Poinsettia International Press Party produces results
An international press party organised by Stars for Europe and PR company Purple Spotted Media is helping to raise the profile of poinsettias.
Already the Daily Telegraph has run a slide show of some of the designs in their online gardening section. All the florists who took part in the event were given full credits.
The poinsettia project began back in June with the development of apps, marketing resource and photography to give everyone a chance of transforming sales of poinsettia, especially as a cut flower.
And that's where the press party really came into its own. Because not only did it showcase the very different styles and themes possible but actually converted the mind-set of the designer florists charged with the task of interpreting the themes.
For example, Ian Lloyd, who worked to the theme White Christmas, had never thought of using poinsettia as a cut flower but discovered that making a giant central table design was not only incredibly easy but incredibly cost-effective as well.
For the team at The Urban Flower Firm – Mark Upton and Charlotte Denton - using bright red poinsettia as table favours not only looked fab but was an idea that easily transferred to their funky centrepiece with poinsettia bracts suspended in fake lightbulbs to create a mass of brilliant colour for a very low cost.
Simon Lycett opted for Twisted Christmas and literally turned it on its head with an upside-down 'tree' of green, white and pink poinsettia surrounded by tiny candle holders holding a cut poinsettia.
Paula Pryke went very traditional with a table of shimmering golds and ruby red poinsettias (see picture above) – again making full use of the flower in its cut form while Mairead Curtin, of Rebel Rebel, went the Restoration look with a wonderful palette of celadon (duck egg blue), palest pinks and vintage china.
From now until December 12 it is all arms to the pump as the campaign steps up a gear in the run up to Poinsettia Day on the 12th.
Purple Spotted Media's Caroline Marshall-Foster will be doing a series of radio features with Steve Bradley from The Sun who in turn and with the support of Peter Seabrook are running a poinsettia competition for schools around the country.
