WHETHER why Kim Yong - ah prefer Plered ceramics , Purwakarta , West Java , especially for ceramic vase or potted plant containers . In fact , in 2008 , exporters of " ginseng " consumers complained it was never in his native country , South Korea .
At that time , a small pot containers that brought Mr. Kim cracks when used in the spring , "recalls H Suparna ( 56 ) , a ceramic artisan and owner Cupu Bead Art Ceramics , in the village of Anjun , Plered , described the experience of its partners who nicknamed Mr. Kim . Since then , Kim has never order again from the center of the ceramic craft products in the West Java .
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However , beginning in January 2014 , Kim came back to Plered and rented a house in Anjun . " I was surprised why Mr Kim ceramic Plered interested anymore . He said he wants to foster crafters to be able to export directly because shipping goods abroad is easy , "said Suparna , which communicate using English Kim mixture .
In fact , if he wants , buy ceramics from the Chinese artisans easier as live messages via the internet . Goods are available in any amount . The quality standards and the time order is always on time . Because , in China , the government provides land smoothing machine and perform standardization .
Capital crafters also assisted the government with a very cheap rate . " Origin is not ngemplang , crafters can make a constant effort . However , if ngemplang , could conflict with the law , "the story of Mr. Kim to Suparna . Suparna finally know , the breakdown products are exported to South Korea pots because the soil quality and process raw materials is not good .
When producing export goods , artisans are not selecting quality raw material clay . " At that time , the soil contains lime , " says Suparna . The problem , Suparna , as well as hundreds of other craftsmen , difficulty in obtaining raw materials with quality standards .
" They do not want to be united in cooperatives to jointly create and process the raw materials that are cheaper , " said Eman Sulaiman H ( 45 ) , Chairman of the Cooperative One Village One Product ( OVOP ) Anjun village . In fact , in this center there are 268 business units that rotate ceramics working capital of approximately USD 100 million per week .
" Export is easy . Provided that the agreed product specification , send live , "said Kim .
business potential
Kim 's interest is what fosters the spirit of Suparna , Sulaiman , and several other artisans in the center of ceramic Plered to restart develop ancestor 's legacy business . Anyway, from a variety of experiences Sulaiman , each ceramic exhibition held , either for export or local market , shows the number of requests ( enthusiasts ) at the exhibition booth Plered ceramics gallery .
" This is due to the appearance of ceramic products Plered has unique strengths and character designs , shapes , colors , and textures are alluring , " said Sulaiman , who in mid-March following the IFEX Jakarta Expo in Kemayoran , Central Jakarta . The interest on the interest that , since early 2014 , with 24 member cooperatives Sulaiman OVOP revitalize their marketing strategies .
" We do not restrict members , but they are trying to collect the same view , which is far ahead , " said Sulaiman . With the marketing strategy , other than to raise the image of the region , is expected Plered ceramics can also achieve the sales target exports to several countries .
OVOP also penetrate the local market through promotion in various media . Total sales gallery was added and made direct sales ( direct selling ) . " We are confident because we also saw , exporters accommodate ceramic goods of local artisans actually growing their business , " said Sulaiman who is building his store into a gallery .
Penetration of export markets also carried out , especially to the majority countries interested in ceramics ,
such as Italy , Spain , Germany , and other European countries . In addition , ceramics are also exported to Malaysia , South Korea , Taiwan , India , United Arab Emirates , South Africa , United States , Australia , and New Zealand .
production constraints
In general , ceramic artisans Plered make three kinds of products whose prices vary from thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars . First , ceramics functions , ranging from tea cups , plates , and its base to the flower pot / plant . Second , traditional ceramics which are manifold , such as pottery and piggy banks of various sizes . Third , decorative ceramics are also different kinds , such as vases , lampshades , and souvenirs .
However , the production capacity of ceramic Plered still far from market demand . Local demand with the design and character colors are quite good and acceptable in the market can not be adequate . This is mainly due to the lack of understanding of the methodology and technology craftsmen manufacture of ceramic correct . As a result , they are less standard production , good quality , shape , and size.
The low production capacity is also caused by a lack of good production equipment and standards . This is mainly in the design process and the establishment so that the work can not be done optimally. Knowledge of less than optimal quality raw material and recently there unit / institution that provides ready-made raw materials are standard .
Development of market -oriented design is still weak due to lack of knowledge and lack of market information . This is related to the level of public knowledge craftsmen still low due to the generally low level of education up to primary school .
" When the ceramic business was prosperous , awareness to send children to a high level is still low , " said Sulaiman , who justified the Head of Unit of the Office of Research and Development Technical Ceramics Agus Kusnadi . As a result of all of that , said Head of Economic Affairs and Development Plered Aris Syarifudin , crafters regeneration is very slow . The longer the expert artisans increasingly difficult because the younger generation are generally more interested in work in modern factories .
" Twenty years ago , I still have 15-30 workers , now only two people . Both works begin to soften the ground up to burn ceramics , "says Suparna .
During this time , the level is still the basic craftsman skills , acquired by generations ( relatively less creative ) . Product diversification is not so developed ( stereotype ) so that the ceramic export orders tend only on request with a predetermined design . Gains derived by craftsmen was low .
source:http://www.kompas.com/
