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May 11, 2008 8:23 pm US/Mountain
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Rising Gas Prices Hurt Florists Who Deliver
DENVER (CBS4) ―
Flowers are a traditional gift on Mother's Day, but this year may be a little different.
The National Retail Federation says the rising cost of gas and food has people scaling back on Mother's Day and giving cards instead of flowers and gifts.
"Most of our product comes in from South America directly into Miami. Everything comes in by refrigerated truck and the same thing with California ... its just affecting everybody," said Kevin Byerly, co-owner of Lehrer's Flowers.
The cost hits contracted drivers the hardest since they pay for their own gas.
"They have to weigh the dollars and cents and whether or not they can make it profitable to even do the job anymore," Byerly said.
"Last year it cost me about 100 bucks to do the same kind of deliveries, so it's almost $100 more," said Carl Armijo, a delivery driver at Lehrer's.
Many florists are adding extra fuel surcharges to cope with the high gas prices but Byerly hopes his business will not have to.
"We're hoping not to have to raise that," Byerly said. "We feel it's already a high price to be honest with you. We wish we wouldn't have to charge anything."
He says his business hasn't slowed down this year despite analysts saying people are spending less.
"We're doing okay as far as volume goes," Byerly said. "I mean we're definitely right where we want to be."
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