Since 2013, our partner organizations have been at the heart of everything we've built together. This message is something we owe to those who've trusted us season after season.
You may have received a notification letting you know that your commission rate will move from 20% to 15% for the 2026 season. We know that kind of news deserves an honest explanation — not just a line in an automated email. So here's the real story.
What COVID changed permanently
Before 2020, we operated in a fairly predictable world. The cost of getting a tree ready for delivery was around $20. Since then, everything moved at once: labour, fuel, equipment, technology platforms, logistics. Today, that same tree costs us close to $50.
~$20 Cost per tree before COVID
~$50 Cost per tree today
+38% Average basket increase since 2019
We raised our prices accordingly — we had no choice. But we also made a deliberate decision not to pass everything on to our customers' shoulders. Families' ability to pay matters. That's a value we don't negotiate.
Working leaner, without cutting corners
Over the past few years, we've gone through every line of expense with a fine-tooth comb. We optimized our delivery corridors, streamlined our technology, and negotiated better with our suppliers. We did our part. And yet margins have shrunk — because inflation doesn't take a break.
Adjusting the commission rate is not a decision we took lightly. It's a decision we made after exhausting the other options, and only for partners whose sales volume allowed us to absorb part of the adjustment.
What this means concretely for you
We can already hear the question: "But we earn less per sale, right?" The short answer is no — and the numbers prove it.
The commission applies to the full basket — tree, accessories, delivery. In 2019, our average basket was $59. Last season, it was $82. In 2026, with a modest increase anticipated, we project a basket around $87.
📊 Exemple concret — commission par vente
2019 $11.89 Average basket $59 · 20% rate
2026 $13.05 Average basket ~$87 · 15% rate
✓ + $1.16 per sale vs 2019 — despite the lower rate
In other words: the displayed percentage goes down, but the reality in your bank account goes in the right direction.
What doesn't change
Our commitment to you doesn't move. We continue to invest in the delivery experience, the quality of our trees, and the tools that make your fundraising campaign easy to manage. Our partner organizations are and will remain a fundamental part of who we are.
If you have questions about your specific rate, or would like to discuss your situation, our team is here. We prefer a real conversation to a silent misunderstanding.
David Thibeault
President & Founder, Bôsapin
On behalf of the entire leadership team