More people soaking in the tub as bathing habits change
Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The growing trend toward spas and pampering oneself among well-to-do Indonesians has had a positive impact on sale of bathroom fixtures, such as bathtubs, home spa sets and showers in the country.
For most affluent Indonesians, the bathroom is no longer just a place to take a quick shower, but more of a personal retreat.
"More well-to-do Indonesians now prefer soaking in a bathtub or taking a shower to having a traditional 'mandi' because in this way, they can have a hydro-massage to relax their tired muscles," said Serlie Tjandra, General Manager of PT Gracius Adi Cipta, one of the producers of bathroom fixtures in the country.
Overseas brands of sophisticated bathtubs or shower fixtures are popular among discerning Indonesians because the items offer relaxing and therapeutic features.
A bathtub with a whirlpool, for instance, has circulation jets at various points in the tub, providing a hydro-massage for the bather. "After soaking in the whirlpool tub, the bather will feel refreshed because the hydro-massage can help stabilize blood circulation," she said.
"Hydro-therapy offered by sophisticated bathtubs or showers attract most of the buyers even though there are also those purchasing the items for reasons of prestige or social status, said Andry Mulyono, a spokesman for Galleria showroom at the Jakarta Design Center (JDC).
The Galleria showroom is owned by PT Panca Wisesa, one of the distributors of bathroom fixtures from overseas. Buyers of the premium fixtures are not only confined to star-rated hotels, opulent apartments, but also include many individuals.
Equipping a bathroom with imported fixtures, such as bathtubs, whirlpool tubs, showers and home spa sets has become a trend, in parallel with the growing modern lifestyle that emphasizes, efficiency, effectiveness, comfort and healthy living.
Premium bathroom fixtures from top overseas brands are now available here. Each brand has its own specialization. For instance, Grohe from Germany specializes in showers and faucets, Kohler from the United States in sanitary wares, Jacob Delafon from France in sanitary wares and Teuco from Italy in hydro- shower and hydro-steam, Blu Bleu, also from Italy, in bathtubs and showers, and Caroma from Australia in sanitary items.
Commonly, the stores that sell the items provide after-sales services, such as installation and repairs. The stores have technicians to install your fixtures properly.
"We send a team of technicians to the homeowner to see the bathroom before installing the bathtub to make sure that the fixture is installed properly," said Andry of the Galleria showroom.
PT Panca Wisesa with showroom Galleria, PT Gracius Adi Cipta with showroom Hal Mar Sanitary, PT Dimas Austrindo with showroom Puri Dimas -- to name just a few -- are among the companies that sell upmarket bathroom fixtures. The companies have seen a slight increase in demand for the items over the last two years.
In addition to bathtubs, showers and home spa sets, most of the companies also provide a wide range of bathroom accessories, including basins, toilet suites, bidet, faucets, towel rings, towel rails, soap dishes, mirrors, toilet paper holders and robe hooks.
Most of the showrooms display items with a modern or 'minimalist' look as well as classical models, enabling the buyer to select the style that matches the interior of his or her bathroom.
Prices of premium bathroom fixtures, especially those incorporating bathing and massages vary, depending on the items, material, size, model, brand and features.
Prices for overseas brands of standard bathtubs range from Rp 3.5 million (about US$400) to Rp 18 million. But if you want a bathtub just for soaking in, you can get a locally-made one at only around Rp 1 million.
Tubs with whirlpools and steam box give people more massage options for their health care and skin care needs. The price range of sophisticated bathtubs is between Rp 50 million and Rp 275,000 million.
At Puri Dimas showroom, you can find a wide collection of bathroom fixtures with overseas brands, such as Caroma for sanitary wares and accessories, Stylus for bathtubs and spas, Moen for faucets and accessories and Savil for faucets.
The items are directly imported from Australia, the United States and Italy to ensure the quality of the products, according to Puri Dimas' assistant marketing manager Edward Lukito.
At the showroom, you also have more options on spa sets. The spa set with a shower system is among the showroom's popular items. Many have purchased it because it provides hydro-massage for the bather through the shower which caters to the bather's needs, whether the head, back or chest, Edward of Puri Dimas said.
Puri Dimas showroom is located at Jl. Panglima Polim in South Jakarta.
Even though PT Gracius Adi Cipta's main line of business is producing and selling locally-made products, the company also sells imported items to take advantage of the growing demand for sophisticated bathtubs and showers.
Hal Mar Sanitary's showrooms can be found in Jl. Mangga Dua Raya, Central Jakarta, Jl. Fatmawati, South Jakarta and Mall Taman Anggrek, West Jakarta.
If money is not an issue for you, you have more choices.
At Galleria showroom, for instance, you can find a collection of highly sophisticated bathtubs and showers from overseas brands. They include Teuco shower glass boxes equipped with digitally operated whirlpool, shower and steam system.
Other hydro-shower boxes are also complete with a choice of lighting to suit his or her mood while bathing.