Bali gets ready for holiday shopping

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Bali's retailers are counting on a big jump in year-end shopping compared to the holiday run up last year.

The rollover from l999 to 2000 will be a great moment in Bali. Thousands of domestic and foreign visitors are expected to spend their vacation on the Island of Paradise.

Between December 1999 and January 2000, people around the world will also celebrate important religious festivals -- Christmas on Dec. 25, 1999, and Idul Fitri on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9, 2000 -- as well as New Year's Day on Jan. 1, 2000.

The Balinese will also observe two important Hindu religious festivities, Galungan on Jan. 5 and Kuningan on Jan. 15.

The tradition of sending and receiving gifts over Christmas, New Year, Idul Fitri and other religious festivals has opened a wide opportunity for retailers -- department stores, shopping centers and supermarkets -- to offer consumer goods, including food, beverages, clothes, shoes, bags, toys, household utensils and electronic appliances.

With pockets filled with Christmas and Idul Fitri bonuses, consumers are expected to be bowled over by what's on offer.

Bali's shopping centers, department stores and supermarkets are ready to give extra discounts, holding year-end sales in an attempt to lure shoppers to their places.

Courts' marketing manager, Pra Fajarrini, said that management has launched a big discount program for this holiday season.

"We want to give special discounts to our customers to get the best products at the best prices in our store," said Fajarrini.

Courts is the only department store in Bali which specializes in selling a wide variety of electronic goods and household items.

"The year-end sales usually attract a large number of people here," said the manager.

During this season, Courts reaps between 30 percent and 50 percent more in business transactions.

"Just a simple example, at low season, we sell about 10 television sets, but at this time of the year, the number ups to about 15," commented Fajarrini.

To attract consumers, Courts has set up two different discount programs. Courts, which now has 12 outlets in several regencies in Bali, gives a 40 percent interest discount for consumers who purchase goods in a credit scheme.

The store also give a surprise discount of 5 percent off all electronic goods and 10 percent off furniture products between Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, l999.

"It's hoped that people are willing to come and buy goods sold at our 12 stores," the manager said.

MA Department Stores, Ramayana, Matahari, Tragia and Hero Supermarket are also ready to compete in a discount war. Large banners and decorations are hung in front of these stores to entice buyers to enjoy discount weeks.

"This discount war is common. We want to sell all the goods in our storage before the New Year," said a staffer at a supermarket here.

Smaller and traditional-style shops along Gajah Mada and Diponegoro in downtown Denpasar, Sanur and Sesetan also provide special offers selling garments, jewelry and other goods at bargain prices.

Discounts are not always enough to draw buyers to the stores. Most stores decorate their places with synthetic Christmas trees, Santa Claus figures and other Christmas ornaments.

The mood of Christmas and New Year cheers the Hindu-dominated island of Bali.

But, Courts prefers to use traditional Balinese decorations to welcome the Galungan and Kuningan religious festivals.

Traditional Balinese theatrical figures like I Dadap, a joker in Drama Gong (traditional Balinese play) and other local ornaments are placed in Courts' outlets as promotional icons.

Ratnawati, public relation manager of the Tiara Group, which controls Tiara Dewata Department Stores, said that the firm has widen the choice of goods and prepared attractive gifts to cater to the needs of consumers for holiday presents.

All in all, department stores, supermarkets and shops in Bali are ready to make your holiday shopping enjoyable. (zen)