Rising Gas Prices Weigh Heavy On Local Businesses

Despite the rising cost of gasoline, Hauppauge's small businesses owners say they have to continue offering free or low-cost delivery services or risk losing customers.

and are two family-owned Hauppauge businesses for which the rising cost of 87-octane fuel to more then $4 a gallon is affecting everything from their supplies to delivery service, and eating away at their profits. 

"It's an expense to provide a delivery services. Businesses that provide it in the past have done away with it or charge for delivery," said Daryl Tomkin, owner of Tomkin's Pharmacy. 

For more than 20 years, Tomkin has offered a free delivery service to regular customers who are unable to pick up their own medications. He said it’s a tough decision, but he'll keep the service, despite its potential to turn a small sale into a business expense. 

"It helps build business, as it’s a personalized service that you won't get from a chain or large store," Tomkin said. 

For Suzanne Smith, owner of , the increasing costs of fuel are affecting her Mother’s Day sales. Flower wholesalers have been tacking on a $5 surcharge, according to Smith, that she can’t afford to pass on to customers.

“People are shopping by prices in this economy. If I’m going to tack on $5 per delivery, they are going to look elsewhere,” she said.

While the florist admits to raising her prices slightly, she has found other methods to absorb the additional costs. Smith said her corporate deliveries are mostly in a three-mile radius within the industrial park, and she tries to group residential deliveries together when possible.

That’s not an option for Rhandi LoPiccolo, owner of LoPiccolo Pizzeria and Ristorante, whose pizza is best served hot and fresh. LoPiccolo said her pizzeria’s free delivery service helps keep her business competitive.

“We aren’t looking to change it because so many people pay for delivery,” she said. “Besides, I always try to look at the whole picture. Is a couple of cents going to make a difference?”

For some local businesses the added fuel costs could add up, as Smith begins work on the summer wedding season and prices keep increasing.

“I hope it goes down in the next few weeks so we can make it,” she said.