How We Care

Cotlands

NetFlorist does not only focus its energies on making sure it remains South Africa’s largest flower and gifting supplier in the country, it also supports two non-profit organisations as part of its corporate social investment programmes. Cotlands and the Legacy Pride initiative each benefit from NetFlorist’s partnership with them.

 

Cotlands CSI

Founded in 1936, Cotlands provides a home for and meets the needs of children impacted by HIV/AIDS. It also offers a variety of residential and community-based programmes to meet the needs of vulnerable children.

 

NetFlorist’s relationship with Cotlands began in 2002, when the company treated about 70 children to snacks and drinks, then asked them to draw mock-ups for NetFlorist's care cards. The top 20 drawings were selected for use on the cards to go out with the company’s bouquets. In return, NetFlorist made donations to Cotlands.

 

In 2007 the relationship was extended with the introduction of the Orange Roses Campaign an annual event, during which R10 or R20 is donated to Cotlands for every NetFlorist Dozen (fifteen) or bunch of 24 orange roses respectively purchased by the public. The 2009 Campaign was a great success, partly due to a well-attended reader event and auction held in partnership with Longevity Magazine. The money raised has been used to fund the organisation’s many projects including Cotlands House, the organisation’s facility in Turffontein that houses 10 HIV-positive children aged between eight and 12 years.

 

 

NetFlorist supports Cotlands in several other ways. Donations by event marketing companies are made to Cotlands every time NetFlorist representatives are asked to speak at an event or function. The company makes random donations of all "excess stock" that it accumulates – including food, magazines and the like. An electronic coin box was launched in 2009, where all customers shopping on NetFlorist’s website are asked if they would like to round up their purchase to the nearest R5 and have this money donated to Cotlands.  Almost all customers who transact through the website are taking up this option. Thanks to the generosity of NetFlorist's customers, R43 922,57 was raised in the first five months of 2011 alone through the electronic coin box initiative.