Kelincahan membangun jaringan dan kesediaan memenuhi keinginan konsumen membuat usahanya berkembang pesat.
Diversiikasi produk pun dilakukan. Tak hanya parut kelapa, usaha
rumahan ini juga melayani pembuatan alat pencabut bulu ayam. Selain dijual di kawasan Kembang Jepun Surabaya, produk- produk ini juga dilempar ke Sulawesi dan Kalimantan.
Ketepatan waktu penyelesaian dan kualitas yang terjaga menjadi salah satu keunggulan alat buatan Ikhwan. Tak ayal, ke- tika Indonesia diterpa krisis moneter, usaha Ikhwan sama sekali tak terganggu. Malah, berkat kejelian melihat peluang, bapak dua anak ini melahirkan produk baru berupa mesin penyedot air. Mesin ini biasa dipakai para penambang emas tradisional di Sulawesi dan Kalimantan. Ikhwan membuat mesin baru ini karena permintaan alat parut kelapa dan pencabut bulu ayam menurun.
“Saya beli mesinnya di Solo, terus kita assembly dan lem-
Agility to build networks and willingness to meet consumers’ desire make his business thrives. At his home-based businesses, Ikhwan also make other products. Not only coconut grater, his business also makes chicken feather plucker. Not only for sale Kembang Jepun area in Surabaya, these products are sent to Sulawesi and Kalimantan.
Good punctuality of completion and good quality of product made Ikhwan’s business in consumer’s heart.
No doubt, when Indonesia was hit by the inancial crisis, Ikhwan’s business was entirely undisturbed. In fact, thanks to his foresight to see opportunities, the father of two creates new prod- ucts such as water suction machine. This machine is usually used by traditional gold miners in Sulawesi and Kalimantan. Ikhwan makes this new machine due to decreasing demand for grated coconut and chicken feather plucker.
to meet the miners’ demand. When I throw them into the market, they were sold out like hotcakes. My price was cheaper than the imported product. Especially, the price for imported goods was very high due to dollar appreciation,” said Ikhwan. His business grows faster when Ikhwan joined as Semen Indonesia’ partner in 2005. He got assistance in inancial businesses management as well as opportunity to build relationships through various meet- ings and exhibitions. “I became more conident and motivated to manage this business,” he admits.
After ive years supervised by Semen Indonesia, Ikhwan felt enough. Did not want to be selish, he provide opportunities for other SME to become Semen Indonesia’ trained partners. “It’s their turn. Moreover, my businesses are getting more advanced and stronger. If still there, then how about the others?” said Ikhwan, who didn’t inish his technic school education.
As an entrepreneur, Ikhwan is not too stingy to share his suc- par ke pasar. Laris manis kayak kacang goreng. Sebab harganya
lebih murah dibanding produk impor yang saat itu terkena imbas kenaikan dolar,” kisahnya. Usahanya makin berkembang saat Ikhwan bergabung sebagai mitra binaan Semen Indonesia pada 2005. Dia mendapat pendampingan dalam pengelolaan keuang- an usaha maupun kesempatan membangun relasi lewat berbagai pertemuan dan pameran. “Saya menjadi makin percaya diri dan termotivasi mengelola usaha ini,” akunya.
Setelah lima tahun dibina SMI, Ikhwan merasa sudah cukup. Dia tak mau egois dan memberi kesempatan pada UKM-UKM lain untuk bergabung menjadi mitra binaan. “Gantian. Apalagi, usaha juga semakin maju dan kuat. Kasihan yang lain kalau saya terus di sana,” papar usahawan protolan kelas satu STM ini.
karyawannya yang ingin merintis usaha sendiri. Alhasil, di Dusun Pelemwatu, usaha peralatan dapur ini menjamur. Dari sekitar 2.000 kepala keluarga yang tinggal di sana, lebih dari 70 persen- nya menggeluti usaha ini. Toh, Ikhwan tak khawatir pasarnya bakal tergerus. Malah, usahanya makin membesar.
Kuncinya? “Harus jeli membaca peluang dan membuat variasi produk. Contohnya, ketika yang lain masih asyik membuat alat parut kelapa dan pencabut bulu ayam, saya sudah bikin mesin penyedot air,” kata dia.
Saat ini, Ikhwan dibantu 80 karyawannya juga memproduksi mesin molen, mesin perontok padi dan jagung, as ketinting untuk baling-baling perahu, dan lainnya. “Yang terbaru mesin molen dan as ketinting. Ini juga memenuhi permintaan teman-teman di lapangan. Untuk as ketinting kita kirim ke Luwu Sulawesi dan Raja Ampat Papua. Saya dengar Semen Indonesia punya pabrik juga di Vietnam. Kalau ada kesempatan, produk saya juga bisa masuk. Di sana kan juga banyak sungai dan perahu,” harapnya. (*)
cess formula. He always supports his employees who want to open their own businesses. As a result, in Dusun Pelemwatu, kitchen appliances making business are mushrooming. Of ap- proximately 2,000 families who lived there, more than 70 percent are involved to this business. Even though, Ikhwan never worry his market will be eroded. In fact, his business continues to expand.
The key? “You must be observant to read the odds, and you must create various products. For example, when the others were still busy making coconut grater and chicken feather plucker, I’ve already made water suction machine,” he said.
Currently, Ikhwan and his 80 employees produce molen engines, rice and corn threshing machine, shaft for long-tail boat propel- ler, and many others. “The newest are molen engine and propeller shaft. Well, I should meet consumer’ demands in the ield. I send the propeller shaft to Luwu in Central Sulawesi and di Raja Ampat in West Papua. I learn that Semen Indonesia also has factories in Vietnam. If there is a chance, my products can also be sent there. In Vietnam, there also a lot of river and long-tail boats,” he hopes. (*)
Pemilik : Ikhwan Ali Alamat : Dsn Pelemwatu RT 05/ RW 03 Pelemwatu, Kecamatan Menganti, Gresik Jumlah Pekerja : 80 orang Omzet : Rp 75 juta hingga Rp 100 juta per bulan Gabung Semen Indonesia : 2005
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