Merchants in Tanah Abang Confide in the Benefits of TikTok Shop

JAKARTA - A number of traders at Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta admit that they have been helped by the presence of the TikTok Shop application. This is because it can reach buyers from all regions of the country and does not recognize certain seasons.

Seller of Muslim worship equipment at Tanah Abang Market, Nadia said that during the Hajj season, Ramadan, and Eid, many people need worship equipment as souvenirs or gifts such as prayer mats, mukenas, sarongs, prayer beads, even dates and bottled Zam-Zam water so that income increases.

"The remaining 10 months were quiet. So, since there was a TikTok Shop, we have focused on selling there, online," said Nadia, quoting Antara.

There are more consumers, he continued, and their reach is even wider from various regions outside Jakarta, even from Papua, Kalimantan, Sulawesi.

According to the woman, who has been with the online trading application for a year, the shop started by her parents in 1997 never left Tanah Abang, until she finally took advantage of the sales platform.

"This Live really helped us, who initially only relied on income from conventional sales, only from people who came to Tanah Abang. Since the TikTok Shop existed, our consumers have become wider so the income is greater," said the account owner @ TokoPutriYoungsu.

Nadia, who currently employs 11 employees and is opening up new job opportunities, is questioning the government's discourse about banning the existence of these online trading platforms.

"When there was talk about separating the selling features on TikTok, my fellow traders in Tanah Abang and I were confused. Why can't you sell on social media? Even though it feels very different," she said.

Meanwhile, Nahda Nabilla, a TikTok Shop affiliate, added that if the government's policy to separate TikTok from TikTok Shop is carried out, it will not only be sellers who will be affected, but also affiliates and MSME owners in general.

"Certainly job vacancies will no longer be widely open. In fact, it is possible that those who depend on online sales will experience a decrease in income, and this will result in employees losing their jobs," she said.