How Tariffs Are Impacting Flower Prices — And What That Means for You
At Kim Starr Wise Floral Events, we’re in the business of bringing beauty and joy into your life: whether it’s a bouquet on your kitchen table, a gorgeous altarpiece for a wedding, or an installation that transforms an event space. But behind the scenes, we’re also navigating a complex supply chain that’s recently been shaken by rising tariffs and their impact on wholesale flower prices.
We want to be transparent about what’s happening and how it may affect your floral purchases in the months ahead.
The Growing Cost of Flowers
Over the past year, we’ve seen significant increases in the cost of flowers from our wholesalers. For many popular varieties, wholesale prices have gone up between 5% and 20%, with some specialty blooms rising even higher depending on the season and country of origin. This is largely due to tariffs placed on imports from key flower-producing countries.
Many of the flowers we use. including ranunculus, peonies, tulips, and tropical varieties, are grown overseas in countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, and the Netherlands. When tariffs are imposed on imported goods, it drives up the cost of bringing those products into the U.S., and those increases are passed on to florists like us.
What This Means for Your Floral Purchases
For everyday customers, this unfortunately means higher prices for floral arrangements and bouquets. We’re doing everything we can to absorb some of the cost and minimize the impact on our clients, but some adjustments are unavoidable. You may notice that certain arrangements are a bit more expensive than they were last year, or that we’re suggesting seasonal alternatives that are more affordable.
For weddings and larger events, the impact is more noticeable. An increase in flower costs can trickle down. We’re working closely with our event clients to reimagine designs that still feel abundant and beautiful, without breaking the bank.
Our Commitment to Creativity and Transparency
We understand that every dollar counts, and we believe in transparency. If you're curious about where your flowers come from or why certain varieties cost more, just ask. We're happy to walk you through the process and make recommendations based on your priorities.
A Time to Support Local
One silver lining in all of this is a renewed focus on locally grown flowers. Domestic flower farms aren’t subject to the same tariffs, which means we can often source stunning, fresh blooms from growers right here in the U.S. Supporting local growers not only helps the environment and the economy — it also helps us keep your floral costs a bit more manageable.
We love working with local growers, because it not only avoids the expensive extra costs of international wholesale florals. Working with local farms also means supporting fellow small businesspeople– it means putting money back into the Louisiana economy, which is what happens when we work with our friends at Cicada Calling Farm, based in Independence, Louisiana. And, our friends with Baby T-Rex Farms are based right here in New Orleans!
We’re All in This Together
We know that flowers are more than just decoration — they mark life’s most meaningful moments. As we continue to navigate these changes in the floral industry, we promise to remain transparent, creative, and resourceful so we can keep delivering joy, one flower at a time.
If you have questions about how pricing might affect your upcoming order or event, we’re always here to chat.
One thing we can promise: we will always be upfront and transparent about when and why pricing shifts.
With love,
The Kim Starr Wise Floral Events team
Ready to talk flowers?
📞 Call us: (504) 315-5607
📧 Email: theflowershop@kimstarrwise.com
