" The UK lead the way with the first ever National Florist Day on June 8th , and it was fantastic ! "
Over 1000 florist from the UK and Ireland sign up to take part and together create a day that achieved some very impressive grip and a huge amount of consumer appointment . In fact , some florists even reported queues of client ’s waiting to join in the fun .
For the Patrons , who co - funded the undertaking , it was an chance to interact in a different way with their customer both current and hereafter . Because the blue - poker chip list of supporter - Interflora , OASIS ® Floral Products , Direct2Florist , Marginpar , Flower Council of Holland , Floristry Trade Club # Funnyhowflowersdothat , Florismartdirect , Tom Brown Wholesale , FleuraMetz , New Covent Garden Market , Chrysal and Optimus Flowers – were able-bodied to operate and touch base with the diligence in a way that not only showed their keep for the industry as a whole but generated interest in their troupe and sum up to the whole bombination and find - good factor .
In fact create a finger - good component was one of the key reasons the event was plunge as founder and legion of National Florist Day , Caroline Marshall - Foster , who runs both Florist Magazine and Good Florist Guide , explained :
" The last twain of years have been challenge . We ’ve had to contend with rising price , flat sales , increased contest , staff shortages … all things that have dented self-assurance and add to the pressures . I want to create a bombilation , engender a sense of pride and , under an official banner , enable everyone to show off just how wonderful the flower industry is and how it touches every part of life . That ’s why I set myself and the undertaking three goal . To create Pride , Awareness and gross sales .
Having seen the interaction , the comradeship , the friendships formed , and the sustenance given , coupled with the awful feedback and stupefying orbit , we clearly achieve all three in a direction I never thought possible for class one . Not only am I enchant at how it belong but I am humbled that so many the great unwashed corroborate me and get the show on the road . "
The celebrations depart with a launch party held at The Dorchester , London give ear by Patrons and National Florist Day Ambassadors , including some well - known names in the manufacture , Paula Pryke , Neill Strain , Paula Rooney , Sarah Richardson , Karen Lindsay , Morgan - Douglas Nuth , Simon Lycett , Stephanie Harris , Rebecca Marsala , Lizzie Newcombe , Jacke Nicholson - Lailey and Philip Hammond . In gain , several students and Florists who had signed up to take part were invited to represent their ideas and vision for the event .
On June 3rd the ' adjoin the Flower Magician ™ ' challenge commence and saw florists unite in a co - ordinated societal medium campaign to explicate just what goes into the bloom industry . Aimed at showing that this was n’t just ' toy with flowers ' , the Flower Magicians work with a series of asset produce by the NFD squad to explain everything from why they became a florist to how they educate , their favorite flower , and what sustainability change they were stool . Collectively , a series of 14 posts designed to create engagement , pre - day fervour and public Education Department .
National Florist Day was also an opportunity to advertise the genial and wellness benefits of flowers and plants with a series of exclusive key messaging assets that tied in with The Flower Effect campaign orchestrate by the Flower Council of Holland ’s consumer facing brand # Funnyhowflowersdothat .
On the factual day and starting with a series of livestreamed presentment from New Covent Garden Flower Market , florist shop and middleman throughout the UK and Ireland create a range of upshot , from in shop class presentation to workforce - on shop .
blossom giveaways were prepare by many ; interaction with local school and care homes were a popular means of engaging with the community , and there were hundreds of rivalry and collaborative activities with fellow traders as well .
peak flashes took place around the land with local statues and monument festooned with flower that amazed the public and generate a lot of packaging for the florists , whilst others invited local celebrities to join in the play … because having fun with flowers was a key element of the drive .
In addition , National Florist Day host the first 100 Faces of Floristry award . A chance for every part of the sector to make a person they felt was worthy and merited recognition . With more than 500 campaigner , the Florist Panel , lead by Stephanie Harris of The Rose Garden Florists in Great Dunmow , Essex together with fellow Good Florist Guide Council members Nicola Evans , Karen Massey , Morgan - Douglas Nuth , and Karen Lindsay , had the unenviable labor of choosing 100 Faces with winners annunciate in a weeklong serial of springy display that have been watched by over 45,000 people .
So , what next ? Caroline takes up the story . " Will there be a 2025 National Florist Day ? You bet , and likely not just in the UK . I had to essay out the format … after all you may hope and dream an idea will work but until you try it , you ’ll never acknowledge ! No , I did n’t get everything right – that was never going to chance in year one – but it was reasonably darn amazing , and we can now move it to even bigger and good things .
My caper now is to deep recitation and do a full washables - up story but with so many of our UK patron already committed to 2025 and petition from countries throughout the earth to take part . I recall we can confidently say : " Watch out worldly concern , the flower industry is going to be making even bigger noise and ingest a whole load of playfulness along the means . "
For more information : National Florist Daywww.nationalfloristday.co.uk[email protect ]
