Cecilia LiangB次元官网网址檚 Lunar New Year decoration stall has been an annual fixture in the Yaohan Centre in Richmond, B.C., for 25 years B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淢any people think snakes look scary,B次元官网网址� she explained in Mandarin.

Lunar New Year designs often feature cute depictions of the yearB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淎mong all the Chinese zodiac, selling snake-related craftsmanship is one of the most difficult,B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址� stuffed toy snakes, wall hangings, plastic wind spinners, red pockets, door couplets featuring wishes for the new year, and god of fortune statues.

B次元官网网址淪ome parents would say, aiya (a Cantonese exclamation of dismay), I will not take snakes home,B次元官网网址� said Liang, B次元官网网址淏ut I will tell them B次元官网网址� these snakes arenB次元官网网址檛 even real, and you donB次元官网网址檛 need to be scared.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚 feel it looks pretty cute,B次元官网网址� said Yu in Mandarin. B次元官网网址淚 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.B次元官网网址�

Still, Liang knows that some customers wonB次元官网网址檛 be convinced.

B次元官网网址淚 have ordered the right amount of snake-themed products this year. My booth isnB次元官网网址檛 just limited to snake-themed products, you can also find traditional themed couplets as well,B次元官网网址� 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 sheB次元官网网址檚 also feeling a bite on sales.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard for artists to design snake-related products. Many snake-themed decorations donB次元官网网址檛 even look like snakes,B次元官网网址� said Kang in Mandarin.

She said sales at her booth were down 50 per cent compared to the same time last year B次元官网网址� a much-anticipated Year of the Dragon, always one of the zodiac favourites.

B次元官网网址淔or many people B次元官网网址� unlike the Year of the Dragon B次元官网网址� the Year of the Snake isnB次元官网网址檛 that a big year for them,B次元官网网址� said Kang.

SheB次元官网网址檚 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 CentreB次元官网网址檚 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 arenB次元官网网址檛 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.

B次元官网网址淚 am grateful that clients are still willing to spend money at my booth. I donB次元官网网址檛 have high standards, I am happy as long as everyone gets what they want to decorate their homes to celebrate the Lunar New Year,B次元官网网址� said Liang.

B次元官网网址淭he happiness of life is not always about making tons of money, itB次元官网网址檚 about making our clients happy and that we stay healthy in the New Year.B次元官网网址�