Indonesian wholesalers hope for World Cup sales boost
16/6/2006 17:15
The ongoing World Cup in Germany doesn't just offer interesting matches
and soccer stars showing off their skills. Many people, even non-fans, enjoy
collecting merchandise related to the quadrennial event. Some of those
collectors live in Jakarta. For proof, just take a look at the stores in Pasar
Pagi (the Morning Market) on Jl. Asemka, West Jakarta. Piles of tiny
soccer-hero dolls -- England skipper David Beckham, Brazil's Ronaldo and
Ronaldinho and the Netherlands' Ruud van Nistelrooy, just to name a few -- are
scattered throughout shops in the market, which was recently rebaptized as the
China Trade Center. Posters of global soccer stars and the World Cup's 32
competing teams are available. Stickers, ballpoint pens capped with soccer balls
and even soccer-themed cellular phone accessories abound. The prices are
quite low. You can buy a dozen soccer-related key chains and cellular phone
accessories for only 20,000 rupiahs (about US$2.10) while a set of miniature
statues of top soccer players is just 90,000 rupiahs (about US$10). But you
can't buy just one box. "You have to buy at least three sets," said a vendor
at one of the shops, pointing to sets of six statuettes standing on the front
display shelf. Most of these World Cup souvenirs have just arrived from the
importers' warehouses. "These items are the most recent," Ronald, a shop
owner at the market, was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying. The market was
built in the 17th century by Dutch colonials and was historically known for both
its retail and wholesale shops. When the more modern Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua
opened on September 18, 1989, most vendors in the old overcrowded market
relocated. Though it has been forgotten to a certain extent, shop owners are
still lured to the old market by its cheaper prices. Wholesalers here hope the
month of soccer hype will give their sales a boost. The items sold at the
Asemka market are different from the ones peddled by the international soccer
body FIFA at its online store fifaworldcup.esdlife.com. The online store
offers participating teams' jerseys, caps, balls, key chains and mascot dolls.
The mascots are available at several hypermarkets here at a price of about
250,000 rupiahs, slightly more expensive than the online store price of
US$21.65.
Xinhua News
|