KUCHING: Festive pop-up booths selling traditional Chinese New Year delicacies are drawing steady crowds as families prepare for celebrations and reunion gatherings.
Among the traders is Velerie Chhan, 30, who operates a seasonal pop-up booth at Kenyalang Park offering popular Chinese New Year snacks at a busy commercial location.
“Customers usually look for kuih kapit, kuih sepit, crab sticks, bakwa, and minced pork products because these are essential items for Chinese New Year,” said Velerie.
She said the products sold at her booth are prepared by a close friend, while she focuses on marketing and managing sales operations.
Velerie has been selling festive food items for approximately four to five years, gaining experience through repeated participation in seasonal pop-up events.
She said her business operates exclusively during the Chinese New Year period.
Every year, she returns to the same location, as it is known for attracting large numbers of festive shoppers seeking traditional food items.
Velerie said customer engagement plays a crucial role in boosting sales, especially during the early days of operations at the pop-up booth.
She said offering samples and personally inviting passers-by to try the food often helps convert interest into actual purchases.
Reflecting on this year, Velerie described her sales as satisfactory, despite a slower start during the first day of operations.
She observed that customer turnout increased significantly on the second day as more people began shopping for Chinese New Year preparations.
Many customers, she added, prefer to buy early so they can store festive snacks ahead of time for visiting relatives and guests.
“The pop-up booth began operations on Feb 2 and is scheduled to run until Feb 16, covering the peak festive shopping period.
“Operating hours are from 9am until 10pm daily, allowing shoppers ample time to visit after work or during evening outings,”she said.
She stressed that festive pop-up booths play an important role in creating a joyful atmosphere, particularly for the Chinese community during celebrations.
Although competition has increased with more booths available this year, she believes the location remains one of the busiest and most vibrant festive trading spots.
