Next to Valentine's Day: Mother's Day means big business for flower shops

CEBU, Philippines - While mothers get to enjoy the attention showered upon them on Mother's Day on Sunday, local businesses such as restaurants, flower shops, pastry stores, salons and spas are expecting a surge in customers ahead of the Sunday holiday.

Mother's Day is deemed as the second biggest holiday for flower shops, next to Valentine's Day as most husbands opt to give blossoms as a way to show love to their wives during their special day.

Keiths Daig  of Juvel flower shop said they have already received several reservations for Mother's Day.

She said their Mother's Day bouquets can range from P300 to P1,200, varying on the number and type of roses. The shop also charges P150 for flower delivery within the city.

She advised those who plan to give flowers to their moms to pre-order their arrangements as orders normally rise on the day of the occasion.

Children who are on a tight budget but want to give flowers to their beloved can buy a single stem rose at P80.

"Daghan man og kapilian ang mga tawo unsay ihatag nila sa mga mama pero tan-aw nako lahi ang impact sa flower. As a mother, I think you will feel appreciated kung hatagan ka og buwak sa imong husband man o anak," Daig shared.

For most cake shops, Mother's Day is the next peak season following the Christmas season.

"Mother's Day is the second best selling season for our cakes next to Christmas holiday," said Ali Yu, assistant store manager of a Red Ribbon mall branch.

The cake shop offers specialized cakes for every significant occasion, Yu said, adding that their Mother's Day black forest cake costs P560, appropriate for a family with more than five members.

"Generally, we don't really advice for advance orders because there might be unexpected happenings," the manager explained. The cake shops are expecting a surge of orders on Sunday when children and husbands start buying gifts for the moms in the family.

He further said that for Filipinos, having cakes or something sweet during an occasion is already a tradition.

On the other hand, several local restaurants are receiving reservations while salons and spas are getting more customers mostly women who are being treated by their loved ones to unwind.

Spa services offer relaxing options to the traditional flowers and chocolates. Other popular Mother's Day gifts include greeting cards, gift cards, clothing, jewelry, housewares among others. (FREEMAN)