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)