A Trend Analysis of Floral Products and Services Using Big Data of Social Networking Services

This study was carried out to analyze trends in floral products and services through the big data analysis of various social networking services (SNSs) and then to provide objective marketing directions for the floricultural industry. To analyze the big data of SNSs, we used four analytical methods: Cotton Trend (Social Matrix), Naver Big Data Lab, Instagram Big Data Analysis, and YouTube Big Data Analysis. The results of the big data analysis showed that SNS users paid positive attention to flower one-day classes that can satisfy their needs for direct experiences. Consumers of floral products and services had their favorite designs in mind and purchased floral products very actively. The demand for flower items such as bouquets, wreaths, flower baskets, large bouquets, orchids, flower boxes, wedding bouquets, and potted plants was very high, and cut flowers such as roses, tulips, and freesia were most popular as of June 1, 2019. By gender of consumers, females (68%) purchased more flower products through SNSs than males (32%). Consumers preferred mobile devices (90%) for online access compared to personal computers (PCs; 10%) and frequently searched flower-related words from February to May for the past three years from 2016 to 2018. In the aspect of design, they preferred natural style to formal style. In conclusion, future marketing activities in the floricultural industry need to be focused on social networks based on the results of big data analysis of popular SNSs. Florists need to provide consumers with the floricultural products and services that meet the trends and to blend them with their own sensitivity. It is also needed to select SNS media suitable for each gender and age group and to apply effective marketing methods to each target.