Flohmak Flea Market: Tangerang, West Java

Jakarta’s fashionistas and homemakers must definitely be in need of a break from the comfort of gigantic, air-conditioned and European label-laden shopping malls when they start to find solace and inspiration in an open-air flea market.

To see for yourself this shopping metamorphosis, go to Granada Square in the Bumi Serpong Damai satellite city in Tangerang on the weekend and look for Flohmak — a flamboyant flea market initiated by a local resident with flair and ideas to boot.

The market breathes life and brings color to Bumi Serpong Damai — an otherwise mainstream, middle-to-upscale housing estate, west of Jakarta.

Flea market coordinator Winarto said since the market opened April 21, there has been a growing number of visitors each weekend, as well as droves of would-be vendors requesting a space to sell their wares.

Wintaro said Flohmak’s point of difference was the vendors themselves.

“It’s different because the people offering used items for sale are not professional vendors, but individuals and families sick of their piles of unused goods at home.”

In the article What Is a Flea Market?, published in 1998 in the magazine Today’s Flea Market, Albert LaFarge said it is generally agreed the term flea market is a literal translation of “marche aux puces“, an outdoor bazaar in Paris named after little parasites called Siphonaptera.

These little nasties, referred to as fleas, infested the upholstery of old furniture brought out for sale — and so this much-loved term was born.

LaFarge, the author of U.S. Flea Market Directory, also said a flea market is simply a modern version of a phenomenon that has endured the test of time and civilized societies.

He said wherever there is a high concentration of people, there will be market days when neighbors assemble for the exchange of goods and services.

According to Winarto, the idea to open a flea market in the BSD complex was inspired by his own experience living in Vienna, Austria, for eight years.

“There is a weekend flea market called Flohmarkt in Wina,” Winarto said.

“I think that there has been no flea market of this kind in Indonesia, so I also want to open flea markets in Permata Hijau and Pondok Indah, South Jakarta.

“There any many large houses in the two complexes. I am sure if we open flea markets in the two areas, we will get a lot of enthusiasts.”

Winarto said people tended to store their used furniture and goods if they had room on their property.

“But if there are places for wealthy families to sell their used goods, I believe that they will want to take part.”

At the BSD’s Flohmak, market rules and pricing standards are non-existent.

Market tenants can name the price of their goods and buyers are free to bargain.

“I bought a set of sofas for Rp 350,000 (about US$37) here last week,” said housewife Dewi Gustiana.

“The sofa owner wanted Rp 500,000, but I bargained to Rp 350,000 and the owner agreed.”

The mother of two was interested in the sofas because they were branded and still in good shape — although she was privy only to a displayed photograph of the furniture.

Dewi said the sofa owner planned to move from the Alam Sutra housing estate, and didn’t want to transport all her furniture to her new home in Bogor, West Java.

“So the family decided to sell their furniture and some items are relatively new,” Dewi said.

“These sofas were bought six months ago.

“At first, I did not know the market price of the sofas, but I realized that they were expensive items.

“After I picked up the sofas from her house, I found out that they cost Rp 3.5 million.”

Dewi said her family would never have owned such expensive furniture had it not been for her lucky purchase at the flea market.

Corporate communication general manager of PT BSD, Dhonny Rahajoe, said the flea market was organized by residents in cooperation with the property developer employees’ cooperative.

“We fully support the presence of the flea market here because it will be a mecca for secondhand goods lovers and families who need to make space in their homes,” he said.

“A flea market is the engine of urbanity, and Flohmak is expected to give new energy to entrepreneurship and to family recreation,” Dhonny added.

A resident of the Alam Sutra housing estate, Flourina, said she rented space at the flea market for Rp 50,000 a day to sell a range of used goods from her home.

“This is just fun for me. I have been selling goods since the opening of this market,” she said.

A surprising range of pre-loved items can be found at Flohmak, including furniture, electronic devices, kitchen appliances, clothes, shoes, home accessories, music instruments, sports equipment, antique clocks, wristwatches, books and children’s toys.

This colorful but commonsensical range of homewares, electronics and other stuffs, with nothing other than a starting price attached, will ensure Flohmak brings back shopping’s human face — a face that’s missing from our ever-so-chilly malls and plazas.

Multa Fidrus