Home » How the Pandemic Drove Change in the Floral Industry
How the Pandemic Drove Change in the Floral Industry

From supply to staffing, pandemic-era challenges have changed the landscape of the floral industry. Prices have increased, companies are working together to alleviate supply chains issues and many businesses upgraded technology.

For all the challenges that have come from the pandemic, it has also helped drive positive change in the floral industry, proving that adaptable businesses can thrive even in uncertain times. In the latest issue of Floral Management, editor in chief Amanda Jedlinksy and contributing writer Janice Randall Rohlf spoke with several industry leaders about a few favorable effects.

Increasing Prices

Supply chain disruptions and product shortages primed consumers for price increases on many products, including flowers. “Prices have to increase, just for the industry to survive,” says economist Charlie Hall, Ph.D. “The supply chain can’t absorb all of these input cost increases, like cost of freight, so those costs are being passed down to the consumer.” Those increases are here to stay, Hall says. The industry can help alleviate concerns about higher prices by focusing on adding value to the overall experience of buying flowers, he says.

Reconfiguring the Supply Chain

When supply chain issues caused shortages for everything from blooms to baskets, some companies considered vertical integration or partnerships with other companies to de-risk procurement. One example is a partnership between a Miami importer and an event software company that enables customers to place orders using real time availability.

Embracing Technology

The pandemic was also the catalyst for upgrades to technology. Many businesses boosted their online presence and dove into fulfillment software for the first time as a way to streamline operations. One large wholesale, for instance, switched to cloud services and made other upgrades to improve their ability to forecast sales.

To read more about the efforts of these and other companies to evolve in response to the pandemic, read “COVID Gamechangers” in the January/February issue of Floral Management.

Kristine Gill is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.

Safnow Login


SAF Members only. Please login to access this page.

Not a member? Click here to find out why you should join SAF today.

Email :


Password :


Lost your password?

(close)