Seasonal vendors make money during Ramadhan
Seasonal vendors make money during Ramadhan
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For Muslims, the fasting month of Ramadhan means a holy season, a
time for cleansing their bodies and souls of impurity. But for
some people, like the seasonal vendors, Ramadhan is a time to
make money.
During the month, you can easily find seasonal markets in
almost every corner of the city. For example, in Jatinegara, East
Jakarta, in Senen and Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta or in Pasar
Minggu, South Jakarta. These markets are always crowded as the
items are cheap and the quality is fair, if you take the prices
into account. Consequently, traffic jams in these areas usually
get worse.
Hundreds of seasonal vendors have been operating on Jl.
Matraman Raya, near the Jatinegara Market, since the opening of
Ramadhan. This area is a popular site for street vendors to run
their businesses throughout the year, but the number of vendors
has increased sharply during the fasting season.
Roni said he came from Pariaman, West Sumatra, last month to
sell Muslim clothes here.
"I came together with nine other friends. We have done it for
years," he told The Jakarta Post as he arranged his merchandise.
Roni and his friends sell different kinds of items, including
head scarfs, peci (caps), sajadah (prayer mats) and mukena
(Muslim women's prayer cloaks).
Roni, who brought Rp 3 million worth of capital with him to
run the business, handed over some Rp 500,000 to an officer to
allow him to rent a space measuring 2 meters by 1.5 meters,
located off the road.
The rental fee is for one month only. Besides this monthly
charge, he also has to pay a daily Rp 500 security fee to a
hoodlum.
"The price is reasonable. I realize that nothing is free here.
Besides, other vendors paid the fee as I did," he told The
Jakarta Post.
The fee depends on the location. The closer the site is to the
road and the bigger it is, the more expensive the fee.
Roni used some of his money to buy baju koko (Muslim men's
shirts) from Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta to be sold in
Jatinegara, while the rest is for his daily expenditure here.
Roni stays in a relative's house in Utan Kayu, East Jakarta.
His other colleagues also stay with relatives or friends.
Roni made a profit of Rp 2 million last year. The amount
excludes his daily expenditure here and travel costs.
"Ramadhan means good business for me. I hope I can enjoy
similar profits to last year's," Roni said.
Even though Muslim accessories dominate the seasonal markets,
you can also buy a range of other products, from shoes, bags and
casual clothes, to toys, firecrackers and craft tools. You can
even find birds and fish.
A casual shirt is available for Rp 7,500, a pair of baby shoes
for Rp 5,000, a peci for Rp 5,000 and a children's mukena for Rp
25,000.
No wonder many people prefer to shop there.
Mirta, 35, said that she likes visiting a seasonal market with
her family before breaking the fast.
"My children can forget their hunger and if they want
something, I can still afford it," said the employee of a private
company in Salemba.
"This market helps us common people who want to celebrate
Ramadhan and Idul Fitri," she said.