Giving Tuesday is a global one-day, on-line event, started by a group of philanthropists and companies, to give back to non-profits worldwide. It typically happens around November and many non-profits participate to tell their stories and raise funding to continue their missions. Last year over $511 million was raised in the United States alone.
This year the organization is holding an additional one-day event on Tuesday, May 5th to promote a day of giving to spread worldwide unity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s called #GivingTuesdayNow.
To learn more about the event go to: https://now.givingtuesday.org/
So how does this event help the flower industry? The American Floral Endowment is participating in the event by promoting a campaign called “Giving Flowers on #GivingFlowersNow”, which helps florists promote their businesses and prompt people to give flowers to express their gratitude for those on the front lines. The idea is to send love through flowers to family, friends, first responders and essential employees world-wide.
The American Floral Endowment is an independent, non-profit organization that funds research and scholarships in floriculture and environmental horticulture for the benefit of growers, wholesalers, retailers, allied industry organizations and the general public.
It is easy to participate in this event - just go to the AFE site and download images of the campaign and post the images on your social media. To do this, go the image you want to post, right click on it, save the image to your computer, and re-post it to your social media. Be sure to include your own message on your posting and provide a direct link to your website.
To download images, go to: https://endowment.org/givingflowersforgivingtuesday/
Here are some ideas from the AFE site you can use to market your business on May 5th:
Take photos to share on #GivingTuesdayNow, promoting the beautiful flowers being sent
Encourage recipients to take a picture and post on social with the #GivingTuesdayNow hashtag
Offer a discount for #GivingTuesdayNow
Offer a gift card to be used for Mother’s Day
Follow up with those customers who participate to remind them to send flowers on Mother’s Day
Thank your customers for their support at this time. Let them know they are helping to keep your small business open
Remember #GivingTuesdayNow is a worldwide event and by participating, you will expand your reach to customers. Additionally you are showing customers you care and you are community minded.
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
Winston S. Churchill
