WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – As gas prices continue to rise, small businesses that rely on deliveries are being forced to make tough decisions just to keep costs manageable.
At Betty J’s Florist in Winter Garden, higher prices at the pump are creating new challenges ahead of one of the busiest times of the year.
The longtime flower shop is preparing for the Mother’s Day rush while balancing this year’s challenges.
“The tariffs have hurt us, inflation, gas prices, even the flower prices have quadrupled have also hurt us,” said manager MeriBeth Jackson.
With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, Jackson says the business expects a high volume of deliveries, just like last year. The biggest difference will be the cost of gas, but they don’t plan to raise delivery costs for customers.
“I know last year we did over 100 deliveries,” Jackson goes on to say, “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.”
Instead, the shop plans to absorb the added expense, even though Jackson estimates the business will spend significantly more on gas during Mother’s Day week.
“Our drivers are going to be spending probably the week of Mother’s Day a $1,000 or more in gas prices,” Jackson said.
To offset those expenses, the team is reworking how deliveries are handled. Routes are being streamlined, and drivers are focusing on speed and efficiency to ensure every arrangement arrives on time.
“Everything has got to go out as expeditiously as possible and on time,” Jackson said.
As part of that effort, the shop has made the difficult decision to limit deliveries to certain areas on Mother’s Day.
“There are a couple of neighborhoods in the Winter Garden we won’t go out on Mother’s Day,” she added.
Even with those adjustments, the goal remains the same: making sure each flower arrangement arrives on time for customers celebrating the holiday. Jackson adds the team works hard to make sure their customers receive the best.
She notes that while customers may have other options, like big box stores, Betty J’s remains focused on quality and service. For those interested in their fresh flowers, she encourages them to reach out, and they will work with them on their budget.