Outdoor equipment shops flourish in Yogyakarta
Outdoor equipment shops flourish in Yogyakarta
By Anis Suryani
YOGYAKARTA (JP): The fast-growing adventure tours and sports
industry in Yogyakarta has been accompanied by a mushrooming of
shops selling outdoor equipment.
Most of these shops are located near universities and high
schools because students manage and organize many adventure
groups.
Currently, there are around 100 organizations dealing with
adventure tours. A large number of new groups are expected to be
formed, especially during the new academic year.
"Every year, members of the groups will certainly need new
equipment for their activities. They are our regular customers,"
said Galih Prabowo, the marketing manager of PinnAcle, a shop
selling outdoor equipment.
Galih said that at present, the market for outdoor equipment
was limited in Indonesia, but he was optimistic the industry
would continue to grow.
He said most of his customers were nature lovers and others
who wanted to dress in the style of adventurers. Among the items
sold in the shop are sandals, vests, trousers, backpacks and
knives.
Competitive
Outdoor equipment is extremely competitive in Yogyakarta. Each
shop offers quality products at very reasonable prices.
When Galih and his friends started the business in 1993,
there were only four shops selling outdoor equipment. Around 20
such shops are now operating in the city.
Among the shops are Alpina, Kingkog, Himalaya and Doddy on Jl.
Simanjuntak, and Montana on Jl. Prof. Dr. Johanes, all located
near Gadjah Mada University. PinnAcle on Jl. Colombo is near the
Indonesian Islamic University, Sanata Dharma University and
Atmajaya University.
Some of the stores offer fashion wear as well as the wide
range of outdoor equipment. Doddy Active Sportswear outlets on
Jl. Simanjuntak, Jl. Sultan Agung and in Malioboro Mall, for
example, specialize more in fashion wear than outdoor gear.
"Most of our customers are students," Doddy store manager Dwi
Novalya said, adding that from the three outlets the company
earned between Rp 10 million and Rp 20 million a month.
PinnAcle, on the other hand, offers a diverse array of
products in all the top brands, from rope for Rp 20,000 to a Rp
13.5-million raft. The store can order merchandise that it does
not have in stock.
"We do not stock (some things) as most of them are relatively
expensive," said Galih, adding that he recently received an order
for six boats from a local tour operator in the city.