Holiday Bonus Drives Predicted Surge in Shopping and Gadget Upgrades

The timing of Tunjangan Hari Raya (THR) holiday bonus distributions ahead of Lebaran consistently stimulates increased household consumption across various sectors. Beyond basic necessities and homecoming travel, purchases of electronic products such as smartphones and digital devices rank among the categories experiencing significant demand spikes.

Many consumers leverage this additional income to replace older devices or upgrade the specifications of their gadgets to support daily activities.

This trend is anticipated to manifest again during Ramadan this year. As society’s reliance on digital devices for work, learning, and entertainment continues to grow, the need to update gadgets becomes increasingly relevant.

The THR period is widely regarded as one of the most opportune times for consumers to purchase technology devices. One retail activity capitalising on this momentum is a gadget exhibition organised by Blibli through its subsidiary PT Global Teknologi Niaga (GTNi).

The company is holding the Blibli XPO Smartphone THR Fest, running from 3–15 March 2026 at Margocity Mall. This exhibition marks the third instalment of the Blibli XPO series, following previous events at Summarecon Mall Serpong in September 2025.

This initiative forms part of the company’s strategy to deliver direct gadget shopping experiences amidst the increasingly dominant trend of digital shopping. This was highlighted by CEO of PT Global Teknologi Niaga (GTNi), Wisnu Iskandar.

He noted that the THR period is frequently leveraged by consumers to realise previously postponed purchasing plans, including technology device acquisitions. “The THR period is always the most anticipated time to fulfil wishlists, including gadget upgrades,” he stated in a press release on Thursday, 12 March 2026.

At the exhibition, several technology manufacturers are showcasing their latest devices, including brands such as Samsung, Apple, Huawei, and OPPO. Notable products this year include the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series, iPhone 17, Huawei Mate X7, Xiaomi 15, and OPPO Reno 15.

Beyond displaying the latest devices, visitors can trial various products directly before making purchase decisions. This approach is considered important as some consumers still prefer hands-on experience before transacting, particularly for higher-priced devices.