Small businesses hope for profits from Games

Musthofid ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Samarinda, East Kalimantan   |  Wed, 07/16/2008 12:29 PM  |  Sports

SEE THE PROCESS: An unidentified vendor (left) is busy of printing the National Games mascots on a T-shirt while a customer peruses the merchandise, outside Sempaja Stadium, Samarinda, on Tuesday. The Games T-shirts are sold at between Rp 25,000 and Rp 50,000.(JP/Ricky Y)

A woman is seated at a booth, hoping a traveler will be interested in stopping and buying her handicrafts at the Sempaja sports complex in Samarinda.

"This is five thousand (rupiahs)," says the woman, Cresen, pointing to a colorful bracelet.

It's made from plastic beads. The same material is made into various goods such as pencil cases, wallets and tissue boxes.

Cresen says the handicrafts are distributed by Dayak craftspeople.

Another booth next to her sells various food displayed on a table. Hats and other handicrafts are stacked against a makeshift wall.

Cresen says the intake has not been as good as it was a few months ago when another sports event was held.

"I get less than Rp 500,000 (US$53) a day," she says, adding that this is far below her earnings from the previous event, which amounted up to Rp 1.5 million a day.

She blames the location of the expo for the low intake. The location is obstructed by a building, so it is not visible from the main road.

Another woman has proven luckier. She says she can make up to Rp 2 million a day, especially at the opening.

"We are still able to get up to Rp 1.5 million," she says, "Even though some of the athletes have returned home."

She also sells handicrafts. "These are bear teeth," she says pointing to key hangings. "This one is made from pig fang."

The athletes and officials in fencing and basketball have already left, while those involved in pencak silat and hockey are still competing.

Around 400 small enterprises from the province are involved in the expo.

"Transactions could reach a value of between Rp 5 and 10 million from one booth," Yadi Sabianoor told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Shirts, pins and other merchandisers with Games logo and mascots are available at the expo. The organizers have turned to small-scale enterprises, rather than corporations, to be involved in the expo. This is part of the organizer's policy of empowering the local economy.

"Ideally, we would appoint a corporate partner as the official distributor of merchandise. But It would not work because counterfeiting would be uncontrollable. Besides, the provincial administration wants to encourage the local economy," says Sony Subrata, from the Games promotional partner CDA Group, during a media conference at the Swiss Bell Borneo Hotel.

However, a lack of coordination has caused an uncontrollable spread of vendors. They not only sell merchandise, but food too.

The vendors unfold under the building terraces, requiring the pedestrians to squeeze to make their way under the terraces.

Exclusivism in sponsorship has also been an issue.

"We are one of the main sponsors, but we still have other products displayed at the venue," said a representative from the isotonic drink product.

Syarifudin Rusli, a chief deputy in charge of promotion, says they have cleared around 1,000 thousands illegal banners and billboards.

"The Games have to give financial advantage to the people of the small-scale business. That's one of the messages carried by the Games. And we want to create a conducive atmosphere for future investment in the province."

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