For someone special: Customers holding flower bouquets at a florist in Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
PETALING JAYA: It’s only the beginning of February, but florists here have already started taking orders for Valentine’s Day, which falls on the fifth day of Chinese New Year this month.
They expect Valentine’s Day to be an exciting one, as it will be a continuation of the Lunar New Year celebrations.
“Our shop offers early bird discounts, and the response has been good. However, many customers will book rose bouquets closer to Valentine’s Day.
“We believe many people are still busy preparing for Chinese New Year,” said Weng Seng, the founder of White On White Florist.
Weng expects orders for roses to increase in other states because many people living in the Klang Valley will return to their home towns to celebrate the New Year.
He, however, remains optimistic that sales will still be good in the Klang Valley.
“Based on our surveys at other branches, we believe that sales will be overwhelming as Valentine’s Day approaches,” he said.
Sweet Florist has also seen customers coming in to book roses for Valentine’s Day, but not as many as expected.
Owner Barbara Chai said with Valentine’s Day falling during the Lunar New Year period and school holidays, fewer customers are coming in.
However, last-minute walk-in purchases cannot be ruled out.
“We will prepare imported roses, but I have reduced my imports by 20% this year. We also recommend that customers buy preserved roses and soap flowers as alternatives to fresh flowers,” she said.
Preserved roses are dried in a special process that retains their bloom.
Soap flowers are soaps carved to look like roses, hydrangeas and carnations.
She said Valentine’s Day roses are usually imported from Kenya, India and Ecuador, and due to increased transportation costs, prices could increase by 20% this year.
Typically, bouquets of 11 roses are the most popular, along with other options like a single rose or three roses.
Florist Peilynn agreed that there may be a price increase of between 5% and 10%, mainly due to rising transportation costs.
However, she felt that the price increase would not deter customers.
“We think the sales of roses this year will not be lower than previous years because couples will still celebrate,” she said.
She said the classic red rose bouquet remained the most popular choice, followed by roses in different colours.
Cameron Highlands Floriculturists Association president Lee Peng Fo said that in recent years, farmers there had been planting fewer roses as most local florists have turned to imports.
“However, the climate in the Cameron Highlands is suitable for year-round cultivation of roses.
“However, local rose varieties, may not be what the flower shops want for Valentine’s Day,” he said.
