This SME is Ready to Enter the Export Market through Patchwork and Calico Handicrafts

Jakarta, 27 February 2021 - PT Pertamina (Persero), through the Partnership Program, has fostered thousands of small businesses to become its foster partners. Many of its fostered partners run their businesses based on their hobbies. With strong persistence, the business started with trial and error was finally able to grow and continue to upgrade.

One example is Tri Retno Mahanani. The owner of Citra Handycraft SME has been fond of sewing for a long time. Starting from making one or two products, it turns out that many people are interested in the product. "Yes, from trial and error, eventually many people like it, then I made it in bulk," she said.

Initially, the product she made was a bag used for recitation with a group of mothers around her house. Then, she made an innovation by making various tablecloths and pillowcases. Over time, there are more product variants, including tissue holders, glass coasters, curtains, and negligee. "There have been more than 10 types, of which each type has produced up to thousands of pieces," said Retno.

She admitted that she started a craft business with no more than IDR 5 million in the capital. To save costs, she makes use of materials found in her house. She only bought the raw materials for the cloth from the Tanah Abang Market. "For raw materials, I choose quality materials," she said. The prospect is quite good; this is evidenced by the increasing sales every year.

Citra Handrycraft product is priced from IDR 25 thousand to IDR 450 thousand per piece. To increase sales, she diligently participates in various exhibitions throughout Indonesia and abroad. Together with Pertamina, she has exhibited her products in Jordan, Dubai, and Hong Kong. Several times its products have also succeeded in penetrating the European Continent.

Retno combines much calico, specifically wheat sacks and rags, for her works. This combination is what makes many foreigners love the product. When the patchwork used is a good cloth, there will be more Indonesian nuance of the handicrafts. It makes everyone, even foreigners, immediately smitten when they see it.

At her workshop in Depok, West Java, she has employed four employees to produce various products. According to Retno, even though the competition tension is relatively high in this business, she will not lose consumers as long as she is innovative. "There must be a lot of imitators, we must have unique characteristics. It has to be innovative, apart from maintaining the quality and neatness of the sewing and the price, of course."

Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of Pertamina, Agus Suprijanto, added business opportunities that fostered partners can undertake could come from anywhere, be it a hobby or something else. With the development of a business, it will open up opportunities for more jobs and support the national economy. "In accordance with the implementation of the 8th goal of SDGs and also the application of ESG in the social sector," he concluded.**