Nonhlanhla Mkhonta is the creative force behind Blooms and Gifts, a fast-growing floral and gifting business that has bloomed beautifully from its pandemic-era beginnings into a beloved local brand with regional ambitions.
What began as a passion project during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has blossomed into one of Eswatini’s most inspiring entrepreneurial success stories. Blending floral artistry with thoughtful gifting, the business brings together creativity, emotional insight, and local craftsmanship to create memorable experiences for both individuals and corporates. Today, Blooms and Gifts is redefining how we give with intention, beauty, and meaning behind every bloom and box.
“I’m a born-again believer and a social work graduate from the University of Eswatini,” she says. “My love language is gifting, and during the uncertainty of COVID-19, I wanted to find a way to earn income and share love. That’s how Blooms and Gifts was born.”
What began as a personal expression of compassion and connection soon evolved into a strategic business model, leveraging her background in social work to build a brand that understands the emotional value behind every bouquet and hamper.
Unlike traditional florists, Blooms and Gifts prides itself on being a dual offering. “Our unique selling point is right there in our name,” Nonhlanhla explains. “We’re not just about flowers. We offer beautifully curated gifts too and we do both with intention and emotional intelligence.”
Blooms and Gifts operates in two main segments: floral and gifting. Their floral services include elegant bouquets, bespoke arrangements for individuals and events, and floral supply for event organizers and retailers. On the gifting side, the brand specializes in year-round corporate gifting—offering tailor-made packages that reflect each company’s values and voice.
“Gifting is a deeply emotional exercise. When done thoughtfully, it becomes a bridge between people and in business, that’s a powerful tool for building lasting relationships and not only socially but also in corporate it is a powerful tool that connects stakeholders”
One of the most meaningful milestones for Nonhlanhla and her team came in 2024, when Blooms and Gifts partnered with the Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF) for its 30-year celebration.
“This wasn’t just a big project, it was a transformative one,” she recalls. “It allowed us to tap into our network of local suppliers, from artisans creating handcrafted packaging to gourmet producers. It wasn’t just about the gifts, it was about uplifting our entire supply chain.”
This project perfectly reflected the brand’s commitment to inclusive growth, and since then, they’ve worked with esteemed clients such as the Central Bank, Standard Bank,Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation, FSRA, Stanlib, Old Mutual, YERF, Limkokwing, Observer, Eswatini Stock Exchange, and Finsure, among others.
Every Blooms and Gifts order begins with a simple, but crucial step: understanding the client. “We want to know the story behind the gift,” says Nonhlanhla. Whether orders come through Instagram, email, or (soon) their new e-commerce site, the team dives deep into the intention behind every request.
From there, the magic begins—curating florals or gifts with a keen eye for design, emotion, and local craftsmanship. Everything is assembled in-house, with meticulous attention to packaging and presentation. Local deliveries are often hand-delivered to ensure that nothing is left to chance. “At every stage,” she says, “our goal is to deliver more than a product. We deliver a moment of joy.”
For Nonhlanhla, each client brief is a chance to tell a new story. “We draw our inspiration from our customers. Every detail, from scent to colour, is part of the message we’re sending. We’re also constantly inspired by our local artisans, whose work adds so much richness to our offerings.”
Over the next five years, Nonhlanhla envisions Blooms and Gifts becoming evolving into a recognized regional brand within the SADC (Southern African Development Community), with an active presence in key markets such as South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia. “Our goal is not only to expand our footprint across these neighbouring countries —but we want to do it in a way that creates over 65 sustainable jobs,” she explains.
From designers and delivery teams to local product suppliers, the brand is committed to building a value chain that supports and celebrates African talent. “We aim to continue supporting local artisans and small businesses by integrating their products into our offerings and helping them access both mainstream and export markets,” she says. This includes locally made packaging, gourmet food items, and hand-crafted keepsakes elements that make their gifts both beautiful and meaningful.
Though she’s keeping some things under wraps, Nonhlanhla confirms that Blooms and Gifts is preparing for a major expansion into South Africa. Alongside that will be a new e-commerce platform, designed to simplify cross-border gifting between Eswatini and South Africa.
“This marks a significant milestone for us as we grow beyond our borders and tap into a broader regional audience,” she says. “We’ve seen a growing number of individual clients in South Africa who regularly place orders for their loved ones back home, and our upcoming platform is designed to make that process seamless, intuitive, and efficient.”
She welcomes Ready to send someone joy? Ordering from Blooms and Gifts is easy. Reach them through any of the following:
Call or WhatsApp: +268 7947 0069
Email: info@bloomsandgiftssz.com
Instagram: @blooms_n_gifts_sz
LinkedIn: Blooms and Gifts
Founder’s LinkedIn: Nonhlanhla Mkhonta
