Gift shops make debut in Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): It isn't easy selecting a gift. Some people
\nspend hours shopping but find nothing. Others, who are too
\ndesperate to think for a new idea, buy the same gift over and
\nover.<\/p>\n
To meet the demand of gift hunters, keen entrepreneurs have
\nopened gift shops in Jakarta. Not only do they provide unique
\nitems, but they can also help find gifts for all budget and wrap
\nthe presents beautifully.<\/p>\n
Chic Mart home accessories and art store, which opened at Jl.
\nKemang Raya five years ago, is possibly the pioneer of gift shops
\nin the city.<\/p>\n
\"When we opened five years ago, we're the only one, but now,
\njust look, how many gift shops are in this street,\" Xania Maya
\nChristina, Chic Mart's director, told The Jakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
Xania said it was her mother's idea to open a store where
\nIndonesia craftspeople could sell their products. Later, to meet
\nthe growing market and fiercer competition, Chic Mart gradually
\nstarted to import unique items from around the world.<\/p>\n
\"Now, we have to be creative if we want to sell something
\ndifferent,\" said Xania.<\/p>\n
However, today it is almost impossible to have items which are
\nnot sold by other gift shops, she added.<\/p>\n
\"If we have something new, it's easy for others to copy or to
\nimport the same things,\" she said.<\/p>\n
To be different, the two-storied Chic Mart, which concentrates
\non home accessories, offers an interior design service.<\/p>\n
Chic Mart, 70 percent of whose buyers are expatriates, sells a
\nlarge range of home accessories in its nicely-decorated store. It
\nalso has traditional Indonesian handicrafts like ikat, batik and
\nrattan, and environmentally friendly items like postcards printed
\non recycled paper and miniature furniture. English translations
\nof Indonesian authors, like the short-story anthology Menagerie,
\nare also available.<\/p>\n
A Naturale, which opened in Kemang, South Jakarta, late last
\nmonth, offers environmentally friendly items designed for those
\nwho like clever works.<\/p>\n
Among them are various kind of candles, candle holders, soap
\nbars shaped like shells, picture frames, recycled-paper boxes
\ndecorated with shells, dried flowers, napkins and wooden
\ncupboards. They are artistically displayed in the deftly designed
\nshop.<\/p>\n
The shop, designed like a Mexican hut, has rough walls and a
\nfloor ornamented with pebbles. Unfortunately, air conditioners on
\nthe walls ruin the natural feel of the shop.<\/p>\n
Recycled paper is A Naturale's speciality. Writing pads,
\nenvelopes and blank cards made of recycled paper are on the
\nshelf.<\/p>\n
A Naturale's owner Elisa told the Post that she has a machine
\nto produce paper. \"We can make paper any way we like, sometimes
\nwe put rice, onion peels or just grass in it.\"<\/p>\n
Most of products are made in Indonesia, said Elisa.<\/p>\n
\"We import some boxes from the Philippines and then we
\ndecorate them with shells,\" Elisa said, pointing at a brown box
\nwith a cover ornamented with shells and flowers.<\/p>\n
Elisa opened the shop to give Jakartans new gift ideas, \"We
\nchoose environmentally friendly items as our main merchandise
\nbecause it's now trendy everywhere, like in the U.S., and
\npersonally I like it too.\"<\/p>\n
Despite its name, A Naturale is obviously not fanatically
\ngreen. Elisa's comments and the use of plastic bags illustrates
\nthat they are cashing in on the trend toward environmentalism.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gift-shops-make-debut-in-jakarta-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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