Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024

Your guide to marketing ideas, a social media template and other resources that you can use to generate enthusiasm—and sales—for this often under-promoted annual worldwide holiday honoring women and their contributions to society

By Tonneli Grüetter

International Women’s Day, sometimes referred to as IWD, is a global celebration, held annually on March 8, that spotlights the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. It was inspired by the women’s suffrage movement and fight for workplace equality that blossomed in Europe and the Americas during the early 20th century. Today, this celebration serves as an opportunity to pay respect to the progress made and remind us of work yet to be done in women’s struggle for gender equality.

Beginning in the 1910s, International Women’s Day celebrations and demonstrations debuted across Europe, leading to the first country, Russia, to declare IWD as a nationally recognized holiday on March 8, 1917, after granting women the right to vote. It spread quickly to other neighboring socialist countries as an effort to empower working women, where it remains deeply entwined with culture to this day, rivaling the popularity of other great flower holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Elevated beyond the Iron Curtain by the energy of the women’s movement in the 1960s, enthusiasm for IWD soon spread around the world, and, in 1977, it was declared a global holiday by the United Nations. Today, International Women’s Day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.

In North America, IWD has recently experienced a rising tide of popularity, with cities, states and provinces recognizing the significance of the day through special celebrations. It is only natural that flowers, with their timeless symbolism of beauty and resilience, have played a central role in these commemorations. Flowers have long been associated with expressions of femininity, appreciation and empowerment. Incorporating floral elements into International Women’s Day celebrations adds a layer of meaningful symbolism, connecting participants with the historical roots of the movement while emphasizing the beauty of unity and solidarity among women.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is “Inspire Inclusion.” According to the International Women’s Day Community’s website, internationalwomensday.com, “The aim of the IWD 2024 #InspireInclusion campaign is to collectively forge a more inclusive world for women. When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.”

Sales opportunities for International Women’s Day are huge for two reasons, says Bill Prescott, director of Sales and Marketing at Sun Valley Floral Farms, headquartered in Arcata, Calif., and an avid proponent and promoter of IWD for many years. “One, there is no particular color palette, so you can use whatever flowers you have available for Women’s Day arrangements. You can be much more creative than at Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Two, the tradition at Women’s Day is to give flowers to all the women in one’s life, even if the giver is a woman. Instead of flowers for a spouse or a mom, for Women’s Day, men, women and kids can call give flowers to the awesome women in their lives. Such fun!”

Use this guide to ramp up your social media growth for International Women’s Day. Try adapting one of the following five promotions to boost your sales and spread appreciation for the women in your community. And for even more IWD marketing help, including additional ideas for hosting events in your community and professionally designed “Event Packs,” visit internationalwomensday.com.

1. Fall in Love with International Women’s Day

During the Valentine’s Day rush, pass out coupons to paying customers extending special pricing for repeat orders during the second week of March in honor of International Women’s Day. Using this tactic, flower businesses of all sizes can encourage customers to build a floral habit that stretches well beyond Cupid’s arrow. Thanks to the close proximity of Valentine’s Day and IWD, special offers for repeat customers will have little time to get lost. For businesses that offer email order confirmation, follow up your Valentine’s Day orders on February 15 with a thank-you message extending your special offer.

2. Crown Your Queen

Encourage your social media followers to show appreciation for the women making a difference in your community by nominating them for a free flower delivery to their workplace, awarded on March 8, 2024. To effectively launch this type of contest, be clear in your rules, lay out clear instructions, such as: “Nominate a special woman in your life or community to receive a custom premium flower arrangement, in honor of International Women’s Day, by posting a nomination and tagging our shop in your post. Winners will be selected on March 6.” Encourage participation by inviting your best customers and local civic groups to enter. Be sure to engage with customers who enter with any special offers you develop, and repost and share the best nominations, to build buzz!

3. Sit Pretty with Early Orders

Well before March 8, begin publicizing signature IWD floral offerings on social media. Encourage the tradition of gifting flowers on International Women’s Day. Individuals can present flowers to the influential women in their lives, expressing gratitude for their contributions. This gesture not only fosters personal connections but also contributes to the strength of your community. Create a call to action by urging your customers to place their orders several days ahead of the big day. Engineer exciting and accessible designs in advance that will wow your customers, and immediately following Valentine’s Day, begin daily posting a countdown to IWD highlighting your special IWD designs and reminding consumers of the important role flowers play in International Women’s Day celebrations.

4. Show Your True Colors

When was the last time you started a new tradition? This March 8, show authentic appreciation by partnering with a nonprofit organization in your community that works to advance women by hosting a ticketed flower workshop that is open to the public and benefits a charity of your choice. Floral design workshops in which participants learn to create arrangements can provide a platform for creative expression and foster a sense of empowerment as women craft their own floral masterpieces, symbolizing the diversity and uniqueness of every woman. Get your partner organization on board by cross-promoting the event to their supporters, too, which can provide you with a new opportunity to find potential new customers with shared values! For extra impact, collaborate with a local photographer who can capture content that you will be able to share in a press release to local news and in support of continuing the tradition next year.

5. Turn Up the Volume

With more people than ever celebrating International Women’s Day each year, the opportunity to multiply sales is sizable. Consider creating a special offer for customers who order in volume, or use this exclusive template to turn up your IWD volume.

Celebrate International Women’s Day in Full Bloom!

This International Women’s Day, March 8, let’s make a statement that blooms louder than words!

[Name of Flower Shop] is thrilled to be part of this empowering celebration, and we have something special for you!

High-volume Happiness: More Blooms, More Joy! Planning to celebrate the amazing women in your life, from colleagues to friends and family? Make a lasting impression with our high-volume flower arrangements! Order larger bouquets and arrangements to spread the love far and wide. Because when it comes to celebrating the incredible achievements of women, more blooms mean more joy!

Double the Blooms, Double the Impact! Why stop at just one bouquet? Duplicate your order, and make a double impact! Imagine the smiles, the surprise and the sheer delight as each of your admired ones receive not one but two gorgeous arrangements. It’s the perfect way celebrate the women you respect, appreciate and love, and to make this International Women’s Day truly unforgettable for them!

Exclusive Discounts for Volume Orders! To sweeten the deal, we’re offering exclusive discounts on high-volume and duplicate orders! Because celebrating all of the remarkable women in your life should be as delightful for you as it is for them. Use code IWD15 at checkout for 15% off on orders of two or more bouquets!

Free Delivery for Local High-volume Orders! As a token of our appreciation, we’re also offering free local delivery on all orders of two or more arrangements! Just another way to make your International Women’s Day celebration hassle-free and full of blooming happiness!

Order Now and Bloom Big! Visit our website or stop by our store to order flowers for International Women’s Day now. Let’s make IWD 2023 a celebration that radiates with the beauty of flowers and the strength of women!

Shop Now | Call us at [Your Contact Number]

Spread the love and respect by spreading the blooms!

#IWDFLOWERS #IWD2023 #FlowersForHer