Florists report steady Valentine’s Day sales, hope for evening boost in Kuching

KUCHING (Feb 14): Local florists reported steady sales in conjunction with Valentine’s Day, with many expecting a stronger turnout later in the evening.

A visit by The Borneo Post to several Valentine’s Day booths along Jalan Tun Jugah on Saturday found that fresh flower bouquets remained the top choice among customers, although overall sales were described as moderate compared to last year.

For 22-year-old Jason Jong, who has been helping in his family’s bouquet and gift business, Angel Secrets Florist, for the past two years, fresh flower bouquets continue to be the best-selling item.

“Our best-selling item is still the fresh flower bouquet and our flowers are sourced from local suppliers.

“Maintaining freshness and quality is a priority especially during peak seasons like this,” he said.

He described business as going well so far, although he admitted he had expected a bigger crowd as the day progressed.

“Yesterday, we had a lot of customers, but last year was much better. Location also plays an important role because we sell our gifts and bouquets near the hotels around Gala City,” he said.

He noted that last year’s Valentine’s Day fell on a Sunday, which contributed to higher foot traffic and stronger sales as more people were off work and had time to shop compared to Saturday.

“But I am expecting more customers tonight because I believe most of them will be out for dinner or to celebrate Valentine’s,” he added.

Apart from Valentine’s Day, he shared that the business also sees increased demand for Mother’s Day and Chinese Valentine’s Day, which falls on May 20.

Meanwhile, 28-year-old Chiam Tat Chun who has been involved in his family’s flower business for three years, said flower bouquets were the most popular item, including those paired with teddy bears.

“Business has been doing well since yesterday but I feel that sales were better last year overall. This year’s sales performance is so-so compared to previous Valentine’s Day,” he said, adding that customer spending patterns may have shifted.

Despite this, he remained positive, noting that Valentine’s Day continues to be one of the most important occasions for the floral industry each year.

Eighteen-year-old student Richard Wong, who also assists in the business, observed that bouquets remain the preferred gift among customers.

“For me, business is normal. From what I observed, most buyers during Valentine’s Day are men looking to surprise their partners,” he said.

Despite varying expectations and comparisons with previous years, the young entrepreneurs remain optimistic as they continue serving customers throughout the day, anticipating a possible last-minute rush in the evening.