Vendors profit from campaigns merchandise<\/p>\n
By Joko Sarwono<\/p>\n
BOGOR, West Java (JP): The campaign, from April 27 to May 23,
\nis proving very profitable for makers and sellers of party flags,
\nbanners, T-shirts, bandanas and other paraphernalia.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party's (PPP) local branch has ordered
\n15,000 T-shirts and 2,500 flags and banners. Golkar's local
\nbranch has ordered more than 90,000 T-shirts and at least 30,000
\nflags and banners. The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) branch
\nhas ordered 10,000 T-shirts and 5,000 flags and banners.<\/p>\n
Thousands of supporters of the three parties have also bought
\ncampaign merchandise directly from traders.<\/p>\n
Heri, a 26-year-old vendor on Jl. Kapten Muslihat said: "The
\nstar (PPP) T-shirts sell best. I sell between 100 and 300 of the
\nPPP T-shirts, about 100 PDI T-shirts and 50 Golkar T-shirts (a
\nday). Perhaps, Golkar campaign organizers distribute more of
\ntheir shirts."<\/p>\n
Before the campaign, Heri sold dolls and children's
\naccessories. "The doll and accessories business is quiet these
\ndays. Items that sell well are campaign paraphernalia," he said.<\/p>\n
He sells T-shirts for Rp 5,000 (US$2) each and headbands for
\nRp 500. "I have made a Rp 65,000 profit each day since
\ncampaigning began," he said.<\/p>\n
At least nine other vendors sell campaign merchandise on Jl.
\nKapten Muslihat. Many of them are first-time vendors who, seeing
\na market for the merchandise, did not think twice about leaving
\ntheir jobs temporarily. Luki, a 30-year-old excavator driver, has
\nnot looked back since becoming a vendor.<\/p>\n
"I have joined the campaign item business because it is so
\nprofitable," said Luki who sells brooches, stickers, headbands
\nand more. "I make between Rp 25,000 and Rp 60,000 a day."<\/p>\n
Campaign marketing mania has even spread to the nearby Anyar
\nmarket, where stalls are now selling party items.<\/p>\n
"I usually sell school uniforms and other school supplies, but
\nI have switched temporarily to selling campaign items since they
\nsell easily," said Jaja, a stall owner.<\/p>\n
Jaja said he had been overwhelmed with orders, especially on
\nPPP campaign days. "Once, I could only deliver 80 T-shirts while
\nthe order was in the hundreds," he said.<\/p>\n
He said he a was week late in realizing that campaign
\nmarketing could be lucrative because he had thought the parties
\nwould supply enough paraphernalia.<\/p>\n
"I did not realize it would be a boom. Had I known earlier, I
\nwould have started selling on the first day of the campaign," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Jaja said he wished the campaign period could be extended to
\nmake up for the time he lost. "It would be nice if the campaign
\nperiod was extended," he said hopefully.<\/p>\n
For vendors like Heri and Luki, campaign marketing is low
\nrisk. "If items don't sell, we return them to the makers," Heri
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Dindin Abidin, 27, who produces campaign paraphernalia said:
\n"I just want to help the traders out. Unsold items are a risk I
\nhave to take."<\/p>\n
But Dindin, who owns a small roadside printing shop, has also
\nhad an easy run. He said Saturday that no one had returned any of
\nthe items: "Everything sells out every day."<\/p>\n
Dindin and his five assistants work day and night printing
\npictures and slogans on T-shirts and making headbands and other
\nitems.<\/p>\n
"At one time, we worked around the clock for two days
\nsacrificing two nights sleep," said Dindin. "We tried to do the
\nsame thing the next day, but we were too exhausted."<\/p>\n
Dindin is making Rp 100,000 a day after paying his staff.<\/p>\n
All the local sellers and producers interviewed said that PPP
\nitems sold best.<\/p>\n
PPP Bogor branch deputy chairman Hamzah Ismail said this
\nproved his party had spontaneous support.<\/p>\n
"We, the organizer of the local campaign, had actually planned
\nto order 30,000 T-shirts to be delivered in stages. But, when we
\nsaw that the public were taking their own initiative, we decided
\nto order only 15,000 T-shirts," Hamzah said.<\/p>\n
The vendors are already planning how to spend their campaign
\nprofits. The full-time vendors are thinking about investments in
\ntheir businesses.<\/p>\n
"I plan to use my profit to buy more stock," said Jaja who has
\nbeen making Rp 50,000 a day since campaigning started. She had
\nbeen making Rp 25,000 a day.<\/p>\n
But part-time vendors are thinking of ways to enjoy their
\nprofits.<\/p>\n
"After the campaign I will return to my daily work. I plan to
\nspend the profit from these part-time sales on my wife and
\nchild," said Luki.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vendors-profit-from-campaigns-merchandise-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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