Yogyakarta, December 4th 2020—By raising the topic of entrepreneurship related to Selling Unique and Quality Handicraft Products Abroad, BRIWORK FISIPOL UGM in collaboration with Indonesia Mall organized an online discussion series #BRIWORKMikirBareng with the speaker Regina Kindangen, Director and Owner of Nancy Craft Co.
The Origin of Nancy Craft Co: Everything Started by Small Steps
Founded in the 1980s, Nancy Craft Co, which was started by Regina’s parents, was originally from a private company. The formation of Nancy Craft Co also started with a request for a relationship from the United States. In short, it was this relationship request that underlies and became Nancy Craft Co’s initial spirit to continue to move and develop a handicraft product business. Regina said that the story and experiences from the establishment of Nancy Craft Co can be interpreted as: “As someone who is starting a business, we shouldn’t wait to get large orders, but start with small orders and do it seriously, maintain quality, and most importantly never underestimate what has been given by God,” she said.
Regina’s Strategy Is Quality Control
In order to maintain product quality, especially handicraft products with workers with different hands, Regina gave her strategy by setting standardization at the beginning. Basically, product standardization is used so that differences between product workers can result in the quality product that is harmonious with one another. One way to make it is giving the examples and providing clear patterns to product workers, so that the quality of the characteristics or authentic value of the products that we have can be maintained. Not only that, Regina also expressed the importance of giving an understanding to consumers that the handicraft products that she produces are 100% handmade.
Pay Attention to Product Risks, That’s the Most Important Part!
Nancy Craft Co, which was started from only having one order request, now has reached many consumers in 43 countries. This is clearly not an easy achievement to do. Regina herself shared tips in running her business by emphasizing that as the business actors we need to pay attention to the risks that will occur by strengthening business capacity in the management aspects. Especially if we want to expand our business network. Regina also reminded the importance of broadening the insights, especially those related to understanding market conditions, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of competitors, and it is also important for business actors to recognize their own capacities.
Regina, who has experience in the field of MSMEs, also invited the business actors to stay focused on producing the best products. For her, the business actors must be loyal and be able to meet consumer expectations. Up to date with designs that sell well in the market is also a strategy that must be applied. Finally, to the audience, Regina gave a message, “The challenge in starting the business will never be absent before us in any form, but don’t let the challenge be an excuse for not progressing!”