US: Florists in 31 states commit to Petal It Forward

Florists across the country and Canada are getting ready to show their communities how good it feels to give and receive flowers. In early August, florists in 31 states and 57 cities had committed to holding local Petal It Forward events on Oct. 11.

"If you plan to Petal It Forward on Oct. 11, please fill out the participation form at safnow.org/pifform," said Jennifer Sparks, the Society of American Florists' Vice President of Marketing. "This will help SAF update safnow.org/piflist to show the media that Petal It Forward is happening all over the country — and having florists in all 50 states could increase the industry's chances for news coverage on the benefits of flowers."

For the third year in a row, SAF is leading the industry in Petal It Forward. During this "random acts of kindness" flower giveaway, consumers receive two flower bouquets (or flowers) — one to keep and one to share — to demonstrate the Rutgers University research that shows flowers make people happy and are encouraged to post on social media about their experience using the hashtag #petalitforward.

SAF provides resources to help member florists run a successful event in their local area, including planning timelines, tips on where and when to stage a giveaway, talking points, T-shirt templates and more at safnow.org/petalitforward.

"You can make your Petal It Forward event as big or small as you want," Sparks said. "It's a win-win for your business to participate. 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. And, you give a morale boost to employees who play a part."

The 2016 campaign included 262 events in 234 cities in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, generating more 328 million consumer impressions showcasing the positive impact flowers have on emotional well-being. "Petal It Forward has huge benefits for the industry," Sparks said, "and to your individual business — it positions you as a positive force in your community that people remember throughout the year."