Though time for small-scale businesses

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.