Lucky charms start selling out fast

CEBU, Philippines - Even as we have yet to welcome the Chinese New Year at the end of this month, lucky charms are selling out fast since they hit store shelves at the onset of the yuletide season.

Aside from the presumed luck that these products bring, presentation, features and enticing sales talk are great factors deemed necessary by sellers to attract people into buying these lucky charms.

Feng Shui stall vendors in Cebu downtown area said some people still patronize good luck items believing that it will bring them prosperity and fortune in life. The demand for these products usually peak at the start of December until the Chinese New Year, come January 31.

According to the Chinese calendar, 2014 is the year of the Wooden Horse. Now more and more people are buying wooden horses, although some feng shui experts have said, the jade and golden horse brings the same good luck.

Lucky charm buyers said some items are sold at high prices, such as a 10-inch figurine of a wooden horse, which can be bought at P800 while the small sizes range from P100 to P250.

There are other lucky charms, however, that are sold at affordable prices such as the Pak Choi bracelet, a vendor said, saying it can only be sold at P80 each.

35-year old vendor Norilyn Caballero said, "Ang Pack Choi usa na ka sikat nga symbol sa good luck sa mga Chinese. Hundred ang pasabot sa Pak ug ang Choi meaning wealth (The Pak Choi is a popular symbol of good luck among Chinese. Pak can mean hundred and Choi is wealth)."

A promo liaison at a Cebu mall said they display feng shui items every year to attract people. The sales, Mary Joy D. Jumuad said, is doing good so far.

"Most of our buyers are Filipino and Chinese businessmen," she said. "But ordinary people also patronize our products."

Jumuad understands that selling good luck items is seasonal. So, her staff makes sure the presentation of the items is good and pleasing to the eyes to get the attention of the public.

"Presentation matters," she stressed. "Together with the items, nagbutang mi og feng shui calendar para mabasa sa mga tawo ilang swerte sa ilang year (we've put a feng shui calendar where people can know their luck in the year)."

She observed that before people buy the item they first read the calendar which, she said, tells the lucky charm that's right for them.

But some only buy the cheapest (like the Jade bracelet) saying that their first priority is still food and other needs.

"Motuo ra man sab ko nga makaswerte ni ang Jade (bracelet)," a lady said. "Wa may mawagtang nako." (I believe that Jade will bring me luck. After all, I will lose nothing if I believe in these things.)

But 78-year old Jaime Empleo who glanced at the displayed items has a different belief. He pointed out people don't have to believe on those things.

Secrets to a prosperous life are very attainable and doable, he said. "Basta mokayod ang tawo, motuo ug moampo sa Ginoo layo ang iyang maabtan sa kinabuhi," (If a person works hard, believes and prays to God, he can reach so far in life) he added. /JOB (FREEMAN)