Jakarta's Christmas Hamper Traders Face Slumping Sales

Declining Demand in Traditional Markets

Traders selling Christmas hampers (parsel) at Jakarta's Pasar Kembang Cikini are experiencing a significant decline in sales as Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 approach. The market, once bustling with activity during this period, is now characterized by sparse customer traffic and reduced transactions ¹

Different Strategies for Managing Unsold Stock

Traders selling food hampers face particular challenges due to expiry date concerns. Agus, a vendor selling both food and household items, explained that he carefully selects products with longer expiry dates to allow for potential resale during future festive periods like Ramadan or Eid ¹

In contrast, traders dealing primarily in household items like glassware report fewer concerns about unsold stock as these products do not expire or spoil. Nendi, another trader, noted that while sales have been slower than previous years, she has managed to sell about 10 hampers after December 20, 2025 ²

Market Observations and Trader Responses

The decline in parsel sales reflects broader economic conditions and changing consumer behavior. Traders are adapting by strategic inventory management and product selection. The market's current slump highlights the challenges faced by traditional businesses during festive seasons.