Let’s take a moment on this Valentine’s Day to appreciate the vendors who make such a memorable day of love possible. Vendors such as florists and restaurateurs — without them, Valentine’s Day may not be as interesting as one may expect.
Behind Valentine’s Day frontlines
Valentine’s Day is a day when loved ones spend time together to express their appreciation or adoration in an extraordinary way. On this day, it is not unusual to see couples crowding public places such as cinemas, eateries, and malls. There would be special promotions and products available on this day.
Canopies after canopies line the streets, selling flower bouquets, plushies, and other items. Eateries and small businesses use social media to highlight the best places to eat and the best gifts to buy — each entices couples with a way to show their loved one how much they are appreciated.
However, the preparations for these many businesses are not completed within one month. While taking months into consideration, as well as shipping in the items needed, Valentine’s Day for these business owners does not happen in February; it starts a long time ago, carefully thought out and thoroughly prepared.
Furthermore, this year’s challenges arise when the Chinese New Year coincides with the festive date of love. For Carmen Diana Wong, Adeline Ling, and the partners of Trevi Cafe, Kuching, February is a busy month, discerning between plans for the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.
A truckload of flowers to go out
Wong has been a home-based florist at Fleurir & Co since 2020, where she does flower and balloon arrangements, and event decorations. She has been involved in Valentine’s Day sales since the establishment of her business.
However, with only a few days between Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day this year, Wong finds it challenging.
“I travelled during the festive season and returned two days before Valentine’s Day. Therefore, I had to rush to complete my clients’ orders in such a short amount of time.”
Although Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14 every year, Wong had prepared for the event a month in advance.
“I usually order fresh flower stocks in advance in order to ensure that there are enough flowers for my customers’ bouquets. I would also prepare more preserved and soap flower orders ahead of time so that I can devote more time to floral arrangements as Valentine’s Day approaches.”
Wong added that the one-month period includes planning the flower designs, creating samples, photographing, launching the catalogue, and arranging the flowers.
“Because I also make the deliveries myself on the day, I can see how happy my customers are when they receive their gifts from their loved ones.”
An interesting surprise
Meanwhile, Ling from So Berry Special adds an interesting twist to her floral bouquet by slipping in a strawberry or two. Ling disclosed that she has not prepared ahead of time for Valentine’s Day this year. Instead, she would work on ideas whenever possible, as the business is her hobby.
“So, anytime a good idea hits, and if my schedule allows, I’ll go ahead with it.
“This Valentine’s Day, I prepared a smashable heart and a mini bouquet of strawberries — both of which were already available in store; I just reduced their size to make them more affordable in terms of the guys’ budget. I figured they would get their partners flowers, a nice meal, and a gift.”
However, flowers have traditionally been the most popular and most common Valentine’s Day gift. Therefore, Ling wants to be able help the men in being more creative with their gift giving.
“Similar to the smashable heart, you can insert whatever type of surprise you want her to smash into, such as money, flowers, chocolate, or love letters. The fun part is that she won’t know what to expect.”
Speaking on her experience, Ling mentioned that some of her customers would ask her to insert a diamond ring, while another had given her RM10,000 in cash as a surprise gift. Though she does not get to see her customers’ loved ones’ reactions in person, she does receive videos of the smashing process, which she finds amusing to watch.
A special Valentine’s Day meal
Trevi Cafe, a quaint cafe in Kuching that opened in April 2021, has hosted many patrons and events looking for an out-of-the-ordinary experience in Kuching. The cafe, which serves Western cuisine, is known for its aesthetically pleasing, minimalist interior design that is French-inspired.
The cafe accommodated both the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day menus this year. Despite the busy schedule, the cafe is eager to welcome customers. One of its partners, Gordon Hon, revealed that they had prepared their menus two months beforehand.
“We did a food tasting after we obtained the list of menus to offer to guarantee that we are able to provide the best for our customers, regardless of the celebrations,” he said.
Trevi had prepared a six-course dinner for couples dining in for Valentine’s Day. The ‘Love is in the Air’ menu includes Poached Japanese Oyster, Tournedos Rossini & King Prawn, and other dishes, as well as a complementary rose and two wine selections.
As Valentine’s Day 2024 comes and goes, another chapter in the story of love concludes, waiting for the next opportunity for couples to spend an unforgettable day together, expressing their love and appreciating one another’s presence.
