SPOKANE, Wash. — As Mother’s Day approaches, local florists are working overtime to prepare hundreds of bouquets, but customers may notice slightly higher prices this year due to tariffs on imported flowers and supplies.
Inside Rose and Blossom flower shop in Spokane County, the sound of scissors snipping stems and employees bustling about fills the air as they prepare for one of their busiest holidays of the year.
“Real busy start, the busiest time of the year,” said Terri O’Connor, who has owned the local flower shop for more than 30 years.
Despite her extensive experience, O’Connor now faces an unexpected challenge: rising tariffs on imported flowers and supplies that are forcing price increases.
“There is like a 10% increase on the wholesale price of flowers. And so it works out to be about a 3% increase to consumer,” O’Connor explained.
While the Spokane area is known for its natural beauty, early May is still very early in the blooming season. This timing means that many flowers available at local shops for Mother’s Day are imported from other countries.
These imported blooms are subject to a baseline 10% tariff. However, the more significant concern for florists isn’t just the flowers themselves.
“What we call hard goods, which would be like our basins and plastic containers, a lot of that is made in China,” O’Connor said.
Currently, Chinese imports face tariffs exceeding 200%, dramatically increasing costs for these essential supplies. For O’Connor, this has already meant canceling orders for future holidays.
While businesses absorb some costs related to the tariffs, a portion reaches consumers in the form of higher prices for Mother’s Day arrangements.
Despite these economic challenges, O’Connor hopes local consumers will continue to support small businesses like hers.
“You’re supporting local workers. And so it’s important,” she emphasized.
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