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Business 62 November | 2022 62 Business 62 November | 2022 rom NYC to KC, it's time for fl orists everywhere to start taking TikTok seriously. First released in U.S. app stores six years ago, in September 2016, TikTok quickly gained in popularity among teens. is community experienced rapid growth, and TikTok became one of the top downloaded apps just two years. Fast forward to the fi rst quarter of 2022, when the app claimed to have 1.4 billion users across 154 countries— 1 billion of which were active monthly users. Some sources estimate that the number of TikTok users will reach 1.8 billion by the end of this year. Initially, TikTok made a name for itself TikTok's #fl owertok provides an unmatched way to reach new fl ower- loving consumers while delivering more target audience, consumer trust and views than other social media apps. By Tonneli Grüetter rom NYC to KC, it's time for TikTok's #fl owertok provides an unmatched way to reach new fl ower- loving consumers while delivering more target consumer trust social media as the premier place to upload dance and lip-sync videos. It was a center for youth culture and the perfect escape for the new generation desperately seeking alternatives to already saturated platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. In the beginning, videos were short and, honestly, quite shallow, but just like the teens who made the app popular, the depth of content on this platform has grown up. A high- schooler who may have downloaded the app six years ago, in its fi rst wave, is a child no more. Now in their mid 20s, the early adopters of TikTok are rapidly approaching major life events. It is estimated more than 75 percent of current TikTok users are over age 20—prime age for fl oral purchasing power. To learn more about the growing world of TikTok and specifi cally #fl owertok, we talked to two very diff erent fl orists to get their perspective on what makes the app special for fl oristry. First, we spoke with Rachel Cho (@rachelchofl oral on TikTok), of Rachel Cho Floral Design in Long Island City (Queens), N.Y. Cho is a celebrated designer whose work has graced the tables of top celebrities including musician Billie Eilish. Since joining the app in early 2021, this big- city fl orist has seen incredible growth in her audience, which now weighs in at a whopping 136,500. On her profi le, you will fi nd a variety of real-life moments including behind-the-scenes work and stunning fl oral designs, as well as light-hearted personal tidbits. Her top performing video, a tutorial on poppy conditioning, currently boasts 7.5 million views (at the time this article was written in mid-August). When asked about advice for fl orists just beginning with the app, Cho told us, "Just put yourself out there! It's not just about pretty pictures; it's more about interesting content. People love TALKING ABOUT FlowerTok F

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