Cecilia Liang香蕉视频直播檚 Lunar New Year decoration stall has been an annual fixture in the Yaohan Centre in Richmond, B.C., for 25 years 香蕉视频直播� but she knew some products would be a tough sell this year.

With the Year of the Snake dawning on Wednesday, Liang and other decoration vendors say sales have slithered downward.

香蕉视频直播淢any people think snakes look scary,香蕉视频直播� she explained in Mandarin.

Lunar New Year designs often feature cute depictions of the year香蕉视频直播檚 Chinese zodiac animal. But making a snake cute is a challenge, resulting an array of biologically inaccurate renderings.

There are snakes with long eyelashes, dewy anime-wide eyes, and even snakes with hands, all the better for waving out a friendly greeting.

香蕉视频直播淎mong all the Chinese zodiac, selling snake-related craftsmanship is one of the most difficult,香蕉视频直播� said Liang, who added that the most difficult was the Year of the Rat.

Her two-week pop-up stall is crammed with festive red and gold offerings 香蕉视频直播� stuffed toy snakes, wall hangings, plastic wind spinners, red pockets, door couplets featuring wishes for the new year, and god of fortune statues.

香蕉视频直播淪ome parents would say, aiya (a Cantonese exclamation of dismay), I will not take snakes home,香蕉视频直播� said Liang, 香蕉视频直播淏ut I will tell them 香蕉视频直播� these snakes aren香蕉视频直播檛 even real, and you don香蕉视频直播檛 need to be scared.香蕉视频直播�

Yu Xiaopeng was waiting in line to pay for a $5 stuffed snake toy.

香蕉视频直播淚 feel it looks pretty cute,香蕉视频直播� said Yu in Mandarin. 香蕉视频直播淚 want to give it to my nine-year-old daughter as a gift. It has been a family tradition for me to give a toy that represents different Chinese zodiacs to my daughter each year.香蕉视频直播�

Still, Liang knows that some customers won香蕉视频直播檛 be convinced.

香蕉视频直播淚 have ordered the right amount of snake-themed products this year. My booth isn香蕉视频直播檛 just limited to snake-themed products, you can also find traditional themed couplets as well,香蕉视频直播� said Liang.

Carol Kang has had an annual Lunar New Year booth selling decorations in the nearby Aberdeen Centre for more than 10 years, and she香蕉视频直播檚 also feeling a bite on sales.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 hard for artists to design snake-related products. Many snake-themed decorations don香蕉视频直播檛 even look like snakes,香蕉视频直播� said Kang in Mandarin.

She said sales at her booth were down 50 per cent compared to the same time last year 香蕉视频直播� a much-anticipated Year of the Dragon, always one of the zodiac favourites.

香蕉视频直播淔or many people 香蕉视频直播� unlike the Year of the Dragon 香蕉视频直播� the Year of the Snake isn香蕉视频直播檛 that a big year for them,香蕉视频直播� said Kang.

She香蕉视频直播檚 expecting a sales bump next year, the Year of the Horse.

Animal decoration sales may be down, but business still looked bustling at the Aberdeen Centre香蕉视频直播檚 crowded Lunar New Year market, where vendors were also selling flowers, festive clothes and traditional crafts.

Back in Yaohan Centre, Liang said she found most clients were willing to spend, but not as much as in years past. She said the fluctuations in sales aren香蕉视频直播檛 just due to the snakes, but also the economy in general.

Nevertheless, Liang said she loved the chance each year to connect with clients and rejoice with the community.

香蕉视频直播淚 am grateful that clients are still willing to spend money at my booth. I don香蕉视频直播檛 have high standards, I am happy as long as everyone gets what they want to decorate their homes to celebrate the Lunar New Year,香蕉视频直播� said Liang.

香蕉视频直播淭he happiness of life is not always about making tons of money, it香蕉视频直播檚 about making our clients happy and that we stay healthy in the New Year.香蕉视频直播�