NetFlorist extends brand with NetGifts

Johannesburg, 15 November, 2010 - NetGifts, an offshoot of South Africa's leading flower and gifting supplier, NetFlorist, is the newest kid on the online shopping block. Gifts have been part of NetFlorist's product offering for the past four years and the gifting trade has consistently shown growth figures of 40 per cent year-on-year. The continuing growth in both the range and popularity of NetFlorist's gifts has warranted the creation of a separate, dedicated site to house them.

A steadily increasing number of South Africans are adopting the practice of online shopping, making this an opportune time to offer them the option of shopping for gifts online.

Sue Morris, marketing executive of NetFlorist and NetGifts, shares her thoughts on the introduction of the new brand to the South African market.

What impact do you foresee the introduction of the NetGifts brand having on the overall NetFlorist offering?
The NetGifts site follows in the footsteps of its sibling site by continuing to cater for any occasion, recipient and budget. In fact, NetGifts caters for a greater number of occasions than NetFlorist did. NetGifts takes care of the whole process for shoppers, from helping them to select gifts, to packaging and delivery. The company's quest for unparalleled customer service means that anyone who uses NetGifts can be assured that the recipient will get a unique, top-quality, beautifully packaged gift, delivered to their doorstep, right on time.

The new site is also more accessible to customers, as it makes more sense for people to buy gifts from a gifting site rather than an online florist. We expect a growth in sales from our existing customer base and we also expect the NetGifts site to appeal to new customers.

What sort of reception do you foresee NetGifts getting from consumers?
We hope that consumers will be excited about the new site. There are two main factors that we think will appeal to them. The first is the convenience factor – shopping for gifts online saves so much time compared to going out and looking for a gift in a mall, and the NetGifts site is structured in a way that makes selecting and buying gifts really easy.

The second factor is our range, which currently encompasses over 450 different gifts and will continue to grow. NetGifts' contemporary offerings reflect gifting trends from around the globe, and the combinations and packaging of our gifts cannot be found at any other store, on- or offline.

Why the introduction of NetGifts at all and why at this time?
The launch of NetGifts is unlike other launches in that it is not a completely new business venture. The gifting side of NetFlorist has been up and running for four years already, so it is not an untested concept, rather, it is an established, successful business in its own right. In those four years, we have built up the product range, evolved our packaging into something that customers love and enhanced the online shopping experience to make it as simple and convenient as possible. Even though it is a new brand, for all intents and purposes, NetGifts already has a solid reputation that customers can rely on.

The creation of a dedicated site was justified by the fact that the range of gifts has outgrown its place on the NetFlorist site and so the new site has been launched just in time for the festive season, when gift shopping reaches its peak.

What brand considerations did you undertake when planning the launch of NetGifts?
Our aim is to position NetGifts as a sibling brand to NetFlorist in order to leverage the existing brand's well-established reputation for excellent customer service and reliable delivery.

How are these brand considerations or values expressed in the execution of the design and promotional material for NetGifts?
We have specifically created a strong association between the NetFlorist and NetGifts branding by giving the two brands a similar look and feel. Most notably, both brand names begin with "Net" and the colour palettes of the websites are similar - eye-pleasing pastel shades are used on both sites. The design and layout of the two sites are exactly the same - laythisout works very well for NetFlorist already and it will make the transition to NetGifts very easy for existing customers. Although each brand will have its own distinct personality, NetFlorist's quirky, humorous and irreverent character will resonate through both brands.

About NetGifts
Thinking about a gift and how you're going to send it? Think NetGifts, brought to you by NetFlorist, South Africa's most trusted flower and gift delivery company. Developed to house the company's ever-expanding range of gifts, which currently stands at over 400 options, www.netgifts.co.za offers top-quality gifts that are speedily delivered anywhere in South Africa. The unique gifts ordered online or over the phone, as well as the stunning packaging and top-notch delivery service, all add up to convenience and great value for money. Friends, family and business associates will be thrilled to have a NetGifts package arrive at their doorstep, making the gifts you send them truly memorable. With its finger on the pulse of the latest trends, NetGifts has something to suit every taste and occasion, so you'll never battle to choose or send a gift again. From bracelets to balloon flights and cookies to country getaways, visit www.netgifts.co.za or call 0861 300 500 for gift ideas that will inspire you. Delivery charges to anywhere in South Africa are R55.