Bisnis Bukan Hanya Untung & Rugi tapi Surga & Neraka! Roti Pisang Kereta Api!

Summary

Alvia Nuraini Adnani, from Tulungagung, shares her journey of building a successful banana bread business called 'Roti Pisang Kereta Api.' Despite facing challenges, including financial struggles and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, she continued to innovate and expand her business. Her commitment to quality, traditional methods, and community support allowed her business to thrive. With a focus on halal and healthy products, she successfully positioned her brand as a local favorite, expanding beyond her hometown to various regions in Indonesia and even internationally. Alvia emphasizes that business is not just about profit, but also about creating value and giving back to others.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Alvia Nuraini Adnani, owns a banana bread business called Roti Pisang Kereta Api, located near Tulungagung Station, Indonesia.
• 😀 The name 'Roti Pisang Kereta Api' was chosen due to the business's proximity to the train station, and it is designed to appeal to all age groups.
• 😀 Alvia has a background in fine arts and design, with experience working in graphic design and teaching art before starting the business.
• 😀 After a family health situation, Alvia returned home and researched potential opportunities in Tulungagung, discovering that it is one of East Java's top banana producers.
• 😀 The idea to sell banana bread was inspired by the popularity of artisanal bread in 2017, with Alvia focusing on creating her own brand and recipes.
• 😀 Alvia's banana bread was an immediate success, largely due to her efforts in social media marketing, with the business going viral despite having no physical storefront initially.
• 😀 The business was funded through family loans and personal savings, without relying on bank loans.
• 😀 Alvia experimented with banana bread recipes for months, ultimately perfecting her product through trial and error and learning about ingredients like flour and eggs.
• 😀 The business has expanded to offer various products, including original banana bread, chocolate, cheese, brownies, and pastries, with constant innovation every year.
• 😀 Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, including a drastic reduction in sales during the first months of the pandemic, Alvia's business survived with the help of Allah's guidance and support from her team and family.

Q & A

What is the meaning behind the name 'Roti Pisang Kereta Api'?

The name 'Roti Pisang Kereta Api' was chosen because the business is located near the Tulungagung train station. The use of the term 'train' makes the product more relatable to all age groups, including children and the elderly.

How did Alvia’s background in art and design contribute to her business?

Alvia’s background in graphic design and fine arts helped her create a strong brand identity for her business. Her skills in design allowed her to handle branding, product positioning, and marketing materials, which played a significant role in her business’s success.

What prompted Alvia to start her business in Tulungagung?

Alvia returned to Tulungagung to care for her mother, who was unwell. During her time at home, she researched local market potentials and discovered that Tulungagung was a significant producer of bananas. This insight, along with the growing trend of artisanal bread, inspired her to start her bakery business.

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

In the beginning, Alvia faced financial challenges, including taking loans from family and friends. She also struggled with finding the right recipe for her banana bread, which took numerous experiments and trials. Despite these obstacles, her persistence paid off.

How did Alvia refine her banana bread recipe?

Alvia experimented with over 17 variations of her banana bread recipe, learning from online resources such as YouTube and Google. She also drew from her mother's culinary experience, as her mother traditionally made cookies and pastries for special occasions like Eid.

What impact did the COVID-19 pandemic have on Alvia’s business?

The pandemic had a significant negative impact on Alvia’s business, especially during the Eid holiday when many people could not travel. Sales drastically decreased, and Alvia faced difficulty purchasing ingredients. However, through faith and perseverance, her business was able to survive and recover.

What makes 'Roti Pisang Kereta Api' different from other bakery products?

Alvia's bakery focuses on providing not just halal but also *thayyib* food—meaning food that is beneficial for health. She avoids using artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors in her products, ensuring they are healthy and of high quality.

How does Alvia ensure consistency in her products?

Alvia ensures consistency by carefully weighing each portion of the dough to ensure that each bread product has the same size and weight. This attention to detail helps maintain the quality and uniformity of the product.

How has Alvia's product reached a wider market beyond Tulungagung?

Alvia's products gained popularity through social media platforms like Instagram, where customers began sharing their experiences and tagging the business. Her banana bread has been shipped to various regions in Indonesia and even internationally to places like Malaysia, Papua, and Bali.

What is the significance of family support in Alvia’s business journey?

Family support has been crucial to Alvia’s success. Her family provided both emotional and financial support, including offering business strategies and material assistance. Alvia credits her family, especially her mother, for her continued motivation and success.