Flag vendors experience slow business

Flag vendors experience slow business

JAKARTA (JP): Although every household in Jakarta is expected
to display the national flag for the upcoming Independence Day
and decorate their yard accordingly, seasonal business of the so-
termed Agustusan is not good so far for the vendors concerned.

The Agustusan business, such as selling the Indonesian flag
and flagpoles, usually booms ahead of the celebration of
Indonesia's Independence Day, which falls on Aug. 17 every year.

A number of flag vendors, who have been in the business for
years, said on Monday that the seasonal business was usually
profitable, and it had even attracted many vendors from other
towns.

"I have been here for a week, and so far I've only sold around
six flags," 56-years-old Misran told The Jakarta Post at the
sidewalk of Jl. Pejompongan, Central Jakarta, where he displayed
his merchandise.

Misran and two of his friends, who come from Cirebon, West
Java, have come to Jakarta each year during the last few years to
sell Independence Day paraphernalia.

"I don't know why there are not many buyers this year. Usually
at around this time, we already have lots of buyers," he said.

Back in his home town of Cirebon, he has a number of
grandchildren in his care to feed and a debt of Rp 200,000
(US$22.7) he must pay to a food stall.

Last year, he managed to rake in a net profit of Rp 200,000
from selling the red-and-white flags for two weeks.

"I doubt I could make that much this year. I'm lucky just to
be able to feed myself every day here," Misran said, adding that
the price of a flag ranges from Rp 10,000 to Rp 20,000 and a
bamboo flag pole is Rp 4,000.

However, Misran has no plans to close the business and return
to Cirebon. "I'm trying to be optimistic. Maybe tomorrow will be
a lucky day for me," said Misran, who stated that he obtained the
flags from Karet Tengsin, Central Jakarta.

Misran's friend, Sarima, 52, who also sells flags at the
roadside, said he had been in the seasonal business for the past
10 years.

Sarima, who is a farmer in his hometown Cirebon, claimed to
have been able to take home a net profit of Rp 300,000 last year.
"But now I don't have many buyers," he said.

Sarima, who got his flags from Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta,
added that on Monday, until around noon, he had sold not even one
bamboo flagpole, although he had tried to peddle them around.

Another flag seller in Boplo market in Central Jakarta, Yani,
said business this year is not as good as last year's. Just like
his other counterparts, he was unable to see why trade was so
slack.

"I'm not sure ... perhaps people have kept the poles and flags
they bought last year," said Yani, who, after the Agustusan,
usually sells rujak (fruit salad with spicy sauce) in Menteng,
Central Jakarta.

Asked which of his businesses is more profitable, he said:
"People participate in the seasonal business because they hope to
be able to make a large amount of money as additional income.
But in the long term it's better to have a fixed but regular
income, even if it is only a small amount."

Meanwhile, Tisno, another flag seller in front of the Manggala
Wanabakti building, South Jakarta, is determined to continue his
flag business until Aug. 17, regardless of the gloomy trading
conditions.

"That's just how business is. There are good times and also
bad times," he said. (06)