Tosh Metzger builds a small village in his shop, Provo Florist ,on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald As state and federal entities attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus, companies big and small are feeling the impact. From dine-in restaurants and flower shops to musicians and visual artists, many businesses are impacted by recommendations from state and federal health officials. President Donald Trump outlined guidelines for citizens to follow to help slow the spread of the illness, including limiting social gathering to 10 people or less. The Utah Department of Health and Utah’s Coronavirus Task Force issued an order alongside Gov. Gary Herbert that prohibited restaurants, bars and food establishments from offering dine-in options for residents statewide for two weeks beginning Wednesday. Tosh Metzger, owner of Provo Florist LLC, said health official recommendations have greatly affected his business — from cancelled weddings to more private viewings at funerals, more and more floral arrangement orders are being withdrawn. “We’ve had other places call and cancel saying they don’t seed flowers, they’re too busy buying food,” Metzger said. The best way residents can support small businesses, he said, is picking up the phone. While dine-in or in-person options might be closed, a number of businesses, including restaurants and floral shops, will still take orders online or over the phone. In fact, Metzger said the shop’s online sales have picked up a little bit since the announcement. “We’re fairing better than other shops,” he said. “Our store isn’t really a place where people gather, anyway. As long as the phone is open and internet is available, we’re open.” For other businesses, especially restaurants, some locations have had to temporarily close or choose to adapt. The order does not prohibit curbside, drive-thru, delivery or pick up options, so local […]
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Travis Rigby is a publisher and entrepreneur focused on growing the floral industry through media, data, and product innovation. With a journalism background from the University of Utah, he founded and led PosterGarden.com for 27 years before transitioning into floral publishing. Today, Travis is the publisher of Florists’ Review, one of the industry’s most historic and influential titles, which he relaunched in 2026 with a focus on rebuilding its audience and transforming it into a modern data-driven platform for advertisers and readers alike. At Florists' Review Media, he oversees a portfolio of floral brands including Florists’ Review, SuperFloral, Canadian Florist, Flora (UK), Australian Florist, and LivingFlowers.com.
