Celebrate National MSME Day With Mother's Story In Pangguploso Village That Builds Businesses To Open Jobs

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - Celebrating this year's National MSME Day, we are again looking at and appreciating the struggle of local MSMEs which have become the driving force for the local economy.

Especially with the development of technology which now makes anyone not need to come to big cities to earn income.

As did MSME Dinova Store from Pangguploso Hamlet in Sumberagung Village, Rejotangan District, Tulungagung Regency, East Java.

Production of handmade accessories for women is not only reaping a profit of 250 million per month and exports to several countries, but allowing them to empower village women in their regions.

The owner of a handicraft business named Dinova Store, Sri Wigatiningsih, said that many village women who are natives of the area where they live choose not to work because they have to stay at home to take care of their children and take care of their households.

Meanwhile, many of them complained about economic conditions.

"Hearing their stories, I have the determination to be able to invite them to work until finally they can produce without the need to leave this village," Sri explained, quoted Friday, August 11.

The Dinova Store provides various handmade female accessories such as necklaces, bracelets, hijab necklaces, cellphone hangers, plate bags to clothes. To develop her business, she continues to follow the current trend, so that from the beginning she only has 1 employee, now the Dinova Store has 9 employees and 7 tailored partners.

"When I started my business, I only had 1 employee to make a brooch. Because the brooch trend decreased, I started to create a strap and mask connector in 2019. Initially selling on personal social media, then I started to hear a lot about online sales at Shopee, finally I tried. Alhamdulillah, it turned out to soar in early 2020, plus after that the pandemic became more orders to come," explained Sri.

Various sales optimizations are carried out by the Dinova Store so that their business will continue to grow, such as advertising promotions, maximizing the features in Shopee e-commerce, and participating in the Shopee Export Program. The Dinova Store has now successfully sold its products to four countries, namely Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

"We thought that initially sending export products was difficult, especially since we live in this village. It turned out that Shopee's assistance was easier, just like sending products to regions in Indonesia," added Sri.

To further develop the Dinova Store business, Sri has added to the women's clothing product business line such as Muslim clothing, formal wear to home wear.

"Now every day there are orders from abroad. Alhamdulillah, I didn't have anything, now I can pay nine employees. From living in the shophouse to being able to build a house," said Sri.

Now, Sri and her employees serve hundreds of orders that come every day at her home in Panggung Ploso Hamlet. Novi Yanti, one of the employees of the Dinova Store store, admitted that she did not expect to have income without having to leave her family long ago.

"Saya sudah bekerja sama dengan Bu Sri sejak tahun 2017. Saya sangat terima, Bu Sri sangat membantu warga di sini dengan menarik ibu-buis rumah tangga untuk bekerja di toko Dinova. Di sini alhamdulillah gaji juga cukup, sambil bisa menjagai anak-anak juga. Tahun saya tidak punya apa-apa, sekarang saya bisa memenuhi kebutuhan sehari-hari karena pekerjaan ini," kata Novi.

Novi is one of the employees who produces earrings and necklaces. He didn't even expect his work to sell at the Asian market.

"Very proud. I still don't believe it when it comes to our hands, it can be sent abroad," concluded Novi.

Sri Wigatiningsih's selling products are one of 20 million MSME products that have joined the Shopee Export Program and are transforming optimally in Latin America, East Asia and Southeast Asia. This is in line with the focus of National MSME Day to be ready to face future challenges, namely digital transformation and can expand marketing networks through e-commerce.

"For future MSMEs must be able to produce standardized quality products that pay attention to innovation, design, product packaging, and production continuity. MSME actors must have an open attitude towards improving the quality of their products so that they can be competitive in local, domestic, or foreign markets," explained Teten Masduki, Minister of Cooperatives and MSMEs at the 2023 National MSME Celebration Day Launching Press Conference in Surakarta.

In commemorating this National MSME Day - Shopee also provides 2 special collections at the Festival of Local Select 17.8 campaign from August 10 to August 17, 2023, offering attractive promos such as 78 percent cashback vouchers to buy their favorite MSME products, as well as various attractive promotions such as Free Ongkir 100RB Se-Indonesia, Flash Sale 17RB and 17RB Discount Vouchers.