But what are their expectations of the days, even weeks and months ahead?
In simpler times – before the pandemic – it would be an easier question to answer. But the coronavirus coupled with the recent floods in Klang were a double whammy for most business owners, including Puspavalli Palaniyappan.
A second-generation garland maker, her flower shop is one of over 20 in a pocket of Little India. For the 65-year-old, the days are long as she works well into the night in order to take home decent earnings.
She told FMT that she inherited the business, which is over three decades old, from her mother. The business is named after her mother, Madam P Periakka.
“My mother was running her business alone, so I followed her. Then she asked me to come and take over,” Puspavalli explained, adding that her mother passed away in 2012.
Puspavalli explained that business was good during her mother’s time as there were no other flower shops in Klang, other than the ones in Little India. However, over time, flower shops began popping-up in residential areas throughout Klang.
Then the pandemic hit. And she had no choice but to shut down her business for three months because of the ensuing lockdown.
“It was a very difficult time as even with no income, I had to support my employee,” she recalled, adding that she took care of his food, rent, and even gave him pocket money.
According to Puspavalli, even when shops were allowed to operate once again, business remained sluggish. And then for the second time, everything came to a standstill when massive floods occurred in mid-December last year, completely cutting off access to her flower shop.
Suddenly the six flower suppliers she relied on for fresh chrysanthemums, jasmines, roses, and orchids, could not make deliveries to her shop as the highways leading into Klang were completely flooded.
Next came the price hikes, a natural fallout from the pandemic and the floods. Customers balked at the price increases and walked away angry, refusing to purchase her flowers.
Desperate to appease them and retain their loyalty, she reinstated the old prices, settling for a lower profit margin instead.
Optimistic despite uncertain future
Her customers, made up of Indians and Chinese, buy her flowers and garlands for prayers, festivals, and other special occasions.
So, what does the religious festival of Thaipusam usually mean for Puspavalli’s business?
“For Thaipusam, there usually isn’t much business for the flower shops in Klang because some people find it easier to buy flowers in the Batu Caves area,” she shared, adding that she was grateful to those who still preferred her garland designs and placed orders with her.
Needless to say, business has become increasingly challenging for Puspavalli, made worse by the fact that being unmarried, she has no one to pass the flower shop business to.
“None of my family members knows how to run this flower shop and after me, I don’t know who would take care of this business. So, for as long as I live, I will continue to run it,” she said, adding that she is saddened at the thought that her mother’s legacy will end with her.
“I don’t think that many from the younger generation are interested in this trade as they want something better. Furthermore, this business is not as lucrative as it was before.”
She also said not many customers could tolerate the inconvenience of sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic and hunting high and low for a parking bay in Little India simply to buy flowers when they could easily get these from flower shops in their very neighbourhoods.
Still, there’s an optimistic spark in Puspavalli, who still clings to the belief that this year will be different – and in a good way.
Madam P Periakka Flower Shop
No 20A, Lorong Tingkat
41000 Klang
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Business hours: 8.30am-9.30pm daily