Vendors profit from campaigns merchandise

By Joko Sarwono

BOGOR, West Java (JP): The campaign, from April 27 to May 23, is proving very profitable for makers and sellers of party flags, banners, T-shirts, bandanas and other paraphernalia.

The United Development Party's (PPP) local branch has ordered 15,000 T-shirts and 2,500 flags and banners. Golkar's local branch has ordered more than 90,000 T-shirts and at least 30,000 flags and banners. The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) branch has ordered 10,000 T-shirts and 5,000 flags and banners.

Thousands of supporters of the three parties have also bought campaign merchandise directly from traders.

Heri, a 26-year-old vendor on Jl. Kapten Muslihat said: "The star (PPP) T-shirts sell best. I sell between 100 and 300 of the PPP T-shirts, about 100 PDI T-shirts and 50 Golkar T-shirts (a day). Perhaps, Golkar campaign organizers distribute more of their shirts."

Before the campaign, Heri sold dolls and children's accessories. "The doll and accessories business is quiet these days. Items that sell well are campaign paraphernalia," he said.

He sells T-shirts for Rp 5,000 (US$2) each and headbands for Rp 500. "I have made a Rp 65,000 profit each day since campaigning began," he said.

At least nine other vendors sell campaign merchandise on Jl. Kapten Muslihat. Many of them are first-time vendors who, seeing a market for the merchandise, did not think twice about leaving their jobs temporarily. Luki, a 30-year-old excavator driver, has not looked back since becoming a vendor.

"I have joined the campaign item business because it is so profitable," said Luki who sells brooches, stickers, headbands and more. "I make between Rp 25,000 and Rp 60,000 a day."

Campaign marketing mania has even spread to the nearby Anyar market, where stalls are now selling party items.

"I usually sell school uniforms and other school supplies, but I have switched temporarily to selling campaign items since they sell easily," said Jaja, a stall owner.

Jaja said he had been overwhelmed with orders, especially on PPP campaign days. "Once, I could only deliver 80 T-shirts while the order was in the hundreds," he said.

He said he a was week late in realizing that campaign marketing could be lucrative because he had thought the parties would supply enough paraphernalia.

"I did not realize it would be a boom. Had I known earlier, I would have started selling on the first day of the campaign," he said.

Jaja said he wished the campaign period could be extended to make up for the time he lost. "It would be nice if the campaign period was extended," he said hopefully.

For vendors like Heri and Luki, campaign marketing is low risk. "If items don't sell, we return them to the makers," Heri said.

Dindin Abidin, 27, who produces campaign paraphernalia said: "I just want to help the traders out. Unsold items are a risk I have to take."

But Dindin, who owns a small roadside printing shop, has also had an easy run. He said Saturday that no one had returned any of the items: "Everything sells out every day."

Dindin and his five assistants work day and night printing pictures and slogans on T-shirts and making headbands and other items.

"At one time, we worked around the clock for two days sacrificing two nights sleep," said Dindin. "We tried to do the same thing the next day, but we were too exhausted."

Dindin is making Rp 100,000 a day after paying his staff.

All the local sellers and producers interviewed said that PPP items sold best.

PPP Bogor branch deputy chairman Hamzah Ismail said this proved his party had spontaneous support.

"We, the organizer of the local campaign, had actually planned to order 30,000 T-shirts to be delivered in stages. But, when we saw that the public were taking their own initiative, we decided to order only 15,000 T-shirts," Hamzah said.

The vendors are already planning how to spend their campaign profits. The full-time vendors are thinking about investments in their businesses.

"I plan to use my profit to buy more stock," said Jaja who has been making Rp 50,000 a day since campaigning started. She had been making Rp 25,000 a day.

But part-time vendors are thinking of ways to enjoy their profits.

"After the campaign I will return to my daily work. I plan to spend the profit from these part-time sales on my wife and child," said Luki.