Bisnis & Wirausaha - Kisah Sukses Kios Buket

Summary

Betharia Sihotang, a 33-year-old entrepreneur from Medan, shares her inspiring journey in the flower business. Starting from zero, she opened her flower shop in Tanjung Tabalong after being inspired by a social media account. She emphasizes the importance of quality over price and offers a wide range of products, including birthday cakes, fresh flowers, and decorative items. Despite initial challenges, her business has flourished, and she now operates two branches. Betharia encourages young entrepreneurs to focus on product quality, target markets, and setting the right prices to ensure business success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Starting from scratch: Betharia Sihotang's business began small, and through dedication, it has grown significantly in just one year.
• 😀 Quality over price: Betharia emphasizes that selling quality products is more important than competing on price, as it leads to customer loyalty.
• 😀 Diversified offerings: In addition to flower bouquets, her business offers a variety of products like cakes, snack bouquets, and floral arrangements for events.
• 😀 Online presence is key: Betharia actively promotes her business through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to boost sales and customer engagement.
• 😀 Customer base: The business serves a wide range of customers, including students, office workers, and government institutions, and experiences consistent demand.
• 😀 Overcoming challenges: Betharia learned flower arrangement through online classes and has faced challenges, including training new employees.
• 😀 Business growth: Despite starting with a modest budget of around IDR 20 million, the business has expanded, including the opening of a second storefront.
• 😀 Seasonal demand: The flower business is especially busy during specific seasons like Valentine's Day and graduation periods, although there is year-round demand for flowers.
• 😀 Importance of practice: Betharia highlights that flower arranging becomes easier with practice, and workers must be trained carefully to ensure quality.
• 😀 Entrepreneurial advice: Betharia advises aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on defining their product, targeting the right market, and offering quality products at a fair price.

Q & A

What inspired Betharia Sihotang to start her flower business?

Betharia was inspired by a social media account she followed on Facebook. She saw that there was a gap in the flower business in Tanjung, so she decided to start her own venture in the area.

What products does Betharia offer in her flower business?

Betharia offers various products including birthday cakes, fresh flowers, flower frames for marriage proposals, materials for gift hampers, flower bouquets, snack bouquets, and even custom-made flower arrangements for weddings and funerals.

What is the pricing range for Betharia's flower bouquets?

The price for a bouquet starts at IDR 70,000 and can go up to IDR 500,000 depending on the customization and the type of bouquet requested.

How did Betharia learn to make flower bouquets?

Betharia learned to make flower bouquets by attending online classes and practicing at home for about two months before she felt confident in her skills.

What challenges did Betharia face in the early stages of her business?

Initially, Betharia found it challenging to learn the process of making bouquets, particularly the wrapping and shaping of the flowers. However, with practice, she found it became easier over time.

What is the importance of maintaining quality in Betharia's flower business?

Maintaining high quality is crucial for Betharia’s business to stand out in the competitive market. By focusing on quality, she can attract loyal customers who continue to return for repeat orders.

How does Betharia market her flower business?

Betharia uses social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to promote her business. She believes that leveraging technology and regularly posting online helps boost sales.

What are the busiest seasons for Betharia's flower business?

The busiest times for the flower business include events like Valentine’s Day, school graduations, and other celebratory occasions like weddings or farewells.

How does Betharia handle employee training in her business?

Betharia trains her employees from scratch. She is patient with them and teaches them the basics of flower arrangement. After a few months, some employees may leave to start their own businesses.

What are Betharia's future goals for her flower business?

Betharia aims to expand her business further by increasing the number of customers and opening her own shop. She also hopes to create more job opportunities for others in the future.