'Business has been really slow'
As Idul Fitri draws closer, some seasonal street vendors are enjoying good business while many others have complained about the lack of it. They shared their experiences with The Jakarta Post.
Sobirin, 18, is a seasonal vendor who sells timun suri (a kind of cucumber for fruit cocktail, widely available during Ramadhan) at Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. He comes from Semarang, Central Java, and lives in Condet, East Jakarta:
I used to sell fruit at Cinere, South Jakarta, but I couldn't afford it because the price from the supplier was quite high.
Now I sell timun suri in the hope that I can make more money for Idul Fitri. But my business here has been very slow during this fasting month. I don't know why. I've now got a problem.
I price the fruit at Rp 1,000 to Rp 3,000 each. If I sold it more cheaply, I wouldn't make enough of a profit. But I'm in a difficult situation now because the fruit is likely to go bad if I don't sell it soon.
I would be happy to make a profit of Rp 20,000 a day but in fact it's hard for me to earn that much now.
Last year I was able to make up to Rp 50,000 a day.
Saroji, 18, is a sidewalk vendor who sells firecrackers in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. He comes from Cirebon, West Java, and has worked as a seasonal vendor for three years in the city:
From the beginning of the fasting month till now I've found that business has really been slow.
I guess it's because the authorities have banned the sale of firecrackers. They are the most profitable items at present. However, I don't want to take the risk of selling them now.
I can still survive on a profit of Rp 15,000 to Rp 30,000 per day. At least I can afford a daily meal and to pay the rent on my accommodation, which is Rp 30,000 a month, as I share it with eight other people.
I'm happy that I make more money on Sundays, as many children buy fireworks then. My turnover is more or less Rp 70,000 on that day, or double what it is on weekdays.
I hope that a week before Idul Fitri demand will rise. Maybe later I'll be able to make a clear profit of about Rp 300,000.
I'm a seasonal vendor who always changes the commodities sold depending on the season. After the fasting month, I plan to sell fancy paper trumpets for New Year.
Marina, 30, is a vendor who has sold traditional oil lamps for two years. He lives with his wife and two children in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. He is from Indramayu, West Java:
My business has remained slow. The fasting month has not made much difference.
I earn about Rp 20,000 a day, but on a good day I can earn up to Rp 50,000. I made a good profit earlier this year when large parts of the city were inundated by flooding. I made Rp 300,000 a day.
I run this business in advance of the rainy season. Usually, during the rainy season there are frequent blackouts, so people use oil lamps instead.
If there's flooding again, I'll make more money.
Yayan, 35, is a vendor who sells iced fruit cocktails in Palmerah, West Jakarta. Before Ramadhan, she ran a food stall:
I thank God that my recent business is far better than my regular business. Many people buy the cocktails to break their fast.
I start at 4:30 p.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. The turnover can reach Rp 150,000 in only three hours.
It's far better than my usual business. My mother and I usually run a food stall but business was slow. The turnover was only Rp 100,000 after long hours of waiting. Worse still, a lot of food frequently remained unsold at closing time.
I've noticed that the fruit cocktail business seems to be more profitable so I'll continue with it after Ramadhan.
Mahfudin, 38, is a seasonal vendor selling dates at Tanah Abang market. The native Jakartan lives in Tanah Abang with his parents:
Business has been so sluggish particularly during the fasting month. By the second day of Ramadhan, I earned Rp 400,000 a day.
But to my surprise business has been slowing down as turnover has dropped by less than 50 percent compared to the first few days. I am lucky if I can make Rp 100,000 a day.
Running a business like this is getting harder now. I was better off last year. I think it is because more vendors are selling the same things this time around and catering to the growing demand for goods during the fasting month and Idul Fitri so it makes for stiffer competition among vendors.
On normal days, I sell soft drinks. It's a lot better than selling dates. Especially on hot days I can earn Rp 100,000 a day.
I plan to sell dates for two or three more months until Idul Adha in February next year. I don't care about the possible drop in income like the one I'm going through now.
I just believe in God and hopefully He will help me bring in more money as long as I try my best.
-- Leo Wahyudi S