Staking out the city for hot year-end sales

Staking out the city for hot year-end sales

People can be divided into two groups: those who love a good
sale, and those who pass them by, says one wise shopper dedicated
to hunting out the best bargains this city has to offer.

And anyone who has spent time in the capital knows Jakarta is
one of the best cities in Asia offering bargains with optimum
product quality, selection and best of all -- good value.

December promises to be full of bargains, even more so than at
other times of the year.

Malls and stores across Jakarta are gearing up for a shopping
frenzy as three major holidays all come within the last week of
December.

Christmas starts off the week of holidays on Dec. 25, followed
by Idul Fitri on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28, ending the month-long
fasting of Ramadhan, and last but not least, comes New Year's
Eve.

Henny Udy, the tenants relation manager at Plaza Indonesia,
said this year would be extremely busy for the mall, and all the
tenants were anticipating a lot of shoppers, more than last year.

"The tenants are really optimistic, and there are promotional
sales which started at the end of November and will run until the
end of December with reduced sales from 50 percent to 70 percent
off," she said. "We hope this will be the best year yet."

With the anticipated hecticness accompanying shoppers' quests
to fulfill their loved ones' wish lists, Heddy said the mall was
keeping in step to accommodate everyone.

"One of the problems (with all the holidays coming at once) is
that there will be such a large amount of activity seen at this
time, that it was a major decision for us on how to decorate the
plaza."

In the end, the mall management decided to allot one holiday
to each of the plaza's floors.

"The first floor is dedicated to Idul Fitri, the second floor
to Christmas and the third to New Year's. So shoppers can
experience the ambience of those holidays on each floor."

Henny told The Jakarta Post that some special events would
also be held to celebrate the holidays.

"For Christmas, we will have a choir, Anak Indonesia, singing
carols at Lamoda Cafe on Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 at 2 p.m."

For women needing a special dress for the Christmas and
Lebaran holidays this year, two fashion shows at Lamoda Cafe,
Dec. 8 and Dec. 16 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., will spark everyone's
interest with the latest variety of styles that are hot to wear
this season.

She also said Santa was coming to town, or specifically, the
Kids Club on Dec. 9 and Dec. 10, to talk to children and find out
who was being naughty and nice.

"Children can have a picture taken with him, and there will
also be some activities for them."

A fortuneteller will be on hand from Dec. 15 to Dec. 17 to
give shoppers their prognosis for 2001, and in the mall's
corridors shoppers can browse over the Christmas and Lebaran
cards and accessories on offer from Dec. 8 to Dec. 24.

Upstairs in the Cira Food Court on the third level is a
festival of special food, running from Dec. 1 to Dec. 26, for
breaking daily fasts.

Shoppers at the mall may not be just another face in the
crowd; they may be seeing themselves on TV later. Taking place at
Lamoda Cafe and through the corridors of Plaza Indonesia,
shoppers have the chance to watch Metro TV's live taping of The
Plaza, with host Becky Tumewu. The show will be shot at various
times on Dec. 2, Dec. 9, Dec. 16, Dec. 23 and Dec. 30.

If entertainment is needed in between all the shopping,
shoppers can rest their feet at Lamoda Cafe and take in the
cultural show of Banten from West Java on Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 from
4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Not to be missed is the trio Bimbo, which will be performing
live, singing Ramadhan songs as those who are fasting await buka
puasa on Dec. 10 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

And onstage on Dec. 17 also from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. is the
Ruth Sahanaya, Harvey Malaiholo and Glenn show, singing Christmas
songs for shoppers facing the time crunch as they seek out the
ultimate presents.

Rounding off all the happenings at Plaza Indonesia are sales
promotions where shoppers can get an exclusive free gift for
making a purchase of Rp 1 million. The offer runs from Dec. 12 to
Dec. 18. And following that is an opportunity to win one of 24
Philips cell phones after making a purchase of Rp 500,000.

Henny said there were a lot of things going on that shoppers
should take note of at this time as well.

"Versace's renovation will be complete the first week of
December and the concept of the window display is a real must-
see. It's the first one in Asia. The other display is in their
New York boutique, but why bother to go there, when you can just
wander down this way to see it," she said.

Mango fashion center, the first one in Jakarta, had a grand
opening of its new 500-square-meter boutique on the first floor
of the plaza on Nov. 23.

Over at Taman Anggrek Mall, Rico Paula, the advertising and
public relations assistant, said all the tenants there were
excited about the three major holidays rolled up in one week.

"We're getting all prepared for the holidays, with a
combination of events to help everyone get in that holiday mood,"
he said.

And a shopper cannot help but be in the mood as soon as they
enter the front atrium and see the tallest Christmas tree in
Indonesia, which was set up on Nov. 17.

Brightly decorated with candles, lights, pine cones, icicle
lights and snowflakes, the tree will be standing all through the
holidays for shoppers to enjoy.

Rico said the only challenge the mall faced with the major
holidays falling so close together was how to integrate the
different decorations.

"We tried to combine them in the best possible way. However,
it wasn't that easy. Our first plan was to put ketupat (rice
packaged in woven leaves) on the Christmas tree, but others
suggested not to do that, so we hung them from the doves' beaks
instead."

Running until January 1 is Taman Anggrek's Warnai Impianmu
(Color your Dreams) event, which will feature onstage
entertainment, a visit with Santa and a large contest with huge
prizes up for grabs.

"We have a variety of musical shows, acoustic and chamber
choir shows and of course fashion shows on schedule for December
in the Grand Atrium," said Rico.

Bina Fokalia, a well-known children's quartet, will highlight
the agenda with songs for Christmas and Lebaran.

For jazz aficionados, female artist Andien, an up-and-coming
jazz singer will appear onstage on Dec. 13.

"And all the way from Japan, making their first appearance in
Indonesia, will be the Digimon musical show, where children can
meet and greet two of the characters of the famous TV cartoon
series, Mimi and Tokeimon, who will be on hand every day from
Dec. 15 to Dec. 24," he said.

And Santa will also be dropping by the mall to chat with all
the children and photograph opportunity who come to visit him.

Parents are invited to bring a wrapped present that Santa can
present to the child once he elicits his or her promise of good
behavior.

Rico said children could also have their photo taken as
Aladdin beside a genie.

But the most exciting event shoppers will find is a contest
with incredible prizes of a house in Taman Victoria, Bukit
Sentul, a Hyundai Trajep, a trip to Europe, Japan, America or
China, or one of 10 wristwatches from Ebel.

Running from Nov. 24 to Jan. 28, the contest is a repeat of
last year's successful millennium draw, where shoppers show
receipts totaling Rp 500,000 to get an entry form. The draw date
is Jan. 29, 2001, and participants should be present in the mall
to claim their prize.

This promotion has had a significant impact on traffic in the
mall, Rico noted.

"We had an increase (in foot traffic) of 30 percent during
last year's event from the same time in 1998.

"Other malls are offering other promotions but ours is the
greatest -- what we offer is the best," he said.

At Kidz Station's, the festival sale period is from Nov. 29 to
Dec. 24 in all outlets. Division Manager Ria NH said Kidz Station
usually has sale programs for school holidays, back to school and
at the end of the year. Since the crisis, sale programs have
become the most waited-for programs by customers, because they
know they will get high-quality products at cheaper prices,
especially when people start preparing for Christmas and Idul
Fitri.

Nautica's year-end sale program is from Nov. 24 to Dec. 10 in
all outlets. It sells international-quality standard casual wear
and apparel. This company usually has sale programs at midyear
and year-end. Considering its experience, Operation Manager
Austino said, Nautica believes its sale program will get a good
response from customers, because they will get high quality
products at cheaper price. Besides sales, Nautica also does some
marketing strategies to face the tight competition among fashion
companies, such as keeping their brand products image through
advertising. It is optimistic with its prospects in 2001,
considering its brand is already established.