EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Rising gas prices are forcing a West El Paso flower shop to rethink how it delivers arrangements and whether it will need to raise prices ahead of Mother\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
Rafael Delfin, owner of Heaven Sent Florist, said his business is feeling the pressure as fuel costs climb and broader economic uncertainty continues. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna have to increase the prices, but things are going right now with the war and everything that is going on,\u201d Delfin said.<\/p>\n
Delfin said he is trying to adapt in real time to keep the business running. \u201cWe take it as it comes as the way it\u2019s coming. We make the decisions according to the time that is changing,\u201d he said. Delfin added, \u201cWe can come in even, but so far, like I said, we can handle that.\u201d<\/p>\n
To cut down on fuel use, Delfin said the shop has changed its delivery strategy by grouping orders by area rather than making multiple trips. \u201cWe route the orders to the Northeast, the east side, and west side, and so forth. That way they take a few deliveries at the same time so they\u2019re not zigzagging all the overtime,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Destiny Venecia reports on Rising gas prices push West El Paso flower shop to revamp delivery routes (Credit: KFOX14)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: Rising gas prices squeeze El Paso food trucks, forcing operators to rethink events<\/a><\/p>\n Even with those changes, Delfin said costs remain unpredictable, including shipping expenses tied to diesel prices and air transport. \u201cI\u2019m dealing with the trucking delivery service because they\u2019re adjusting their prices due to the diesel going up and the airplane,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Delfin also noted, \u201cThey all hike up the prices because a lot of flowers move through airplanes and trucking.\u201d<\/p>\n For now, Delfin said the shop has not made price changes yet, but that could change as Mother\u2019s Day approaches if costs stay high. \u201cWe haven\u2019t done any adjustments because we\u2019re expecting things to change, and after that, and it gets closer to Mother\u2019s Day, and the price is still up, we\u2019re gonna have to do a little bit more adjusting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Delfin said rising gas prices could soon lead to higher prices on floral arrangements this Mother\u2019s Day because of increased costs.<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: El Paso restaurant owners feel ripple effects as rising gas prices drive up costs<\/a><\/p>\n