Tanah Abang Traders: Stores That Are Quiet Visitors Because They Don't Understand Online, Not TikTok

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - It is undeniable that the existence of e-commerce and social networks has the potential to help increase the sales of MSMEs in Indonesia. However, the existence of TikTok Shop is actually considered to have turned off MSMEs and also traders in the Tanah Abang Market area, Jakarta.

According to traders in Tanah Abang, TikTok Shop is flooded with imported goods whose prices are much cheaper, and even tend to make no sense. This then led consumers to prefer shopping at TikTok Shop rather than at Tanah Abang Market or other places.

One of the traders in the Tanah Abang Market area actually assessed the lack of buyers in the market because currently the buyers prefer to shop online because they consider it simpler and more efficient.

If someone says that Tanah Abang is quiet because it's online. Not really. That's not the problem. If he feels the shop is offline, then he has to learn to be online too. He has to switch to online too. That should be the case," said Fauzan, a trader who has been selling in Tanah Abang for 20 years, quoted on Tuesday, September 26.

Fauzan also said that some Tanah Abang traders were still determined to survive selling offline. They then vent their sluggish sales to other traders who have online shops.

"In my opinion, people who complain that Tanah Abang Market is quiet are traders who still use traditional trading mode. Meanwhile, it is now an online era. Now, these are those who still survive in offline positions," added Fauzan.

Fauzan himself opened a lot of taps for his business. That's why he can continue to maintain his shop in Tanah Abang without worrying about being empty of visitors. Because most of the buyers since 20 years ago have also switched to online because they feel simpler and more effective.

"I'm the same, there is an offline shop here. At home I make an online shop. It's just that, in my opinion, people complain that it's for people who don't understand. It's time to go online. The era is online. Meanwhile, they want to stay offline. Yes, like this is the effect," Fauzan concluded.