The short answer: the best retirement gifts celebrate the career that is ending and the free time that is beginning. A bright bouquet is perfect for the last day at work or the retirement party, while a potted plant or an orchid makes a lasting gift for someone who is about to spend more time at home. A gift basket is a lovely choice when a whole team wants to give something together.
Here is how to choose, what to write on the card, and how to time it.
Flowers for the last day or the party
Retirement is a celebration, so this is the moment for cheerful colour. Yellow, orange and mixed bright bouquets feel festive and optimistic, and they look wonderful on a desk during the final week or on a table at the party. If you know the retiree's favourite flower or colour, use it. A personal touch always means more than a generic arrangement.
Choose an arrangement that arrives in a vase. The retiree may be carrying home boxes from the office, and a ready-to-display bouquet is much easier to take home than loose stems. Our best sellers are a good place to start, with designs that suit both a colleague and a close friend.
Plants and orchids for the next chapter
Many people look forward to retirement as a chance to spend more time at home, in the garden or on new hobbies. A plant fits that perfectly, because it will keep growing long after the party is over.
- Orchids. Elegant and long lasting, a phalaenopsis orchid suits someone who appreciates a refined gift. It needs water only about once a week. Browse our orchids.
- Planter gardens and succulents. A mixed planter or a small succulent garden is easy to care for and brings life to a sunroom, a kitchen or a home office. See our plants and succulents.
A plant is also a good choice if the retiree is moving, travelling or downsizing soon, since it is easy to carry and to share.
Gift baskets from the team
When a department or a whole office wants to give one gift, a gift basket is a generous option. A gourmet or treat basket gives the retiree something to enjoy at home, and it is easy for everyone to contribute to. Browse our gift baskets, and please remember that gift baskets need to be ordered one day in advance.
A group can also pool together for a larger bouquet, with one card signed by the whole team. Send it to the office on the last day, so colleagues can see it and add their own good wishes.
Matching the gift to the person
- The keen gardener: a planter garden or an orchid that will keep growing.
- The host: a bright bouquet for the party, or a basket to share with guests.
- The traveller: a cheerful bouquet for the send-off, rather than a plant that needs looking after while they are away.
- The mentor or the boss: an elegant arrangement or an orchid, with a card that thanks them for what they taught you.
- The close friend: their favourite flowers, with a personal note about what comes next.
What to write on a retirement card
A good retirement message is short, warm and looks forward. Thank the person for what they brought to the workplace, then wish them well for what comes next. Some ideas:
- "Congratulations on your retirement. Thank you for everything you have taught us. Enjoy every minute of the next adventure."
- "The office will not be the same without you. Wishing you a happy, healthy and very relaxing retirement."
- "After all these years, you have earned this. Here's to sleeping in, long lunches and doing exactly what you want."
- "Thank you for your leadership, your patience and your good humour. We will miss you."
- "Happy retirement from all of us. Don't be a stranger."
From a group, sign with the team or department name, so the retiree knows who it is from at a glance. Every order from Mystic Flowers includes a free handwritten card, so your message arrives in a real card rather than a printed slip.
Timing the delivery
For a send-off at work, deliver to the office on the last day or the day of the farewell lunch, so the flowers are there for the celebration. For a party at home, send the flowers that morning so they are fresh for guests. If you would rather surprise the retiree after the excitement, a plant delivered to their home in the first week of retirement is a lovely way to say you are still thinking of them.
Our flowers are hand-arranged in our Mississauga studio, and we offer same-day delivery of fresh flowers across the GTA, with free delivery on orders over $50. If you would like help choosing, call our studio at 905-677-9999. For other occasions, see our guide to thank you flowers.