Love is in the air as couples scour to find the best gifts to express their love for their loved ones this Valentine’s Day. It happens to the best of us: life gets crazy, the days fly by, and we forget to look for a thoughtful, unique, and romantic Valentine’s Day gift. Fret not, entrepreneur and gift curator Jong See Fung can help create the best memory for lovers through her creative bouquet surprise gift packages!
Some moments are worth more than money
It’s that time of month when gift curators and flower sellers are especially busy. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, businesses throughout the world are getting ready to greet the day as couples look to celebrate their affections. In Sarawak, rows of shops have started to display their version of a flower bouquet, with some offering discounts to entice lovers to buy.
Behind the scenes, entrepreneurs such as Jong See Fung get busy curating and crafting beautiful bouquets for Valentine’s Day couples. Having started her gift services in 2018, Jong shares her handiwork on social media.
“I love flowers and am passionate about creating an extraordinary gift out of them. However, what keeps me going to this day are the happy faces she sees each time she delivers the gift. When they are happy, I am happy too,” said the mother of two children.
Jong said that her business’ peak season falls on Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Apart from those days, the 37-year-old added that she would also receive a good amount of orders during Father’s Day, birthdays and graduation season.
“I also received quite a number of overseas customers. They would contact me for assistance in sending a surprise gift to their parents or partners,” Jong explained, adding that she is a “love delivery person.”
“To be honest, I love this job as I can feel the happiness when someone receives their surprise gift. To me, the feeling is worth more than the money I make.”
Recalling a time when she sent a gift to her client’s mother, Jong shared that the mother shed tears at the thought of receiving a present from her child. “She told me that even though her child is far away, they did not forget to send a gift over during this special day.”
Five years in the industry
After half a decade down the road, Jong said that sometimes she became speechless and flabbergasted when looking back at her initial artwork. “I always asked my younger self, what was I doing? Why do it in such a way? Compared to my current work, I was surprised that even back then I had clients seeking my services,” she laughed.
Jong described her previous works as very plain-looking and ordinary. Now, she is glad that she is able to create an impressive gift after years of experience, which she self-taught by watching videos on YouTube and conducting market research in other countries such as Thailand and China. From the ribbons to the lights, the elements in each wrapping are meticulously arranged with aesthetics in mind.
Her prices, she said, are according to the customer’s budget. “They would give me their estimated amount to spend, and I would help them curate accordingly for their loved ones. This is just one way that I am grateful for being able to help them fulfil their wishes without overspending.”
Journey as a businesswoman
Though she is passionate about the arts and crafts of wrapping bouquets, Jong has actually dabbled in business since 2006. “Selling gifts is actually just my side income. My full-time job is selling toys and accessories in kiosks at malls such as Viva City, Emart, Lepapa Serian, Mydin and others.”
Initially, Jong and her husband operated at the Satok Night Market. In 2008, their ambitions to move into bigger markets manifested as they expanded their endeavour into shopping malls, beginning with Wisma Satok. Today, they have over 10 branches throughout Sarawak.
Although she has her main business on hand, Jong doesn’t stop there as she hustles into the gift industry. “At that time, my husband and I got our own house, and we have a family and car at our expense. I wanted to help my husband earn more income. Furthermore, I believe that as women, we should have our own side income.”
For those who are interested in using her service this Valentine’s Day, she can be contacted via WhatsApp at 016-8940684. She also provides delivery services. Describing her service as a wholesome job, Jong’s enthusiasm for her job grows as she sees the happy faces of her recipients.
