A GOLD MINE: The gold in Sarikei is RM2 to RM3 per gram cheaper than Sibu, and RM5 cheaper than Kuching and Bintulu.
SARIKEI: It seems that after more than a decade of persistence and consistency, the hard work and sincerity of Sarikei have finally paid off.
According to Pemanca Frederick Wong, all types of merchandise in Sarikei are generally cheaper not only due to the cheaper rental fees but because cost of living in town is lower.
“We offer very competitive prices to customers who come from Spaoh, Saratok, Pusa, Beladin and Loban for almost all types of merchandise. Even our hardware shops here offer very good prices.
“It has been a conscious strategy which businessmen came to realise after many years of trial and error,” said Frederick.
Sarikei has found its niche among Sarawakian towns as one that has a lot to offer at competitive prices, such as its famous ‘Eight Precious Herbs’.
As the name suggests, ‘Eight Precious Herbs’ is a combination of eight types of Chinese herbs that can be cooked with any meat such as chicken, duck or pork for soup which the Chinese believe would enhance health, especially that of the fairer sex.
Chinese folk, including the Foochow community, would come all the way from Sibu, Bintulu and Kuching to buy it from Chinese herbal shops of this town.
Ling Soo Ming, 40, the owner of a herbal store here said the reason these outstation customers were making the effort to come could be due to the lower price which the proprietors charged here.
“To have a competitive edge, we offer cheaper prices. In that way, though we have a lower profit margin, we can make up by making more sales,” said Ling who set up the business with her husband, Ling Sien Chung, 45.
As for ‘Eight Precious Herbs’, they said customers found their modified combination more acceptable and tastier.
Besides cheaper herbs, Sarikei is also known for its lower gold prices.
According to gold accessory shopowner Wong Hua Ting, 53, gold jewellery in Sarikei has been sold cheaper than Sibu and other parts of Sarawak.
“The gold here is sold at RM2 to RM3 per gram cheaper than that of Sibu and RM5 per gram less than that of Kuching and Bintulu,” Wong told BAT 3.
Sibu customers might make a special trip to buy gold, while those from Kuching and Bintulu would just do it when they happened to pass through town.
“I believe it is because the rental here in Sarikei is cheaper, that is why businessmen here can afford to do that,” said Wong, who has been in the business for more than 10 years.