Pantone has announced that their Color of the Year for 2023 is “Viva Magenta.” They describe it as a shade of red “rooted in nature,” connoting strength, bravery, joy and optimism, powerful and empowering while being welcoming and witty.
Among their many justifications for choosing the color, Pantone mentions our increasing appreciation and awareness of nature in our incorporation of living things into our homes, “such as plants, florals, living walls, and restorative outdoor spaces.” It’s like they chose a color specifically with garden centers in mind.
The color represents a balance between the physical and the virtual, between technology and nature, between distress about and hope for the future. As such, it provides a bridge between opposites and is a great color for unifying indoor and outdoor spaces, whether as the main color of a space or for a splash of color that ties the spaces together. Depending on the context, Viva Magenta can seem classic and nostalgic or bold and futuristic. It seems at home on both a retro floral pattern and on a piece of modern technology.
“Magenta” probably has you picturing a light pink/purple color, but bold and dynamic viva magenta is far more red, almost crimson. The result is a unique shade that contrasts beautifully with shades of green—which is great news for garden centers. Here are a few flowers close in hue to viva magenta:
- Garden phlox
- Broadway rose
- Some varieties of rex begonia
- Fuchsia rose
- Magenta zinnia
- Magenta miniature rose
Merchandise such as pots, tools, and outdoor furniture in this color will look great in your store, which ought to motivate shoppers to buy. Incorporate the Color of the Year into your training, as well, so that your employees know how to sell these plants, flowers, and merchandise. You can read more about Vivid Magenta on the Pantone website.
