JOHOR BARU: With Mothers Day celebration on Sunday, people have started flocking to florists here in search of the perfect bouquet for the mothers in their lives.
For 33-year-old Lokman Azmi, this year is especially meaningful as his wife, Emirah Lizan, 33, will be celebrating her very first Mothers Day.
“As we walked past the florist, I slipped in quietly without her noticing. I wanted to surprise her.
“I am glad I pulled it off,” said Lokman, who works in the information technology industry.
The couple welcomed their twin daughters, Lara and Luna, eight months ago after three years of marriage.
“I want to thank my wife for giving me two beautiful daughters.
“I chose purple carnations because they symbolise eternal love,” said Lokman, adding that they have also planned to celebrate at a restaurant later.
Steven Foong, who started work as a salesman after sitting for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination early this year, said he would be using his salary to buy a bouquet of flowers for his mother.
“When I was younger, my father always brought me to buy flowers for my mum for Mothers Day.
“Even though my mum never asked for it, I can see that she was very happy when we gave her the flowers,” he said, adding that he used his lunch break to pick out the flowers .
Meanwhile, after 19 years in the business, florist Lim Li Jun is working around the clock as they prepare for a possible surge in orders this weekend.
“We have noticed some customers buying their flowers ahead of time, and we anticipate a last-minute rush in the coming days,” Lim said, adding that some of her customers are buying the flowers earlier as they will be away for vacation this Mothers Day.
Lim also noted a shift in the way people are buying flowers this year.
“Carnations have traditionally been the favourite choice for Mothers Day.
“This year, many are opting for mixed bouquets, some with roses and others incorporating baby’s breath.
“This trend has taken off on social media, and we are doing our best to match what our customers want,” she said, adding that more people are walking in to buy flowers in person instead of buying online.
Another florist, Alex Teo Voon Chuan, 56, also noticed a shift in the trend of flowers for Mothers Day this year.
“In the past, I only had to prepare carnations for Mothers Day, but these days, I have to offer a wider variety, such as roses.
“This is unexpected, but as a florist, we have to keep up with the trends to remain competitive,” he added.
