International Women's Day is behind us. On Saturday March 8, the holiday, which is about celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, was celebrated for the 115th Women's time. It is usually widely celebrated with flowers in Eastern European countries and Russia, but it is gaining more and more popularity in other countries as well and increasingly more companies are marketing it and putting their women in the spotlight. Below a peek in the demands, trends and how the popularity of this floral holiday increased globally.
Netherlands
A lot of Dutch flowers go to Eastern Europe for this holiday. So at the auction, there was a high demand for flowers and plants over the last two weeks, explains FloraHolland auctioneer Bart Zomerdijk ."There were a lot of roses, tulips, chrysanthemums, hyacinths, lisianthus, and other spring flowers were the main focus, with an emphasis on bright, colorful blooms and bouquets that symbolize the strength and beauty of women. The lead-up to Women's Day is a lengthy process, especially for Eastern European customers, who begin purchasing well in advance to secure the large quantities they need and ensure timely delivery to their clients. In some cases, shipments can take up to a week to reach their destinations by truck. In these countries, the emphasis is more on the act of giving than on flower longevity, unlike in the Netherlands where freshness and durability are key considerations." Also Besides Eastern Europe, Dutch flowers also went to other countries, Dutch grower Janity Flowers, for example ships most of his chrysanthemums to Eastern Europe, but also sees a high demand form countries like Kazakhstan, Poland, Ukraine, and Romania. And Dutch flower exporter Duif Flowers saw a significant increase in flower exports to Sweden setting a new record.
Camilo and Pablo Bazzani of la Plazoleta at Proflora 2023 in Bogota, Colombia
Colombia
For Colombian flower grower Pablo Bazzani of La Plazoleta, the demand for flowers leading up to International Women's Day 2025 showed a 5% increase compared to last year. "" This increase reflects stable consumer interest in Women's Day flowers, particularly in key markets like Poland and Russia, where the holiday is widely celebrated." However, the grower faced challenges in fully meeting the increased demand due to production constraints. "While the overall growth is positive, there is room for improvement in production efficiency. We faced some challenges in fully meeting demand due to production constraints, which is an area we aim to refine for future peak seasons." La Plazoleta specializes in high-quality alstroemerias and summer flowers and according to Bazzani, the most requested flower varieties were alstroemeria and various summer cut fillers. "This because their versatility and the growing preference for mixed floral arrangements." While Women's Day is an important sales period, it does not reach the sales peak of Valentine's Day but remains significant, especially in Eastern Europe. After the holiday, the company enters a low production season but expects strong demand for Mother's Day in the UK, which presents a valuable sales opportunity.
Bouquets with Mimosa being made at Flora Toscana's bouquet-making department.
Italy
In Italy, Women's Day, or Festa della Donna, is traditionally celebrated with mimosa flowers. At Flora Toscana's bouquet-making department, it was another busy week fulfilling supermarket orders. Luca Del Vigna, the company's purchasing manager, shared that at the start of the Mimosa harvest, production seemed lower, particularly from the South of France. However, by the end of the season, they were able to secure slightly higher production, although at a higher cost compared to the previous year. Roberto Bonciolini, responsible for sales to supermarkets, mentioned that it was an intense week of work, with Flora Toscana selling around 10% more than the previous year. In total, the company surpassed 500,000 bouquets, including both mono-bouquets and mixed arrangements.
China
International Women's Day saw a significant boost in flower sales in China, with the flower market being especially busy due to the holiday falling on a Saturday, allowing more people leisure time to shop. According to the Kunming Flower Auction Center, the peak daily supply of flowers reached 7.29 million stems, marking a 12% increase from last year. The top flowers for the occasion included carnations, gypsophila, cut roses, lilies, and tulips, with pink and white being the most popular colors. Domestic flowers, such as carnations from Yunnan Province, have gained in popularity, reducing the demand for imported varieties. However, luxury Ecuadorian roses are still in demand. Additionally, flower exports rose by 20%, with Kunming flower companies now supplying 30,000 stems daily to markets in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Russia, Korea, and Japan, along with a new focus on selling flower bouquets, reflecting a growing trend for well-packaged flowers. Click here to read the complete article.
Poland
And how were the flowers presented in Polish retail? Bohdan Tustanivskyi of Profiflora, a cut flower supplier, visited together with his team several supermarkets in Poland on this holiday. "Women's Day in Poland is one of the biggest flower holidays of the year, second to Mother's Day in May. Traditionally, Polish men gifted carnations and tights to women, but nowadays, the flower market is much more diverse. Tulips dominate the Women's Day market, occupying 60-70% of shelf space, followed by roses at 20-25%, with other flowers like Alstroemeria, Daffodils, and Irises filling out the assortment. Unlike wealthier Western countries, floristic bouquets are rare in Polish supermarkets, with mono-bouquets being more common, though this is expected to shift as economic growth allows for more people to afford designer bouquets. The price of tulips faced a major shock in 2024, with bulb costs increasing by 35%, creating challenges for both suppliers and supermarkets this year. Despite these challenges, tulips remained available in large quantities, and supermarkets, including Lidl and Biedronka, engaged in a price battle with competitive offers. Some Polish retailers, like Dino, focused exclusively on local tulips, promoting them with special packaging to highlight their origin." Click here to read the complete article.
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Japan
Speaking of retail, Dümmen Orange Japan expanded its Calandiva's presence for International Women's Day. They enhanced the presence of its Calandiva brand with a special in-store promotion for International Women's Day on March 8th. As part of the promotion, select retailers across Tokyo featured striking in-store displays, branded sleeves, and exclusive gift boxes, all designed to celebrate the occasion. "Given the rising popularity of mimosa flowers and the increasing prices in Japan, we believe Calandiva provides a wonderful alternative—offering lasting beauty and joy, both as a thoughtful gift and as a way to brighten everyday life. Calandiva's vibrant, long-lasting blooms serve as the perfect tribute to the strength and beauty of women everywhere," says Mayuko Mito, Marketing Manager at Dümmen Orange Japan.
And Women's Day in more countries
It seems that Women's Day is being celebrated in increasingly more countries. Ahead of International Women's Day 2025, numerous articles from around the world highlighted the growing demand and emerging trends surrounding this year's holiday. Notably, a new record for Turkey as they sent 75 million flowers abroad, marking its highest export volume ever. In Uzbekistan, flower prices spiked due to growing local demand, and in Russia, flower prices in Kazan rose by 20%. Additionally, over 50,000 orchids were imported from Thailand to Siberia, reflecting the growing preference for exotic flowers. In the UK, Tesco prepared for the holiday by offering special floral arrangements, highlighting the retail sector's focus on Women's Day gifts as it has become an increasingly popular holiday in the UK. In Montana, Bulgaria, roses were the top choice, Fakti.bg reports Flower prices were mostly stable, but rose prices have increased. Traders ordered fewer flowers this year due to lower demand on a Saturday.
Women in the industry in the spotlight
And for Women's Day, women in the industry are being put in the spotlight. This International Women's Day, The Bloom Show put women who are shaping the floral industry in the spotlight. At New Covent Garden Market in London, UK, they highlighed some of the incredible women who keep this market thriving and Fairtrade featured Makena's Journey into leadership. "On International Women's Day, we celebrate women like Makena who have not only reinvented themselves for a better future but are also giving back to their communities by helping women to understand and advocate for their rights."
And we came across several posts where companies put their employees in the spotlight: