4 Mei 2025

Summary

In this interview, the owner of a small business in Makassar, Pampang, discusses the nature of their business, which revolves around providing essential services like phone credit and internet data. The owner shares insights into the challenges of managing a solo venture, the importance of customer service, and the benefits of building strong customer relationships. They explain how the business has evolved, including increasing stock and expanding offerings. Despite a modest initial investment of around 20 million IDR, the business is still in the process of breaking even. The conversation also touches on the pricing of various products like cigarettes, ranging from affordable to high-end options.

Takeaways

• 😀 The interview is with an owner of a small business (UMKM) based in Makassar, Pampang.
• 😀 The business primarily involves selling products like pulse and data packages, which are considered essential for modern life due to the necessity of internet access.
• 😀 There is no formal partnership in the business; the owner runs the business alone, occasionally with help from their spouse.
• 😀 The owner emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good relationship with customers, achieved through good ethics and a friendly demeanor.
• 😀 The business aims to attract and retain loyal customers, though external factors such as inflation can influence customer behavior.
• 😀 The business operates at specific hours, from morning until late evening, with flexibility depending on the situation.
• 😀 The owner runs the business independently without any formal partners, managing everything on their own, aside from occasional support from their spouse.
• 😀 Growth and sustainability are pursued by increasing stock levels and improving product offerings.
• 😀 The initial capital investment for the business was around 20 million IDR, with the owner mentioning that the return on investment (ROI) is still in progress.
• 😀 The business sells a variety of items, from affordable products like cigarettes (starting at 1000 IDR) to higher-end items such as phone credit or data packages (up to 5000 IDR).

Q & A

What type of business is being discussed in the interview?

The business discussed is related to selling mobile top-ups and internet data packages, which have become essential in today's digital world.

What are the benefits for customers buying products from this business?

The products, such as mobile top-ups and internet data, are essential for daily life, with internet access being a basic necessity for most people today.

What are the benefits of collaborating with this business?

Currently, the business operates independently and doesn't have partnerships. Therefore, there are no direct benefits to working with the business at the moment.

How does the business maintain good relationships with customers?

The business owner emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, with practices like smiling and using good etiquette to build strong relationships with customers.

How does the business ensure customer loyalty?

Customer loyalty is achieved by maintaining consistency in services and products, though external factors like inflation can influence customer retention.

What are the main activities involved in running the business?

The main activities include maintaining stock levels, ensuring products are available, and consistently managing the operational processes, often by the business owner and sometimes with the help of her husband.

What are the operating hours for this business?

The business operates from early morning until late at night, ensuring availability for customers throughout the day.

Does the business have any partners or business associates?

No, the business operates independently without any formal partners. The owner and her husband are responsible for managing the operations.

How does the business manage to grow and evolve?

The business grows by reinvesting profits into increasing stock and maintaining a steady flow of products, ensuring availability and expanding offerings.

What is the initial investment required to start the business, and has the investment been recovered?

The initial investment for the business was approximately 20 million Indonesian Rupiah, and while the business is still in the process of recovering this investment, it has been gradually growing.

How much profit does the business generate, and what are the price ranges of products sold?

The profit varies depending on the product. The lowest-priced item is 1,000 IDR, while the most expensive item, such as a mobile data package, costs up to 100,000 IDR.