Retailers plan big 'Independence' sales

Retailers plan big 'Independence' sales

JAKARTA (JP): Attention shoppers. What is being billed as one
of the biggest sales ever held in Indonesia will happen Aug. 5.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the event
organizer, guarantees that it will be a genuine sale.

"This is not one of those sales in which the shops get rid of
old stock," Adi Putra Tahir, a senior Kadin executive promised
yesterday.

The event is being held to celebrate 50 years of Indonesian
independence.

The Indonesian Association of Distributors, the Indonesian
Shopping Center Association and the Association of Indonesian
Retail Business, all member organizations of Kadin, are
supporting the event christened the "people's market".

They said some members will slash prices by 10 to 20 percent,
while others will offer an even bigger percentage.

Army veterans and retired servicemen will be given even
greater discounts at certain department stores.

Adi said retailers who are not members of Kadin will be
encouraged to join.

By yesterday at least 17 provinces agreed to hold the sales.
More are expected to commit before the day. In some areas, the
bazaar will be held for two days or more.

"This is our way of showing gratitude for independence, and
for the stable years that have enabled us to conduct business so
far," Adi said.

Emil Salim, the executive chairman of the National Committee
for the 50th Independence Anniversary, lent his support by
showing up at the press conference.

He said he agreed with the Aug. 5 date because it falls
shortly after most people have received their monthly pay packet.

The sale is purely the business community's initiative and is
therefore being funded by business people, Emil responded when
asked if government funds were involved.

Emil's committee has been allocated a budget of Rp 3.5 billion
($1.6 million) by the government.

"This money is to be used only for events organized by the
government," he said. "It would be quite out of place to ask
moguls to pay for our independence anniversary."

Asked whether he thought that the money set aside was
extravagant, Emil responded, "The question is valid. But this is
a celebration which is held only once in 50 years."

"We tackle problems like poverty and bad roads every year, but
part of our expression of gratitude is to get the people involved
in some fun activities," he said. (anr)