business

Boosting Profits, Sumbawa SMEs Join Training On Market Penetration And Digital Media

Many small business owners, especially in micro and small enterprises (UMKM), often overlook essential aspects like market penetration and digital media use. This is partly due to the limited education levels of most micro and small business operators in Indonesia.

According to Databoks (2022), the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reports that about 54.52% of UMKM are run by entrepreneurs with education levels below elementary school. This situation leads many UMKM operators to run their businesses simply, focusing only on providing and selling products without solid planning for distribution or promotion.

However, there is growing awareness about the importance of empowering UMKM, leading to training programs aimed at enhancing the skills of these business owners. One impactful program is Bale Berdaya, supported by PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN) and KUMPUL.

This program targets UMKM operators in seven sub-districts of Sumbawa Regency: Sumbawa, Ropang, Lunyuk, Lantung, Lenangguar, Moyo Hulu, and Orong Telu. Two key activities of this program include market penetration training and digital marketing training, designed to be practical and focused on direct application through case studies and exercises.

The market penetration training, held in Sumbawa District, equips participants with skills to analyze the market, optimize distribution, develop effective strategies, and create appealing product catalogs and business pitches to attract investors or partners. Meanwhile, the digital marketing training, conducted in the other six sub-districts, covers promotion strategies, content creation, social media utilization, and clear target market identification. Each session concludes with evaluations and feedback from experts to ensure participants can apply what they have learned.

This face-to-face training allows for intensive interaction with experienced practitioners, ensuring that participants are ready to apply new skills to grow their businesses. The program aims to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through digitalization and marketing strategies, while also promoting market expansion and sustainable business growth.

The positive impact of this program is evident in the success stories of SMEs that have participated in training at Bale Berdaya. Deddy Junaidi, owner of Dapur DN in Sumbawa, which produces garlic stick snacks, experienced significant improvements after joining the program. He received support in management, production cost control, and product promotion.

He learned from every customer feedback, leading to a 200% increase in his monthly income. Now, he sells over 500 pieces a month, up from just a few dozen. "I learned a lot in each training session, from financial reporting to Business Model Canvas, as well as branding and packaging, which greatly support my SME. In the future, I will continue to apply everything I learned from Bale Berdaya."

A similar story comes from Ibu Rosliana in Sebeok Village, Orong Telu, who produces moringa leaf sticks. Recognizing the potential of moringa leaves and forest honey in her village, she started using Instagram to promote her products to a wider market, especially to health-conscious consumers. With the knowledge gained, she plans to post regularly and develop promotional content to grow her business further.

Bale Berdaya aims to provide ongoing support and easy access for SME actors to network with experts, ensuring sustainable business growth. Through this program, Bale Berdaya not only imparts technical skills but also empowers leading SMEs to be key drivers of economic development in Sumbawa Regency.

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Tag: Digital Media Market Penetration Sumbawa UMKM