticipation of the festive season.

During the year-end phase, businesses allocated an average of R850 per client gift, in contrast to R250 for employee gifts, while premium items for key clients and senior executives exceeded R1,000.

Personalisation plays a key role in year-end corporate gifting, with 85% of NetFlorist’s corporate orders featuring a recipient’s name and/or company branding.

Key statistics at a glance:

• Corporate gifting revenue surged by 45% during NetFlorist’s year-end period from mid-October to December in 2025, compared to average sales throughout the rest of the year.
• Average spending was R850 on client gifts and R250 on employee gifts during this timeframe.
• Premium gifts for key clients and senior executives surpassed R1,000.
• 85% of NetFlorist’s corporate orders featured some type of personalisation — a name, message, or company branding.
• Employee gifting initiatives were generally arranged four to six weeks in advance, in contrast to one to two weeks for individual corporate orders.
• The most significant corporate order to date from NetFlorist consisted of 4,500 branded snack tins for a company in the automotive industry.

Ryan Bacher, co-founder and managing director of NetFlorist, notes that this increase illustrates the concentrated nature of corporate gifting in the concluding weeks of the corporate calendar.

“From mid-October onwards, corporate gifting shifts quickly from sporadic orders to structured year-end programs.”

“Businesses often manage purchasing for a diverse range of recipients simultaneously, from hundreds or even thousands of employees to smaller groups of valued clients.”

Spending patterns: clients vs. employees

The variation in average spending reflects the distinct scale and intent of client and employee gifting.

Client gifting typically involves smaller amounts with higher-value options, including premium hampers, gourmet treats, and customised combinations.

Conversely, employee gifting occurs on a much larger scale, with popular items such as chocolates, mugs, water bottles, lunch bags, and smaller gourmet or bath and body hampers.

“The difference in expenditure should not be interpreted as a difference in significance,” Bacher explains.

“Employee programs are considerably larger, prompting businesses to carefully balance the cost per gift with the necessity to acknowledge a much larger audience.”

An example of scale is seen in NetFlorist’s largest corporate order to date, comprising 4,500 branded snack tins for employees of an automotive sector company.

Moreover, larger employee programs demand more extensive planning. Data from NetFlorist indicates that these orders are typically initiated four to six weeks ahead of time, unlike one to two weeks for individual corporate orders, as businesses organize recipient lists, personalisation, and delivery details.

“A business might place a single order for thousands of employees, but each recipient experiences that gift uniquely,” Bacher asserts.

“The challenge lies in managing the scale while ensuring recipients feel valued and not just another name on a distribution list.”

What businesses are purchasing

According to NetFlorist’s corporate sales data for 2026 thus far, flowers continue to dominate the corporate gifting sector, representing 41.4% of total expenditure.

Snacks follow as the second-largest category at 18.4%, with personalised gifts making up 16.7%.

Together, these three categories account for 76.5% of NetFlorist’s corporate gifting expenditure.

South African corporate gifting expenditure by category, 2026: NetFlorist Category	% of sales
Flowers	41.4%
Snacks	18.4%
Personalised gifts	16.7%
Chocolate & nougat	7.2%
Plants	4.9%
Alcohol	4.3%
Other	3.8%
Baby	2.8%
Stationery	0.3%
Apparel	0.1%

Source: NetFlorist internal sales data: 1 January – 1 September 2026

Personalisation in corporate gifts

Beyond product selection, the data indicates that personalisation has emerged as a crucial element of corporate gifting.

Approximately 85% of NetFlorist’s year-end corporate orders encompass some form of personalisation, often featuring the recipient’s name and/or company branding.

Bacher emphasizes that companies increasingly need to balance brand visibility with the personal touch that makes each gift feel thoughtfully chosen for the recipient.

“No one wants their year-end gift to resemble an advertisement,” he states.

“While a company’s identity can still be present, the focus should be on the person receiving the gift.”

Branding, however, continues to be preferred for larger employee programs, particularly on practical items that can foster a sense of unity among a workforce.

Hybrid and geographically dispersed teams also add an additional layer of consideration.

Whereas businesses once delivered hundreds of gifts to a single office, employee gifting initiatives must now include individual deliveries to recipients throughout South Africa.

Bacher highlights that this shift necessitates more meticulous planning as businesses approach the year-end rush.

“Before determining what to purchase or the placement of logos, businesses should reflect on the message they wish the recipient to derive from the gesture,” suggests Bacher.

“Once this is established, the gift, message, and delivery can be harmoniously integrated to convey it.”

The data indicates that year-end gifting remains a vital means through which South African companies recognize both employees and clients.

As most of this activity unfolds between mid-October and December, companies planning ahead can better manage large orders, personalisation, and deliveries, especially when gifting across various locations.