Discounts of up to 75 percent as shopping season starts
Rikza Abdullah, Contributor, Jakarta
Shopping malls, department stores and other shopping centers in Jakarta are offering seasonal attractions and substantial discounts on goods to lure customers for the upcoming holidays of Idul Fitri, Christmas, and New Year's.
"In preparation of the Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year's holidays, almost all tenants in our mall are offering discounts of 10 to 75 percent on their products, and we are organizing various entertainment attractions," said public relations and communications executive at Mal Taman Anggrek, Devy A. Yhoanne, on Thursday.
The holiday sale at Mal Taman Anggrek on Jl. S. Parman, West Jakarta, began Nov. 5 and will last until the end of this month.
Retail shops Ocean Pacific, RPS International, men's fashion shop Ryane P., children's wear and toy shop Bambini, as well as home furnishing store Novena and Magna Furniture are all offering discounts of up to 70 percent.
ASR Foot Wear, Cool, Happy Land, Alma Childcare, First Stop Boutique, Private, Agis Electric, and Black Cat Gallery are offering discounts of up to 50 percent, while the Michelle shop of gifts, hobby items and books is offering up to 75 percent off on select goods.
Devy said that the mall is organizing various religious events, such as Islamic and Christian orchestra performances, as well as a calligraphy exhibition.
At the state-owned Sarinah department store on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta, the prices of menswear and ladies' accessories on the ground floor are on sale at discounts of between 10 to 70 percent, and cosmetics are discounted by up to 50 percent.
On the upper floors, the prices for women's fashion, children's wear, toys, and suitcases have been slashed by 10 to 70 percent, while lingerie is on sale for up to 60 percent off. In the Indonesian floors, batik and Islamic garments have a 10- to 50-percent discount, and handicrafts are on sale from 10 to 40 percent off.
"Our sales program will last until Dec. 31," Sarinah's assistant to general manager, Eko Priambodo, told The Jakarta Post.
Some tenants at Ratu Plaza on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, are also having holiday sales until the end of this month. For instance, Bags City is offering up to 50 percent off, furniture store Avalon is having a 40 percent discount sale, and Optik Seis is selling its glasses at 20 percent off. The prices of women's shoes at Charles & Keith are discounted by up to 50 percent until the end of the year.
"On Nov. 23 and 30, Ratu Plaza will present Islamic music concerts and on Dec. 14, a Christmas chorus," marketing communication officer Lusye Marthalia said Friday.
In the atrium of Mal Ciputra on Jl. S. Parman, West Jakarta, fashion outlets have opened discount stands with up to 50 percent off their products.
"To show our concern to poor children, we will organize a charity event on Nov. 20, in which we will invite guests to donate Rp 125,000 (US$13.70) each towards some 200 orphans and street children for shopping at the mall," marketing manager Halida Hajadi said, adding that guests would be entertained with a musical performance by the Bimbo Group from Bandung, West Java.
Tenants at Megamal Pluit in North Jakarta are also offering discounts. Visage and D&G are having a sale of up to 90 percent off, and 101 Shoes has taken up to 70 percent off their price tags, along with Country Fiesta, Studio Tas, San E. Origin, Nail, Sport Station, and Ocean Pacific. Athletes' Foot has discounted their sports shoes by up to 60 percent, and retailers Posh Boy, Elle, Gallery FS, Divisi 1, Bambini, Cleopatra, G2, Kenny R, Polo, Venusa, and Pianella are all having sales of up to 50 percent off.
Stores at Supermal Karawaci in Tangerang, about 20 kilometers to the west of Jakarta, are also taking part in the holiday craze, luring potential buyers by slashing prices by up to 70 percent, while automotive shops there are ready to cut their prices by 5 percent to 30 percent.
Marketing and communications manager Jannywaty said the mall is hosting several attractions during Ramadhan, including an Islamic story-telling event, a celebrity attraction, a concert performance, sufi music and Arabian dance shows.
PT Matahari Putra Prima, a publicly-listed company that operates department stores at various shopping centers in Jakarta, are having sales of between 20 and 50 percent for garments, shoes, accessories, and household utensils, and sales of 70 percent for select products until the end of the year.
A number of stores at Plaza Indonesia on Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, are also cutting prices. Sogo department store, for example, offers discounts of up to 50 percent until Jan. 5, 2003. Other stores having seasonal sales includes Bally, G2000, U2, ProjectshopBLOODbros, Dockers, Dee Chan Jewelry, Polo, Nannini Handbags, Replay, Infico Interior, Linea Pelle, Rekhas Textile, The Body Shop, IL Primo, and Salamander.
Garments are discounted by up to 50 percent at Keris Gallery's outlets in Menteng, Central Jakarta, and in Puri Indah, West Jakarta.