Business gloomy in Tanah Abang market

Business gloomy in Tanah Abang market

JAKARTA (JP): Business is not as usual at the Tanah Abang
market, one of the city's biggest centers for garments and
textiles in Central Jakarta, in the lead-up to this year's Idul
Fitri.

Traders, who reaped big profits in previous years, have felt
the impact of the monetary crisis. They have not yet experienced
any increase in their income despite Idul Fitri being just a few
days away.

Islamic dress shop owners, sidewalk vendors and cookie sellers
expressed concern yesterday about the decrease in their incomes
and skyrocketing prices.

Linda, an attendant of a Nurlela veils and prayer apparel
shop, said the shop's income was much smaller than last year.
This year, she said, her shop made just Rp 1 million (US$100) per
day on average compared to Rp 2.5 million to Rp 3 million last
year.

The increase in the price of merchandise by up to 50 percent
since late last year had worsened the situation, she said.

"That is why we can't make big profits," Linda said.

Owners of Adebe and Mikiya Islamic dress shops faced a similar
situation.

Arif, the owner of Adebe, said: "During Idul Fitri last year I
used to make Rp 3 million per day but now I'm satisfied with Rp 1
million a day."

Suryana from Mikiya said there were less customers to the
market this year. "Last year, many people could not reach our
shop because of the crowd."

Many sidewalk vendors' plots have been crowded, but unlike
previous years, people are keeping a tight lid on their savings
preferring instead just to look around.

A trouser vendor said his income had dropped to an average of
only Rp 750,000 per day compared to about Rp 1 million last year.

Another vendor, Muslimin, said that last year his sales
totaled Rp 800,000 per day during Idul Fitri, "but now I have to
be satisfied with an income of only Rp 500,000".

Cookie vendors said they did place much hope in being able to
increase their income because as of yesterday there was still no
sign sales would increase.

"I sold more than 50 kilograms of popular nastar cookies
several days before Idul Fitri last year, but I've only sold 10
kilograms this year," said a cookie vendor.

Another cookie vendor said that besides less income this year,
he was also unable to sell the cookies at the same price as
yesterday. "And that's the reality," he said.

Hundreds of residents of the Bendungan Hilir II low-cost
apartments and surrounding areas flocked to a bazaar held by
Lions Club Jakarta-Sudirman yesterday.

A woman happily purchased a wall clock for Rp 2,000, another
bought a tea set for Rp 10,000 while others bought sarongs and
plastic chairs at cheaper prices.

President of the club, Budiharjo Hardisurjo, said that beside
the cheap wares, the club also provided a ton of rice, which was
sold at Rp 4,000 per five kilograms.

"We sold the merchandise at cheaper prices because we wanted
to help poor people celebrate Idul Fitri with new things," he
said.

Sumarni, one of the residents, said she was happy that she
could buy rice at a cheaper price. "It costs about Rp 7,000 in
the markets," she said.

But many visitors were disappointed because the club provided
only 200 coupons for the procurement of cheap items.

Budiharjo said the Rp 12.3 million collected from the bazaar
and other donations would be used to support social activities,
including donations to orphanages and eye surgery for needy
people. (ind)