Ahead of Indonesia's 81st Independence Day, Flag Sellers in Jatinegara Complain of Few Buyers

Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day is only two days away. However, flag and 17 August paraphernalia traders at Jatinegara Market in East Jakarta are complaining about the lack of buyers this year.

One trader, Wati, said sales this year are quieter than last year. In fact, she still has unsold flag stock from the previous year.

“Quiet. Worse, quieter than last year. Now there are still many flags that haven’t sold. I still have goods from last year that haven’t sold,” Wati said when met by detikcom at her stall in Jatinegara Market, East Jakarta, on Saturday (15/8/2026).

Wati said she has been trading since 26 July. However, so far only about a quarter of her goods have been sold.

Wati said that last year many of her goods were sold. But this year, only about a quarter of her stock has been sold.

“(Trading since) the 26th. At most a quarter of what I’m selling. (Last year) half could sell out, I could still make a profit from the goods we took,” Wati explained.

Wati said the trend in buying flags and independence paraphernalia has also changed in recent years. According to her, buyers are now looking more for accessories than flags.

Usually, she said, her goods were quite busy with buyers. Shoppers often bought pennant flags and small flags.

“Usually pennant flags, then the triangular-shaped ones. But lately it’s mostly accessories, for display. Before the 1st, people look for pennant flags, then around the middle of the month on the 10th they start looking for accessories,” she said.

Besides the changing trend, Wati believes the lack of buyers at the market is also influenced by the rise of online sales. According to her, people who come directly to the market now do so because there are still items missing after shopping for other needs online.

“Anyway, this year it’s quiet, on average people now buy online. Now more people buy for gifts, household items. As for flags, mostly just for what’s missing,” she said.