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View all search resultsSmall shops see ‘no threat’ as govt flags modern retail expansion
The government wants to protect independent corner shops from growing networks like Indomaret and Alfamart, but their owners appear unconcerned about coexisting with large players.
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Warung madura shopkeeper Dia is seen behind the counter on Nov. 5. The small shop is located two buildings away from an Alfamart outlet in Palmerah, West Jakarta. (TJP/Ni Made Tasyarani)
T
he government is preparing protective measures amid the rapid expansion of retail networks like Indomaret and Alfamart, but owners of independent convenience stores appear largely unconcerned about the competition.
Twenty-eight-year-old shopkeeper Ami said business was “running as usual”, with sales fluctuating over the roughly one year she had been working at the shop, colloquially called a warung madura, because historically their owners or operators came from the East Java Island of Madura.
The term is now used generally to refer to any traditional 24/7 street-side shop selling daily necessities like household items, cigarettes, snacks and instant noodles.
Ami’s shop was quite busy, with two customers entering and exiting while The Jakarta Post visited on Wednesday morning.
Ami pointed out that a large retailer was located nearby but dismissed it as a threat, since “all have their own portion of fortune”.
Similarly, Dia, storekeeper of a warung madura located a couple of buildings away from an Alfamart outlet, expressed no concerns about the competition.
Having worked at the shop for over a year as her first job since graduating from high school, Dia told the Post on Wednesday that the business was doing well, and she felt secure in her job.
