BREVARD COUNTY, WHERE THE AVERAGE IS 4.46 A GALLON. THOSE PRICES ARE ALSO COSTING FLORISTS TO CHANGE HOW THEY DELIVER SOME OF THE BOUQUETS AHEAD OF MOTHER’S DAY. WESH 2’S CHRISTINA WATKINS STOPPED BY A FAMILY OWNED COMPANY TO SEE HOW THEY’RE STILL TRYING TO SAVE WITHOUT CHARGING YOU MORE DIVIDED BY ZIP CODES BY AREAS. HARRY’S FAMOUS FLOWERS IN ORLANDO HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1982. THE FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS ON NORTH CIMARRON IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A GAS STATION. SO EVERY DAY THEY’RE REMINDED OF THE PRICES AT THE PUMP, THOUGH THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CRAFT IS UNWAVERING NO MATTER THE COST. WE MADE A PROMISE TO OUR CUSTOMERS THAT WE ARE NOT INCREASING THE PRICES, SO WE ARE TAKING THE HIT. MANAGER TYLER SAYS FOR MOTHER’S DAY, THEY HAD 800 DELIVERIES JUST ON FRIDAY. THEY EXPECT 6 TO 800 ON SATURDAY AND POSSIBLY 400 ON SUNDAY. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO 800 AGAIN. LESTER SAYS THEY’RE SPENDING ABOUT $2,000 A MONTH ON GAS, SO THEY’RE PLAYING A GAME OF CHESS AS THEY TRY TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGET WITHOUT CHARGING CUSTOMERS MORE. WE ARE TRYING ALSO TO USE OUTSIDE SERVICES LIKE JUST ON ONE DEMAND DELIVERY SERVICE, NOT OUR OWN VANS. SOMETIMES IT’S CHEAPER THAT WAY. SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE KIND OF TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, DO IT IN-HOUSE OR OUTSOURCE IT. RIGHT NOW, HARRY’S HAS 30 DELIVERY DRIVERS AND THEY OUTSOURCE ABOUT 10% OF THEIR ROUTES AND HAVE HIGH GAS PRICES. WASN’T ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH. LUSH STREET ALSO SAYS THE COST OF GETTING THOSE FLOWERS TO THE SHOP WENT UP 50%. SOME OF THE FLOWERS ARE OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH RIGHT NOW. THEY WERE NEVER THIS HIGH, BUT WE ARE MANAGING AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE’RE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO SHE HOPES THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY. WE’LL KEEP GOING, MOVING FORWARD. GETTING ALL THE FLOWERS DELIVERED. COVERING ORANGE COUNTY IN ORLANDO, CHRISTINA WATKINS WESH TWO NEWS. BUSY, BUSY. THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION SAYS SHOPPERS ARE GOING TO SPEND A RECORD $38 BILLION THIS YEAR
Orlando florist battles gas price surge as it keeps up with Mother’s Day demand
Updated: 9:17 AM EDT May 9, 2026
Harry’s Famous Flowers, a family-owned business in Orlando, is adapting to rising gas and flower costs to keep Mother’s Day deliveries affordable for customers.Located on North Semoran Avenue, across from a gas station, the shop is reminded daily of the impact of high fuel prices. Despite the challenges, their commitment to delivering beautiful bouquets remains unwavering. “We made a promise to our customers that we are not increasing the prices. So we are taking a hit,” said manager Taila Lustri.The shop had 800 deliveries on Friday, expects 600 to 800 on Saturday, and possibly 400 on Sunday. “We should be able to do the 800 again,” Lustri said. Currently, the business spends about $2,000 a month on gas. To balance their budget, they are exploring alternative delivery methods, including outsourcing some routes. “We are trying also to use outside services, like, just, one demand delivery service, not our own vans. Sometimes it’s cheaper that way. So that’s why we’re kind of trying to figure it out. Do it in-house or outsource it,” Lustri said. Harry’s employs 30 delivery drivers and outsources about 10% of its routes. In addition to high gas prices, the cost of flowers has also surged, with some prices increasing by 50%. “Some of the flowers are outrageously high right now. They were never this high. But we are managing and we said, you know what? We are going to make it happen,” Lustri said. Despite the challenges, Lustri remains optimistic. “We’ll keep going, moving forward, getting all the flowers delivered,” she said.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Harry’s Famous Flowers, a family-owned business in Orlando, is adapting to rising gas and flower costs to keep Mother’s Day deliveries affordable for customers.
Located on North Semoran Avenue, across from a gas station, the shop is reminded daily of the impact of high fuel prices. Despite the challenges, their commitment to delivering beautiful bouquets remains unwavering.
“We made a promise to our customers that we are not increasing the prices. So we are taking a hit,” said manager Taila Lustri.
The shop had 800 deliveries on Friday, expects 600 to 800 on Saturday, and possibly 400 on Sunday.
“We should be able to do the 800 again,” Lustri said.
Currently, the business spends about $2,000 a month on gas. To balance their budget, they are exploring alternative delivery methods, including outsourcing some routes.
“We are trying also to use outside services, like, just, one demand delivery service, not our own vans. Sometimes it’s cheaper that way. So that’s why we’re kind of trying to figure it out. Do it in-house or outsource it,” Lustri said.
Harry’s employs 30 delivery drivers and outsources about 10% of its routes. In addition to high gas prices, the cost of flowers has also surged, with some prices increasing by 50%.
“Some of the flowers are outrageously high right now. They were never this high. But we are managing and we said, you know what? We are going to make it happen,” Lustri said.
Despite the challenges, Lustri remains optimistic.
“We’ll keep going, moving forward, getting all the flowers delivered,” she said.