“We are planning on participating much larger than last year,” said Mike Whittle of K Mike Whittle Designs. The shop in Marietta, Georgia, handed out 650 bouquets in 25 minutes during Petal It Forward 2016.
The Society of American Florists’ 2017 Petal It Forward campaign date is set for Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, and now is the time for suppliers, wholesalers, growers and retailers, to start planning their local events.
SAF makes it easy to plan. Here’s how to get started:
- Talk to your staff and decide if you would like to hold a Petal It Forward event in your community.
- Retailers: Talk to your supplier(s) to see if they would be willing to work with you on product. Wholesalers and growers: Talk to your customers about how you would like to help them in their Petal It Forward efforts, and/or consider holding an event of your own in your community.
- Check out the step-by-step advice on program logistics and local media outreach as well as easy-to-implement materials and resources available exclusively to SAF members at safnow.org/petalitforward.
- If you plan to hold an event on October 11, please fill out the online participation form at safnow.org/pifform. This will help us to compile a list of Petal It Forward events to show the media it is happening all over the country.
More than 20 events in 17 states are already planned for October 11th. Is your city and state on this list?
“It’s a win-win for your business to participate,” said SAF Vice President of Marketing Jennifer Sparks. “You can make it as big or as small as you want. For little effort, you give consumers the opportunity to experience the scientifically proven happiness that occurs when you give and receive flowers. At the same time, you position your business as a positive force in your community. That makes consumers feel good about you, which goes a long way in establishing customer loyalty. Last but not least? You give a morale boost to employees who play a part.”
Need some Petal It Forward inspiration? Watch this video.
The premise behind Petal It Forward, now in its third year: Flower recipients receive two bouquets — one to keep, and one to share with a friend, family member, co-worker or even a stranger. Recipients are asked to “Petal It Forward” by giving away one of their bouquets and posting a picture about it using the hashtag #petalitforward.
The campaign’s key strategy is to generate traditional and social media coverage to highlight the benefits of flower power — the positive impact flowers have on our emotional well being — even beyond the actual recipients of the flowers. The 2016 Petal It Forward campaign included 262 events in 234 cities in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, generating more 328 million consumer impressions. SAF’s goal is to have Petal It Forward events happening on the same day in all 50 states, which could help to capture even more media attention nationwide.
“With your help, Petal It Forward can happen in all 50 states again,” Sparks said.