Though time for small-scale businesses

By Joko Sarwono

BOGOR, West Java (JP): M. Soleh, 74, a small-scale entrepreneur and horticulturist dealing in plant seedlings from Bojong Gede subdistrict, complains that since 1990 his business has been quite sluggish. "My business is not only suffering, it's on the verge of collapse," he said at the Bogor Regency Development Exhibition.

The exhibition, which took place at the regional administration office compound in Cibinong, opened Friday and ended yesterday. It was open to the public free of charge between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Today, he said, was way different from his golden period between 1968 and 1988. "During that time I frequently took part in exhibitions like this one. I could pocket Rp 30 million at just one exhibition. My wife, who did sales at home, earned between Rp 600,000 and Rp 700,000," he said.

Everything is in reverse now. "In the past I used to be able to sell a plant and could buy 100 seedlings in return. But now I can't even sell one plant during a week. When I do sell one, the money is just enough to buy cigarettes," he said, adding that he could smoke five packs of cigarettes a day.

According to him, the change in business was attributable to two factors. First, the amount of competition. "Years ago, there used to be only four people in the seedling business in Jakarta. However, since 1989, more and more people have taken up this business," he said.

Second, he said, plots of land were getting smaller in urban areas. City people only bought a few plants. "Since there isn't much land available, where will wealthy people plant trees?," he asked. To be able to plant many trees, he said, one had to find an open space away from the city.

"Besides, you have to pay people a lot of money to plant trees," he said, sounding hopeless. "If anyone ever shows interest, I will sell him all my plants and then try my luck in another business," he said emphatically.

To make ends meet, Soleh earned money from other businesses as well. "I sell soft drinks and rent out nine, small barrack-like houses," he said.

Craftsman

Also speaking about business competition at the exhibition was Nanang, 38, a craftsman from Gunung Putri subdistrict who makes household appliances and children's toys out of aluminum and other materials. He complained of the influx of factory-made products.

"Kitchen utensils and children's toys are usually made in factories where machinery is used. I only rely on traditional equipment. Obviously I lose out to competition," he said.

He said that it was clear from his shrinking income that competition was strangling his business. "In the 1980s, I was able to earn between Rp 500,000 and Rp 600,000 a month, but now I can only manage between Rp 250,000 and Rp 300,000," said Nanang, a father of five. His income now, he said, was just enough to survive.

Nevertheless, there are months when his products sell well. "Usually two months before Idul Fitri (the Moslems' post-fasting festival) my products sell well, he said. During that period he earns between Rp 500,000 and Rp 600,000 a month.

Yet, Nanang still cannot enjoy his boosted income during that period. "I use the money to pay off debts from previous months," he said.

Aja, 40, an ornamental stone maker from Jasinga subdistrict, also experienced difficulties in marketing his products. The reason, he said, was because there were not many buyers. "Only those with upper incomes can afford the stones. People of middle and lower incomes would probably prefer spending Rp 50,000 on rice rather than on ornamental stones," he said.

However, not many well-off Indonesians buy his products. "Customers are mostly foreigners, particularly Koreans and Taiwanese," he said.

He makes and sells his stones at his home. Buyers go to his house to buy or place an order. "If buyers come, I sell my products. If no one comes, well then...I just sit tight," he said.

He therefore could not estimate what his average income was. "If there are many buyers, I can earn a lot. However, if there's hardly anybody coming here, I can barely earn enough to buy cigarettes," he said.

At the exhibition, he hoped to meet new wealthy buyers. "What counts is a buyer with a lot of money. I can find ornamental stones for people in whatever form and in whatever quantity," he said.

"I've even looked for raw materials for ornamental stones in rivers in Jasinga, Garut, Ujungkulon, Solo and Riau, for customers," he said.

Apart from the participation of individual small-scale businessmen, the development exhibition also had government agencies/services, state-owned companies, companies owned by regional administrations, cooperatives, small private firms and large private companies such as Bimantara and Indofood participating at the event.

Government agency stands disseminated information about development in Bogor. They provided data and development trends over the past five years, spokesperson of Bogor regency administration, Denny M. Moechry, said.

Anniversary

The exhibition, he said, was staged in conjunction with National Reawakening Day and was one of a series of activities carried out to celebrate the 515th anniversary of Bogor. "The exhibition was actually late. It should have been in May to coincide with National Reawakening Day on May 20," he said.

However, as everybody was busy gearing up for the general election, they had to postpone the exhibition. "We had instructions from the central government not to carry out any community activities during the general election period," he said.

The exhibition, held at a cost of Rp 15 million, was highlighted by supporting activities, such as a contest for the best stand, a poster contest, quizzes and performances by popular artists. "Besides providing information, the exhibition also provided entertainment for people," he said.

Traditional and contemporary entertainment took place every night from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. "Traditional entertainment included the mask dance from Cisalak and the Jipang dance from Cigudeg," he said.

Roy, 19, and Nur, 24, workers of a bag factory in Cibinong, visited the exhibition for fun. "We just wanted to kill some time here. Better than sitting at home," Roy said.

Agust Sugianto, 32, a bachelor from Surabaya who has lived in Bogor four years, was a different case. "Every year I visit the development exhibition to keep track of Bogor's development from year to year," he said.