Florists Struggle as Tariffs Bite During Their Busiest Season
LUBBOCK, Texas It's one of the most hectic periods annually for floral businesses, coinciding with Mother’s Day and graduation season. However, florists such as Justin Hughes are now experiencing increased pressure along with higher expenses.
"Mother's Day and graduation keep us going through the summer," stated Hughes, owner of House of Flowers.
Like many florists, Hughes buys most of his flowers from outside the United States. Countries like Colombia and Ecuador supply a large share of what ends up in American bouquets. Now, new tariffs are starting to hit those shipments.
“I stocked up on all of our containers ahead of time because I knew the tariffs were coming,” Hughes said. “But yes, some of our flower costs have gone up.”
Recently, Hughes received an email from a supplier notifying him about a 5% additional charge on flowers and greenery. Moreover, it's not only the cost of flowers that is increasing.
"One of our container suppliers provides us with colored glass, but it will take about four to five months as it's currently stranded on a ship en route from China," he explained.
Despite this, the orders have not decreased. Hughes and his crew continue to cut stems and fill vases as quickly as possible.
However, he's keeping a close eye on the figures.
As costs increase across the board, flowers have become more of a luxury," Hughes stated. "People will prioritize spending on essentials instead of indulgences.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This content must not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.To stay updated with the most recent news, weather forecasts, sports updates, and live streams, visit KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com.
No comments