'People's market' draws few buyers

JAKARTA (JP): The "people's market" laid out by Golkar in Senayan's East Parking Lot over the last two days has just about everything it promised, but one thing: people.

Only 200 of the 400 stands were filled yesterday, and many stand owners complained there were just too few buyers.

Traders blamed poor timing and location for the lackluster business since the bazaar opened Sunday.

Golkar, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is organizing the Pasar Rakyat (People's Market) offering wide ranging goods, said to be at unbeatable prices.

Golkar is considering similar bazaars in other provincial and regency towns over the next three months.

The organizers say the bazaar, which continues until Thursday, is intended to help stabilize prices of basic commodities which in the past have tended to rise in the run-up to Idul Fitri.

But the strategy seems to have backfired, at least in the eyes of Irvan, who sells motorcycles.

"It is too close to Idul Fitri. People have already gone to their home villages," Irvan told The Jakarta Post.

And the location is too far from major residential areas, he added.

Nanang, who sells shoes, is considering closing up shop and cutting his losses if business does not pick up today.

"I'd rather lose Rp 100,000 than risk losing even more," he said, referring to the rent he paid for the stand.

Some traders called it quits on the first day.

Stand rentals range between Rp 100,000 and Rp 150,000 for the five days.

Not everyone at the bazaar complained.

Fruit trader Mujianto reported brisk business, boasting a turnover of Rp 500,000 on the first day alone. But he appeared to be the exception rather than the rule.

The few buyers who came said they heard about the bazaar from television. Others said they simply happened to be in the neighborhood and had decided to take a look.

Golkar organizers admitted the choice of location was a mistake because it was too far from populated residential areas.

"Given that the market is intended for the 'little people', ideally, it should be accessible on foot," he said,

He said he hoped business would still pick up, especially when traders from the bazaar at the National Monument moved to Senayan beginning today.

The organizers had earlier hoped to cash in on the presence of the makeshift intercity terminal set up in Senayan for buses taking Idul Fitri revelers to their home villages.

The terminal is about 500 meters from the bazaar.

The prices of some commodities sold at the bazaar were lower than in other places, witnesses said. (13)