Florida Florists Struggle with Surging Gas Prices Ahead of Mother's Day

Small businesses that rely on deliveries are forced to make tough choices to keep costs manageable.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a bouquet of fresh flowers, a car key, and a gas pump nozzle arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the challenges that florists face with rising fuel costs.As gas prices surge, Florida florists must find creative ways to absorb the added delivery costs to serve their loyal customers.Winter Garden Today

As gas prices continue to rise, small flower shops in Florida like Betty J's Florist in Winter Garden are facing new challenges ahead of the busy Mother's Day season. The shop is preparing for a high volume of deliveries but expects to spend significantly more on gas, forcing them to streamline routes, limit deliveries to certain areas, and absorb the added expense rather than passing it on to customers.

Why it matters

The rising cost of gas is putting a strain on small businesses that rely on deliveries, like local florists, as they try to balance serving their loyal customer base while keeping their own costs in check. This highlights the broader impact of inflation on small businesses and the difficult decisions they have to make to stay afloat.

The details

At Betty J's Florist, manager MeriBeth Jackson says the business is facing a number of challenges, including higher prices for flowers, inflation, and tariffs, in addition to the surging gas prices. To prepare for the Mother's Day rush, the shop is reworking delivery routes to be more efficient and limiting deliveries to certain neighborhoods on the holiday in order to save on gas. However, they don't plan to raise delivery fees for customers, opting instead to absorb the added expense, which Jackson estimates could be over $1,000 just for the week of Mother's Day.

  • Mother's Day is quickly approaching.
  • Last year, Betty J's Florist did over 100 deliveries during the Mother's Day week.

The players

Betty J's Florist

A longtime flower shop in Winter Garden, Florida that is preparing for the busy Mother's Day season.

MeriBeth Jackson

The manager of Betty J's Florist who is navigating the challenges of rising gas prices and other cost increases.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The tariffs have hurt us, inflation, gas prices, even the flower prices have quadrupled have also hurt us.”

— MeriBeth Jackson, Manager

“I know last year we did over 100 deliveries, most of the customers have been doing business with Betty J's for two or three generations, they are family, and we don't want to do more damage to their budget.”

— MeriBeth Jackson, Manager

“Our drivers are going to be spending probably the week of Mother's Day a $1,000 or more in gas prices.”

— MeriBeth Jackson, Manager

“Everything has got to go out as expeditiously as possible and on time.”

— MeriBeth Jackson, Manager

“There are a couple of neighborhoods in the Winter Garden we won't go out on Mother's Day.”

— MeriBeth Jackson, Manager

What’s next

Betty J's Florist will continue to monitor gas prices and adjust their delivery strategies as needed to ensure they can serve their customers during the busy Mother's Day season.

The takeaway

The challenges faced by small businesses like Betty J's Florist illustrate the broader economic pressures that inflation and rising costs are placing on local enterprises. Despite the difficulties, the shop remains committed to providing quality service and keeping costs manageable for their loyal, multi-generational customer base.