Myrtle Beach residents in need of an emotional lift may be infusing their home with flowers, as a result of a recent article, “Style flowers to elevate spirits” published in the Myrtle Beach Sun-News.

The article is featured at the top of the Sept. 15 Sun News' Home & Garden section and cites the Home Ecology of Flowers Study, commissioned by the Society of American Florists and Flower Promotion Organization: “According to a Harvard Medical School study, people are more compassionate toward each other, there’s less worry and anxiety, and homeowners feel more energetic and happier when fresh flowers are displayed in the house. … It further showed participants placed bouquets in kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms, where they spent the most time, with many reporting they liked seeing them when they first rise in the morning.”
 
The study information prefaced floral design tips from Scott Johnson, a floral designer at Community Florist, who says he had sent a press release about him being named the 2007 S.C. Designer of the Year by the South Carolina Florists Association. The newspaper also features Johnson in the sidebar, “6 vases, 6 ways,” and in an online video called “Step-by-step instructions on arranging a floral vase.”

“Of course we’re thrilled for the coverage of the Harvard research,” says Jennifer Sparks, SAF’s vice president of marketing. “But this is also a great example of a smart shop generating positive publicity. Send news releases to local media outlets and even to garden clubs and civics groups to tout your shop’s good news as well as the benefits of flowers. Smart public relations will keep your shop top-of-mind when people think about flowers.”

SAF members can access a library of customizable press releases, including one on the Home Ecology of Flowers Study.

The Home Ecology of Flowers program is a result of the SAF/FPO Alliance. The program was launched in October 2006 and continues to garner valuable media coverage with total consumer impressions of nearly 157 million to date, including articles in nine national magazines such as Redbook, Family Circle, AARP Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Good Housekeeping and Prevention. To keep the momentum going, in October, the SAF/FPO Alliance will release the Home Ecology of Flowers II program, focusing on the part of the study that showed people want to see flowers first thing in the morning to boost moods. This PR campaign targets the print media nationwide and features tips on using flowers to brighten the kitchen.

 

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