In a spot for the American Petroleum Institute, “random” moms received flowers as a narrator discussed energy use in the floral industry.
The Society of American Florists may have responded to 19 companies that disparaged Mother’s Day flowers this year — but a handful of positive floral references also caught the attention of the group in the days surrounding the holiday.
Among the companies plugging flowers (as they promoted their own goods and services):
- In an ad for wireless provider MetroPCS, a narrator promised viewers that “flowers are the fastest way to any woman’s heart.” In the ad, a character, Jack, is shown entering a home with a bouquet. A beautiful young woman thinks the flowers are for her, but then Jack gives them to an older woman (presumably the younger woman’s mom). Everyone is happy.
- In a spot for the American Petroleum Institute, two characters, Chad and Fran, pass out flowers to “random” moms (a move reminiscent of SAF’s Petal It Forward effort). The commercial points out how energy is used along the supply chain in the floral industry, including in greenhouses. “We need energy to show appreciation for the ones we love,” a narrator intones, after a number of moms express delight upon receiving bouquets.
Flowers also got a high-level shout-out from Barack Obama. In his weekly address last Saturday, the president urged Americans to “give mothers the respect they deserve.” And, he added, “giving flowers is always a good idea.”
