Despite her careful planning, sometimes Nancy Witte-Dycus, AAF, ends up buying more product than she needs. But a few years ago, the owner of Fantasy Flowers in Thiensville, Wisconsin, came up with an idea that puts those leftovers to good use.
She fashions them in a simple hand-tied bouquet, arranged in one of the containers customers have returned through the shop’s vase recycling program. She attaches a card that reads, “Adopt me! I’m a random act of kindness bouquet,” as well as a coupon for her flowers. She hides the bouquet near a small business in a high-traffic area, snaps a not-so-cryptic photo of the location and uploads it to Facebook with a tip or two about its whereabouts. She lets the business owners know she’s hidden a bouquet on or near their premises and they post the picture, as well. “This definitely increases Fantasy Flowers’ exposure and helps us gain followers,” Witte-Dycus said.
The hidden bouquets have gotten a great reception around town. “At my class reunion, high school friends commented on what a sweet and caring thing I was doing,” she said. “And I do see people out looking for them.”
Once, Witte-Dycus spotted a woman hot on the trail and surprised her by handing over the bouquet. “It was a warm fuzzy moment,” she said. “She had never heard of my shop and asked where I was located for future purchases. She also said she’d tell everyone about our random act of kindness bouquets.”
Witte-Dycus no longer limits the bouquets to leftover flowers. “If we have extra time, we’ll make up a few vases,” she said. She’s also recently emailed local papers a press release about the activity.
