23 special dates to gift fresh flowers from your business
A huge part of the reason I became a florist is because of the pure joy flowers can bring to a person’s day.
Not only are fresh flowers a super lovely gift to receive, but they help your business stand out and be memorable as a thoughtful, considerate and kind company. (Pssst, I can help you with this.)
Remember to keep in mind the preferences and cultural backgrounds of your clients or employees when you’re sending gifts - you don’t want to inadvertently alienate or offend anyone.
Here are a whole bunch of special dates and ideas for gifting fresh flowers from your business, no matter what industry you’re in.
1. New Year - 1st January
Wouldn’t it be so wonderful to ring in the new year with fresh blooms and foliage? I think it would set a perfect precedent for your business relationships in the 365 days ahead.
Fir or pine foliage (y'know, those beautiful, fresh-smelling wintery greens) would be a lovely addition to a New Year floral gift, bringing a gorgeous zingy scent into the home, reflecting that crisp new calendar year.
2. Valentine's Day - February 14th
At first glance, it might seem kinda weird to celebrate a romantic day as a business, but dontcha think this world could do with an extra dose of love? Make clients, customers or employees feel special with some flowers.
If the traditional Valentine’s gift of roses feels too lovey-dovey, you could choose a flowering bulb, like a daffodil or snowdrop that will likely flower early, if kept indoors.
3. Employee Appreciation Day - first Friday in March
It’s been proven time and again that employees do better work when they feel appreciated and valued.
And there’s a whole dang day dedicated to giving thanks to them. It’s a great opportunity to treat them to something fancy - like a big vase of majestic flowers, or you could organise a floral-themed team-building event.
Fun fact: this very arrangement was one of my first ever vase designs I sold!
4. International Women's Day - March 8th
Send flowers to your clients, customers or employees as a token of recognition on International Women’s Day.
It’s worth remembering that International Women’s Day isn’t just about celebrating the kick-ass women in your life, but also about campaigning for equality. Let’s not create a blunder of an insincere display of support without a genuine commitment to the cause ;)
5. First day of spring - March 20th/21st
Noting the changing seasons feels kinda magical, and the Spring equinox marks the moment that both hemispheres of the globe get the same amount of daylight.
For us in the northern hemisphere, it means we’re moving towards longer, warmer days, and it represents new beginnings. I don’t know about you, but that always fills me with an abundance of hope.
Share some of that hope by giving a beautiful floral gift from your business to clients or employees. Lots of spring flowers are starting to bloom in March, which means there’s lots of choice for an elegant equinox arrangement.
6. Earth Day - April 22nd
Earth Day started way back in 1970, as a way to support and campaign for environmental protection.
Sending some seasonal flowers, like tulips, daffodils, forsythia and even pussy willow would be an ideal way to remind people of this, and also raise awareness of the important climate issues that our planet faces. It’s so important to feel connected to the natural world.
7. Administrative Professionals Day - last Wednesday in April
Here’s another day to celebrate your employees, this time with a focus on your secretary, admin assistant, PA, receptionist, and the like. The official date for this day differs, but in Canada and the US it’s always on the last Wednesday in the last full week of April.
These specifically-skilled people don’t often get the spotlight, and are often the ones organising gifts like these, so give them a bunch of beautiful blooms to show them how integral they are to your business.
8. Mental Health Awareness Month - May
I’m not saying fresh flowers can cure a bout of depression, but they definitely can't make it worse - it’s always nice to know that someone is thinking of you.
Mental health experts often recommend immersing ourselves in nature to improve our mental health, so it makes sense to bring some of that nature indoors too, right?
The gentle beauty and scent of flowers can trigger positive emotions, and they’re even thought to improve your memory and help you sleep - and we all know how important a good night’s sleep is to our mental health.
Highlight Mental Health Awareness Month, and show that it’s something you care about as a business owner, by wishing clients, customers or employees the best with a thoughtful card and a posy of flowers.
9. Summer Solstice - June 21st
The summer solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year, and it reminds us to turn inward and find the nourishment needed to grow and evolve.
Everything is in full bloom in June in the northern hemisphere, so it’s easier than ever to send a floral gift from your business, with a plethora of seasonal flowers.
I adore snapdragons, coneflowers, cosmos, yarrow, and sweetpeas - which smell incredible, as well as being stunningly beautiful.
10. International Non-Binary People’s Day - July 14th
Everyone deserves to be seen and recognised, no matter their gender identity. If you celebrate International Women’s Day, celebrate International Non-Binary People’s Day too, and show the non-binary people you work with how much you appreciate them with a bunch of flowers or a beautiful houseplant.
You could even send flowers in the non-binary flag colours - yellow, white, purple and black could make for a really striking arrangement. Again though, it’s not just about appreciation, but recognition of the issues faced by non-binary people, and commitment to equality in your business.
11. International Self-Care Day - July 24th
I think everyone could do with a little encouragement to take better care of themselves, and a bunch of blooms on International Self-Care day is a sweet reminder.
Pair it with a card listing a few simple self-care tips, like going for a walk in nature, cooking a nutritious meal, and writing your feelings down in a journal.
12. First day of Autumn - September 22nd
Another change of the seasons, and although it might seem like flower season is coming to an end, many summer flowers are still blooming during the Fall equinox in September, and they provide for some of the most vibrant colours.
Some of my favourites are big, bold dahlias, colourful zinnias, daisy-like coneflowers, and statice.
The autumn equinox represents a moment when the energies of the light and the dark are in harmony, and it could be really fun to create a dynamic floral gift that reflects those contrasts.
13. Thanksgiving - second Monday in October
Thanksgiving differs slightly in Canada and the US, though both holidays have a focus on appreciating what you have, celebrating harvest, and gathering together with loved ones.
Give thanks to your clients, customers or employees with some seasonal flowers, which could also double as a Thanksgiving table centrepiece.
14. National Boss’ Day - October 16th
Bosses, you deserve a day off and a treat too (ahem, myself included). Especially small business owners - I see you working your butt off 24/7 to ensure your company stays afloat.
Send a big ol’ bunch to your business-owner clients, and give them that much-needed reminder to take a minute or two to themselves.
If you’re reading this as a boss yourself, you could buy yourself flowers to the tune of Miley Cyrus, or send a floral gift to neighbouring businesses or to business owners you admire.
15. International Kindness Day - November 13th
I don’t think I need to explain this one - but I will happily gush about how wonderful it is to be kind. Doesn’t it just feel better for everyone when you go out of your way to be tender-hearted?
If kindness is a core value of your business, spread it around to as many people as possible by sending little posies of flowers to clients, customers, suppliers, employees, and anyone else you can think of.
16. International Men’s Day - November 19th
How come when we think of gifting flowers, we often don’t think of men? Down with toxic masculinity! Men deserve flowers too, and they don't receive them nearly enough.
Let’s change that, and champion the male role models that you encounter in your business life.
Comments from my partner in the past have always been around the fascination of how intricate some flowers are (yes even pink ones), and he's always surprised when a "pomponette tulip" isn't a rose. I guess what I'm saying is that men appreciate flowers more than we give them credit for.
17. Winter Solstice - 21st December
The flip-side to summer solstice, the winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.
During this time when it's so dark, wouldn't it be so nice to send flowers to your clients to bring a little lightness?
Plus, flowers are a lovely gift to receive just as the holidays are kicking off, as everyone’s winding down for a bit of a reset after a busy season.
You might think that nothing could possibly grow in Canada in winter, but there are some flowers that bloom in December, such as the camellia and hellebore, and there are gorgeous berries and evergreen foliage to add to a floral gift.
18. December holiday party
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, something else, or nothing at all, the end of December is always a fun time to celebrate, to round-out the year.
Let employees know how much you’ve appreciated their hard work with an abundant floral arrangement that’ll see them through the holidays.
19. Community members
Do you run a community or membership as part of your business?
Welcome new members or celebrate the anniversary of when a loyal community member joined with a generous gift of flowers that match your community’s brand colours, to show them that you’re so happy to have them as part of your group.
20. Client Appreciation
When you sign new clients, make them feel like they made the best business decision of their life with a knock-out floral gift. It totally beats receiving yet another notebook or pen.
Or you could encourage repeat or long-term clients to keep coming back - let them know how much you appreciate their business by sending them a big ol’ bouquet of flowers.
21. Corporate Anniversary or Milestones
Your business birthday, an anniversary of hiring an employee, or reaching a milestone are all huge reasons to celebrate, and wouldn’t it be sweet to send flowers to those who helped the business get you there?
After all, a rising tide lifts all boats.
22. Launch events or first day of shooting
Get your team, cast and/or crew off to a great start by giving them a floral gift at the beginning of a project. This one is great for those who work in festivals or other week-long events, and those in the TV and film industry too.
It’s bound to boost morale and put everyone in a tip-top mood, which will in turn make them want to do the best job they’ve ever done, right?
23. And the end of projects too!
Finishing off a project is always a rush of excitement paired with, did that go okay?! Once the whole thing is wrapped, give your team a token of appreciation to let them know their hard work didn’t go unnoticed.
Surprise & delight!
It's wonderful to send floral gifts from your business on days that they aren't expected, too.
Going above and beyond for your customers, clients and employees is called surprise and delight, and can help strengthen connection and loyalty. Plus, it can create more potential for long-term partnerships and recurring business.
And aside from that, it’s just really freakin’ nice.
If you’re interested in sending floral gifts to your clients or employees from your Toronto based business, hit me up! I love creating unique bespoke floral arrangements that will charm any recipient.
