Chinese knickknacks in big demand
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Initially, Hariyati was just window-shopping at the Cililitan Retail Center (PGC) in East Jakarta, while taking her seven-year- old girl, who is on school holidays, out for some fun.
After 30 minutes of browsing for affordable products, she ended up at the Oriental Emporium, a two-by-three square meter outlet in one of the corners of PGC, which sells knick-knacks made in China. She purchased a figurine of a waving cat.
"I like it. It's unique and it looks cute. I was told by the shopkeepers that it could bring good luck. Moreover, it's cheap," said the 35-year-old woman, who spent Rp 12,500 for the merchandise.
The shopkeepers, Yanti Herlina and Siti Nuriah, both told The Jakarta Post that the figurine, known as "Rake-in-the-Wealth Cat", was the most popular item in the shop.
They said that according to Chinese tradition, if the cats are displayed at shops or business premises, they would attract customers.
"Lots of customers think that the cats can also attract guests to come to their houses," Yanti said.
Another best selling item at the shop are the piggy banks, which cost Rp 5,000 for small ones and Rp 28,000 for bigger ones. Many people also believe that piggy banks bring prosperity to their owners.
While the customers at PGC bought such goods for luck, buyers at the Oriental Emporium located at the Jakarta Fairground were looking for more unique imported products.
"Many of the customers have bought the cat figurines, but many more are purchasing Chinese imperial costumes," said Agustinus, the supervisor of the store at the fairground.
People's interest in Chinese items has motivated the Oriental Emporium company to supply a greater variety of merchandise from China, which they import every six months from Quang Zhou, one of the biggest commercial ports in the world, from where Chinese products are shipped across the world.
Agustinus said that the company, which was established in June 2004, was targeting people from the middle to low income group.
"Our products are affordable. Prices range from between Rp 5,000 to less than Rp 2 million. Therefore people can buy unique items made in China," said Agustinus.
Since the advent of the new millennium, Chinese products have been flooding Indonesia to the delight of the common people, who find them cheaper than Japanese or Taiwanese products.
"Thanks to these Chinese items, even though pay day is still a week away, I can still buy something to display in my living room," Hariyati said. (006)