Side Business Ahead of Independence Day

With Indonesia's long-awaited Independence Day fast approaching, one can only imagine how festive the atmosphere will be to celebrate this historic occasion. Indonesians will undoubtedly be organizing various programs to celebrate Independence Day on August 17th, from ceremonies and competitions to music concerts.

As Independence Day approaches, there will usually be many independence-themed decorations, both on the streets and around your home. This can be seen as a lucrative business opportunity. Consider a seasonal business as a side hustle to supplement your income.

Here are various side business opportunities that you can pursue ahead of Independence Day on August 17th.

1. Red and White Flag

Typically, around August 17th, there's a call to hang flags in front of homes to commemorate the heroes' contributions. People typically look for red and white flags made from cloth. If your area has a similar custom and you have sewing skills, you could join the red and white cloth flag business.

Of course, selling red and white flags in the lead-up to August 17th attracts many buyers, as many people don't have these fabric flags. So, you could offer your services by sewing these fabric flags and selling them to those who don't already have them.

To illustrate the capital requirement, you don't need to spend a lot of money because this is a seasonal business. Spend only according to the orders. For example, if you buy 1 meter of fabric for Rp 25,000, just buy it based on the existing orders. If you don't have one, you can sew by hand, but remember to ensure neatness.

2. Red-White Flags and Plastic Bottles Decoration

You've undoubtedly seen various independence-themed decorations on the streets and in narrow alleys. Red and white, of course, are the most prevalent colors. If you have a lot of time on your hands at the weekend, make the most of it by selling independence-themed paraphernalia.

Children often enjoy having these red-and-white decorative flags and plastic bottles. For the plastic flags, simply paint the plastic red and white and use a satay stick as the handle. For the decorative plastic bottles, you can get a little creative, such as creating flower shapes, hand fans, or other toy shapes.

Of course, the capital for this struggle is very cheap. For an idea of ​​the capital, you can simply buy clear plastic at a price of IDR 2,000 - IDR 3,000 per package, a small paint brush (IDR 5,000), wooden skewers at IDR 8,000/kg, (white and red wall paint (IDR 35,000 x 2), and for the plastic bottles, you can come to a used plastic bottle recycling collector at a price of IDR 25 - IDR 50 per unit. If you are able to find a more cost-effective material price, the capital spent will not be more than IDR 100,000.

3. Banner Printing Services

Another attractive, popular item that could potentially become a business opportunity is pennant printing services. These services are typically sought by neighborhood associations (RT), neighborhood associations (RW), sub-districts (Kelurahan), and government agencies to be installed on streets or outside buildings. Since pennants are made from fabric, you can screen print them. You can also expand your services to include banner creation.

An approximate starting capital for this business is fabric (Rp 25,000-30,000/meter), screen printing costs of Rp 7,500-Rp 11,000/pennant (can be more cost-effective), and poles of Rp 10,000-15,000/unit. Pennants typically don't require overly detailed or complex designs, so to save money, it's best to design them yourself and avoid hiring a design service.

4. Independence Themed T-shirts

Do you have a hobby of drawing and designing? You can turn this hobby into a profitable business. Taking advantage of Independence Day, you can market your own independence-themed clothing designs. The upside of this venture is that if customers like them, you can turn this seasonal business into a permanent one.

Marketing can be done simply by reaching out to people around you and your colleagues or college friends, or online to make it easier for potential customers. Requests for independence-themed T-shirts often come from certain agencies and organizations that require uniform attire for an event.

The initial capital for this business is indeed more expensive. To estimate the initial investment, plan for white t-shirts (Rp 10,000-15,000 per unit) and screen printing services (Rp 8,000-15,000 per t-shirt). The total investment should be calculated based on the number of orders received; the more orders, the lower the cost of materials.

5. Unique Independence-Themed Food and Drinks

For this food business, you can market sweet snacks or drinks with an independence theme. You don't need to rent an expensive storefront to get started. You can rent a space in front of a school or other busy area, or create a dedicated account and run it online. You can also sell them on Independence Day, during competitions or events celebrating Independence Day near your home.

You can also market it to your workplace, where you can purchase your culinary creations for use at the office's Independence Day program. Starting with this seasonal business, your food and beverages could become a consistent seller and a profitable side hustle.

For example, the capital for this business, including ingredients and food packaging, can reach Rp 300,000–Rp 500,000, depending on how many sweet treats you want to sell. For drinks, you can choose a type of beverage like shaved ice. The cost for more affordable drinks can be Rp 50,000–Rp 150,000, which includes syrup, ice cubes, toppings (jelly, fruit, or seaweed), and plastic cups.