Valentine's Day timing unfortunate for local florists

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year and just days before the Lunar New Year, florists in Mong Kok say demand for traditional Valentine’s bouquets has weakened, while Lunar New Year flowers have taken center stage. Some flower shop operators reported that Valentine’s-related orders have dropped by more than half from last year, though others expect overall business to edge up as holiday foot traffic increases.

A visit to the Mong Kok Flower Market less than a week before Valentine’s Day found many shops prominently displaying Lunar New Year plants such as orchids and kumquat trees at their entrances. Only a handful placed roses near storefronts or posted notices accepting Valentine’s Day bouquet pre-orders. Lai Wing-chun, Chairman of the Hong Kong Wholesale Florist Association, said Valentine’s Day this year falls on the 27th day of the lunar month, close to the Lunar New Year. He said some residents may opt to buy Lunar New Year flowers, such as peonies, moth orchids, or Japanese cymbidiums, as gifts for their partners.

“These flowers all symbolize love. Pink moth orchids represent a ‘young girl’s smile.’ Women will definitely smile when they receive them,” he said.

Lai said consumers appear more inclined to buy flowers on Valentine’s Day itself or choose Lunar New Year plants as gifts. While sales of Valentine’s bouquets may be weaker, he said demand for New Year flowers has remained strong.