Mount Isa Florist owner Tuteru "Toots" Tuteru said COVID-19 had forced business changes, including booking orders online.

"We are getting customers to pre-order, therefore we have less people coming in store," Ms Tuteru said.

"I have kids I want to go home to and not worry about making them sick and it also enables me to preorder all the arrangement pieces I need from my wholesaler."

Ms Tuteru said most customers had been supportive of the new ordering system.

"A lot of people expect me to have everything in store, which I don't. But if people pre-order then I can make sure I have what people want.

"Business across the industry was a little slower and the whole system is different now."

Ms Tuteru said wholesalers were also selling products online and she had to get in quick to claim stock.

"The wholesalers get their flowers from the farmers, they put it online and sell it straight away," she said.

"You have to be online at the time flowers are listed, or you'll miss your good quality wholesale products."

While business is now "back to normal", Ms Tuteru said she faced some business challenges during the lockdown.

"We couldn't get our stock," she said.

"Back when we were in lockdown and had less flights, it was difficult to get in any stock as our products were flown into Mount Isa.

"We managed to get our stock on a truck and road freighted out, but we are all good now and business is pretty much back to normal."

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