Valentine’s Day not so rosy for florists as Hongkongers tighten belts amid economic uncertainties
- Florist Cherry Leung says customers no longer willing to pay more to tailor own bouquets as shop suffers worst sales period in five years
- ‘Business this year has been poor, primarily because many people are no longer buying in Hong Kong,’ another florist adds
Hongkongers are tightening their belts on flowers ahead of Valentine’s Day amid economic uncertainties, according to a florist, whose shop has gone through its worst Lunar New Year sales in five years.
The outlook for restaurants has also remained bleak but lovebirds can still find new ways to celebrate the occasion on Wednesday with a giant floating red heart installation and bazaars set up across the city.
At the flower market in Prince Edward, 39-year-old operator Cherry Leung of Wayfoong Fleur said her shop received around 300 orders for Valentine’s Day, similar to those of last year. But she said she expected to make less money than last year.
She complained about people tending to save money under the current economic conditions, saying they were less willing to tailor their own bouquets compared with the pandemic years when the border was closed.
“In past years, we saw people rushing to us to buy flowers as they were stuck in Hong Kong and were willing to pay more to tailor their own bouquets,” she said. “But this year half of the orders were placed online and customers were only willing to pay for the standard package.”
Selling the most expensive roses at a price of up to HK$2,000 (US$256), Leung said: “Previously one out of 10 customers would purchase this, but now only one out of 20 would.”
Her shop has recently suffered its worst sales period in five years. She said the number of Christmas orders was half of that made in previous years. The number of orders made during Lunar New Year dropped by 30 per cent.