At Ramadan bazaar, having just a popular menu isn’t enough. One local woman discovers that engaging customers is what drives sales.

THE busiest stalls during Ramadan aren’t always the tastiest—they’re the ones that know how to grab attention.

At the Bandar Seri Putra bazaar, @syaisukri___, who runs a stall, discovered that even a popular menu isn’t enough to guarantee sales.

In a short clip posted on Threads, she showed mushroom soup and drinks still fully stocked at 6:30pm.

She said that last year, the same menu had queues of customers, so she was confident it would sell again.

“I tried this menu last fasting month and it was very popular, with customers queueing. That’s why I confidently chose the same menu again this year,” she said.

But this year, customers didn’t stop like she expected.

Commenters quickly pointed out what she had missed: actively attracting attention.

@hm_nuhan suggested, “I went to the BSP bazaar. I suggest calling out to customers and attracting them to buy. Be friendly, sis. More people will come.”

@lyeviana added, “You need to call out to people, dear. Be talkative. ‘Mushroom soup!’ When I fasted, I sold roti john cooked live while calling out to customers from 2pm until breaking fast. People will remember and come back to buy from you.”

Other sellers reinforced the point.

@houseofvietnamrolls said, “You need to call out to customers. Sometimes the way you attract them can make them decide to buy. Give it a try tomorrow!”

@heyhizlan added, “When I worked in retail, the manager would never allow staff to sit, even if they were guarding the counter. You have to stand and make yourself visible.”

@sharmine.azira summed it up: “If you want to run a business, you must be hardworking and friendly, dear. My husband and I never sit. Customers are treated like ministers.”

Several commenters also offered practical tips.

@jimqiv suggested scooping drinks in front of passersby and calling out offers, while @najatulsyahirah said it’s important to make people notice the product first: “Buying comes second.”

@ramddan.rosli recommended pre-packing the soup and displaying it at the front, and @beauty_taras suggested showing a sample in a bowl.

Bazaar success, it seems, comes less from recipes and more from being visible, actively engaging customers, and making them stop.

 The Sun Malaysia