Entering the beginning of Ramadan, the demand for furniture products and handicrafts in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) began to increase. However, the government asked to make a breakthrough so that local products can win the market competition in the marketplace that is now dominated by products from China.
According to the Secretary of the Association of Indonesian Furniture Industry and Kerjainan (Asmindo) Regional Commissioner’s Office, Endro Wardoyo, in Yogyakarta, which is the month of Ramadan before the moment of Lebaran, has been a blessing for Indonesia Furniture Handicraft Wholesale Marketplace especially Yogya.
Because, there is the custom in communities where at Lebaran they try to beautify his home. “In this industry, the demand is definitely increasing the objects that have anything to do with home decoration such as urns and calligraphy,” he said.
While the value of the increase, said Endro, who is also the owner of Gradation Indonesia Inc., engaged in handicraft production, said the average reached 30 percent with a value of 30 million rupiah.
However, lately, at the moment of blessing Lebaran, SMEs have to compete with local crafts produkproduk from China, which flooded the supermarket market.
“At Carrefour and other supermarkets in Yogyakarta, toys and home decoration knacks, such as picture frames, photo frames, products from China has overcome our products,” he said.
According to Endro, local products are still very competitive market for handmade, with creativity, uniqueness of product, and availability of raw materials into a force to win the competition.
As for technology-intensive products, Endro claimed to have surrendered. In such situations, according to Endro, the government should make a breakthrough to strengthen the local products in all markets in the country.
During this time, he argued, government support for the creative economy is still limited to the implications of discourse at all yet can be felt by domestic entrepreneurs.
“The simplest example, can not the government help local entrepreneurs won the competition in the supermarket in the country. Should have a government could hold talks with the supermarket, how to have a local product we win there, or make regulations, for example, “said Endro.
Meanwhile, Chairman Asmindo Komda DIY, Yuli Sugiyanto, said that the Idul Fitri is a month of hope for all people. Demand is always increasing in step Lebaran, both in the textile market, food, and Furniture and handicrafts.
Yuli also said that the domestic furniture industry really not worth too much because all this furniture entrepreneurs in the country is more export oriented than domestic markets.
“Hence, the most widely reap profits at the moment of Idul Fitri is a handicraft industry, furniture business in the domestic market concentration is not much,” he said.
That’s according to Yuli, because the domestic furniture industry lost in the mass industrial production, but has the strength on solid wood products, and the creativity and uniqueness of strong design with local cultural nuances.
As the world economy well, Indonesian furniture can win the competition relative abroad, but the conditions present when the global economy is sluggish, the domestic market could be an alternative, and must be addressed seriously.
“The domestic market is huge, but it needs an appropriate segmentation. Do not let furniture from China’s control of our market, “he said. For export markets, Yuli admitted only hope a little on the American market, while European markets have been very heavy for the expected demand.
Competitors in export markets, is recognized Yuli, is a product of India and Vietnam. “If China, have not I think of as competitors, they are already very large.
Vietnam currently has a strength in Garden Furniture, “he said. For that, Yuli hopes, though the export market is sluggish, the government must continue to focus on maintaining the existence of Indonesian products in the export and domestic markets.
“Take care of our products continue to exist. The exhibition proper, outside and inside the country, it is important to maintain its existence. The important thing continues to exist, and relations with the Indonesia furniture handicraft wholesale marketplace continue to be maintained and repaired, “he asserted.