'Scramble:' Columbus-based florist feeling weight of tariffs
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Kristen Serpico, executive director of Columbus-based Fiori Florals Design Studio, was finally back on track after COVID-19 shook the floral industry. Then, the tariffs hit.
“To go to a client a month of their event and say, 'Hey, your pricing increased by 20%' is just not going to make anyone happy and we're in a happy industry,” Serpico said.
Serpico and her colleagues started Fiori Florals in January 2020, outfitting weddings and events in central Ohio with floral arrangements. Five years in, they've got $1.8 million in event bookings for 2025 alone. Serpico said Fiori Florals prides itself on using locally sourced flowers whenever possible, but climate and demand mean about 70% of blooms must be imported. She said the often-changing tariff conditions have had a major impact.
“Tariffs didn't exist six months ago within this industry, so to watch that change happen and to not know -- how long are they going to stick around?" Serpico said. "Are they going to increase? Are they going to decrease? It's really difficult to continue on business as normal when you're unsure of what is going to affect you on a global scale.”
President Donald Trump has imposed and paused varying tariffs throughout the first months of his term. These were implemented to encourage American manufacturing; however, Serpico said the U.S. climate and a cold, rainy spring left a limited domestic flower market. She said some blooms thrived, but many of the popular selections for the wedding season cannot easily be sourced in the U.S.
Fiori Florals imports florals from Holland, Japan and several countries in South America. A 50% tariff on imports from European Union countries was paused until July 9, but Serpico said that has already been disruptive. Other blooms come from Colombia, which was subject to a 25% tariff until the country agreed to accept migrant flights.
"You see a scramble for event professionals, speaking solely within this industry, you see a scramble then," she said. "And it reminds me, truly, a little bit of COVID, where product then isn't available because people are trying to buy it in advance to make sure that they don't have that price increase."
Serpico said people trying to race the tariffs have led to some market scarcity, further complicating sourcing. She said she's worked with wholesalers who absorb some of the costs, allowing Fiori Florals to take on others and only pass along a small amount to customers.
Still, telling customers their prices will increase is not enjoyable. She said with wedding and event planning, people often get price estimates a year or more in advance, and can be understandably frustrated when those prices change. Serpico encouraged customers to give grace to small business owners dealing with tariffs.
"When you see a small business owner, if there is something that has to be passed along, it's probably not the full amount, and they're probably trying to meet you somewhere in the middle," Serpico said.
Between COVID-19, where full flower fields were demolished after nearly all events were cancelled worldwide, and market uncertainty today, Serpico said people are either made for the event industry or not, but the good side of the industry keeps her motivated.
“What keeps me going is the knowledge that our product in what we create here is going to land in photos that will land on mantels that will then be passed down through generations," she said. "We're making the background for the love stories. Who doesn't love that?”
She said that aside from public kindness toward local businesses, better communication and consistency from government officials would be helpful. She said not knowing the numbers behind proposed or incoming tariffs makes it difficult to plan. Serpico encouraged lawmakers to offer more information to local businesses and push for market consistency.
"We are hopeful that the market will balance back out quickly and the 'what ifs' will begin to subside for our business and clients," Serpico said.