Chinese New Year means big business in Vancouver

Chinese and non-Chinese alikerang in the Lunar New Year on Friday while businesses throughout Metro Vancouver reaped the financial benefits.

Liquor stores, malls, name brand coffee retailers, the tourism industry, sweet shops, even lingerie stores are marking theoccasion with the aim of generating loyalChinesecustomers.

"I think that they realize that, you know, we could be doing more and taking advantage of this particular time of year, and it doesn't take much," said Charles Gauthier with the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.

Purdy'sChocolates in Vancouver is one of those businesses. For the first time, it is featuring a chocolate covered fortunecookie to celebrate the holiday.

"We are finding that more and more people are celebrating Chinese New Year, not just the Chinese community, and it seems to make good sense," saidPudy'sGary Mitchell.

Click the video above to watch CBC's Chris Brown'sreport on how other businesses are ringing in the Year of the Horse.