Cecilia Liang91裸聊视频檚 Lunar New Year decoration stall has been an annual fixture in the Yaohan Centre in Richmond, B.C., for 25 years 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淢any people think snakes look scary,91裸聊视频� she explained in Mandarin.

Lunar New Year designs often feature cute depictions of the year91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淎mong all the Chinese zodiac, selling snake-related craftsmanship is one of the most difficult,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� stuffed toy snakes, wall hangings, plastic wind spinners, red pockets, door couplets featuring wishes for the new year, and god of fortune statues.

91裸聊视频淪ome parents would say, aiya (a Cantonese exclamation of dismay), I will not take snakes home,91裸聊视频� said Liang, 91裸聊视频淏ut I will tell them 91裸聊视频� these snakes aren91裸聊视频檛 even real, and you don91裸聊视频檛 need to be scared.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚 feel it looks pretty cute,91裸聊视频� said Yu in Mandarin. 91裸聊视频淚 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.91裸聊视频�

Still, Liang knows that some customers won91裸聊视频檛 be convinced.

91裸聊视频淚 have ordered the right amount of snake-themed products this year. My booth isn91裸聊视频檛 just limited to snake-themed products, you can also find traditional themed couplets as well,91裸聊视频� 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 she91裸聊视频檚 also feeling a bite on sales.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hard for artists to design snake-related products. Many snake-themed decorations don91裸聊视频檛 even look like snakes,91裸聊视频� said Kang in Mandarin.

She said sales at her booth were down 50 per cent compared to the same time last year 91裸聊视频� a much-anticipated Year of the Dragon, always one of the zodiac favourites.

91裸聊视频淔or many people 91裸聊视频� unlike the Year of the Dragon 91裸聊视频� the Year of the Snake isn91裸聊视频檛 that a big year for them,91裸聊视频� said Kang.

She91裸聊视频檚 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 Centre91裸聊视频檚 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 aren91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淚 am grateful that clients are still willing to spend money at my booth. I don91裸聊视频檛 have high standards, I am happy as long as everyone gets what they want to decorate their homes to celebrate the Lunar New Year,91裸聊视频� said Liang.

91裸聊视频淭he happiness of life is not always about making tons of money, it91裸聊视频檚 about making our clients happy and that we stay healthy in the New Year.91裸聊视频�