Great sales puts items up for grabs until July 14

Great sales puts items up for grabs until July 14

JAKARTA (JP): Attention ardent shoppers. The Jakarta Great
Sales '97 is underway, and about 50 shopping centers and malls
around the city will offer tempting discounts ranging from 5 to
70 percent until July 14.

The month-long event, the first in Jakarta, is organized by
the municipality in celebration of the city's 470th anniversary
today. It is also expected to boost sales of Indonesian products,
promote Jakarta as an international trade and tourism center and
attract local and foreign tourists.

Clothing piled high in boxes with discount signs marked in big
red letters greet shoppers at most malls. Bags, shoes,
accessories and even furniture are also on sale, which may be as
big a draw as the freezing air-conditioning systems in this
sweltering climate.

An Abang and None couple (Mr. and Miss Jakarta) await shoppers
at every entrance of Pasaraya department store in Blok M, South
Jakarta, bearing traditional Betawi ornaments of colorful cut
crepe paper affixed to palm leaf ribs. The ornaments, which have
two candies stuck to them, are presented to many Pasaraya
visitors.

Yulin, a businesswoman who shops in Pasaraya, praised the
Jakarta Great Sales. "For the customers, it's a good event."

Almost all of the women's apparel in Pasaraya is discounted at
between 10 to 50 percent. Most of the dresses and suits tagged
with the highest discount were dirty and old stock.

A sales assistant in Pasaraya's shoes section, Yanti told The
Jakarta Post that she could sell between 10 and 15 pairs of shoes
daily during the great sale period, compared to usual sales of
between three and eight pairs a day.

"Not all of the 50 shoe counters in the shoe department offers
discounts," Yanti said. "Current stock is discounted between 10
and 20 percent, and old stock is discounted by 40 percent."

Shoppers will find paltry discounts in the traditional
handicrafts and ethnic clothing section.

But all sales are a guaranteed magnet for shoppers. During
lunch hours on weekdays, the shopping mall swarms with employees
of nearby companies making the best of their break to browse for
choice buys.

"I bought a branded passport holder for just Rp 84,000, down
about 30 percent from its original price of Rp 120,000,"
exclaimed Ani, a shopper at Plaza Indonesia.

Like Ani, many other people take advantage of the great sales
to buy the international brand name items which would usually be
out of their budget.

"Some famous branded clothes are on sale. This is the best
time to buy my favorite American designers'," said Ima, a young,
energetic Jakartan.

In Pondok Indah Mall, an optical store offers 50 percent
discounts on some frames. Many other stores also offer discounts
while cosmetic stands have perfumes, body lotion, deodorant,
facial cosmetics and lipstick packaged in attractive bags with
reduced prices. Revlon, for instance, gives shoppers one free lip
conditioner for every two lipsticks purchased.

A woman who sometimes hunts for bargains in Singapore looked
satisfied with the items she purchased at the Metro department
store in Pondok Indah.

"The Metro department stores here looks more beautiful than
the ones in Singapore," she added.

A mother of three complained about the quality of goods at the
Metro department store in Plaza Indonesia.

"The children's clothes and toys offered at 50 percent
discounts are in poor condition. Some shirts and skirts are
torn." (10/cst)