Here’s something Annie Taylor wasn’t expecting during the Society of American Florists’ 2016 Petal It Forward event: a run on bouquets that left her (smiling) staff empty-handed in just half an hour.

Last year, Taylor and her team at Leona Sue’s Florist in Scott, Louisiana, handed out more than 500 bouquets, with some product donated from Louisiana Wholesale Florists, and they exhausted their supply in 30 minutes. Leona Sue’s Florist is located near three schools, making it the perfect spot to hand out flowers. Early in the morning, the staff set up a chalkboard near a popular intersection with “Petal It Forward” printed in large letters. They scattered petals around the board and waited for 7:30 a.m. to arrive. Then Taylor and her team gave bouquets to parents, school bus drivers and commuters.

The giveaway had a residual effect: “Just talking about Petal It Forward now boosts the morale of our employees,” Taylor said. “And our customers still talk about the excitement of the event when they come into the shop.”

Industry members eager to participate in this year’s extravaganza on October 11 can get a jumpstart now on planning, said SAF Vice President of Marketing Jennifer Sparks. One way to do that? Follow Taylor’s lead. Last year, her team wore bright yellow custom T-shirts emblazoned with “#petalitforward” and “Leona Sue’s Florist.” Cards attached to the bouquets explained the plan: keep a bouquet, give one away, and post on social media.

To amplify the research results proving the emotional health benefits of giving and receiving flowers, Taylor notified local media outlets, which resulted in publicity on radio stations 97.3 FM and 99.9 FM.

SAF makes it easy to Petal It Forward. Step-by-step advice and materials are available exclusively to members at safnow.org/petalitforward. Consider getting team T-shirts printed in your shop’s signature color with #PETALITFORWARD on the front and your shop logo, as well as get Petal It Forward flower cards or stickers printed. SAF provides members with a T-shirt template  and a Flower Card Template.  SAF also provides advice for alerting the media, including a customizable media advisory, press release and talking points.

“If you plan to hold an event on October 11, fill out the participation form at safnow.org/pifform,” Sparks said. “This will help SAF compile a list of Petal It Forward events to show the media it is happening all over the country. With your help, Petal It Forward can happen in all 50 states again, which could help capture even more media attention.”

The 2016 campaign included 262 events in 234 cities in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, generating more 328 million consumer impressions showcasing the positive impact flowers have on emotional well-being. At press time, there were 52 (and counting) retailers, suppliers, growers and wholesalers in 30 states and Canada, preparing to participate in Petal It Forward 2017 on October. 11.