At 49 years old, Siti Noor was able to revive her family's leather business after the passing of her husband, Lilik Darsono, in 2010. Lilik had been successful in the home-based leather tanning and trading business, which supported their household. However, his sudden passing halted the business entirely.
Initially, Siti did not immediately continue her late husband's business, as she had an opportunity to manage a similar business with her sibling. However, she was moved when she saw the large stockpile of unsold leather that her husband had left behind. This motivated her to start her own leather business.
Rather than merely selling tanned leather, Siti decided to add value by producing and selling finished leather products through her store, Toko Agung, in Garut, West Java.
"I started selling leather jackets and other finished products in 2014 after receiving guidance and support from Jamkrindo," she shared.
When her husband was alive, Siti only assisted in the business. However, she was already familiar with the leather trade, as it had been passed down through her family for generations.
Between 2011 and 2013, Siti took time to carefully consider whether she was ready to seriously run her own business. The main challenge she faced was access to capital. However, she recalled one of her late husband's acquaintances who worked at Jamkrindo Bandung, a government-backed credit guarantee company.
Through Jamkrindo, Siti secured an initial loan of IDR 50 million, which she used to strengthen her business capital. This funding allowed her to keep production going by partnering with other sellers who used a pre-payment system.
Siti’s loan repayments went smoothly, thanks to her husband's strong financial track record with Jamkrindo.
"My husband started from scratch with the support of Perum Sarana Pengembangan Usaha Bandung, which later became Jamkrindo. He received not just financing but also guidance and mentorship from Jamkrindo," Siti explained.
After receiving her first loan in 2014, Siti felt more confident in producing high-quality leather goods, including: Belts, Wallets, Jackets, Bags.
Starting from a small showroom in her home, Siti’s business grew steadily year by year.
She now employs 10 tailors on a freelance basis when demand is high, while two full-time employees manage her store. She credits Jamkrindo’s continuous support for her business growth, particularly through: Business mentoring, Market access through exhibitions and trade fairs, Three rounds of financing, each worth IDR 50 million.
"Aside from the affordable interest rates, borrowing from Jamkrindo gives us the added benefit of exhibition opportunities, which help boost our sales," Siti said.
One of Siti’s most unforgettable experiences happened at a trade fair in Tasikmalaya. As a Jamkrindo-assisted entrepreneur, she was given the opportunity to showcase her premium leather jackets.
To her surprise, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) passed by her booth. Seizing the moment, Siti called out to the President, persuading him to check out her products. To her delight, Jokowi stopped, admired the leather jackets, and purchased one for IDR 1.5 million.
"He looked at the jacket, had security open the barriers, and immediately paid for it. We must be professional—our products are high-quality and worth the price," she said proudly.
With three successful loans from Jamkrindo, Siti’s business continued to grow, reaching a bankable status with increased assets.
Her monthly sales revenue now ranges between IDR 18 million and IDR 23 million, excluding special orders from government and private offices.
Though she now qualifies for larger bank loans, Siti remains grateful for Jamkrindo, especially for the mentorship and market access opportunities.
"In the future, I hope my child can continue this business and receive support from Jamkrindo like I did. Unlike banks, Jamkrindo offers guidance and mentorship, which is invaluable for small businesses," she stated.
Perum Jamkrindo’s President Director, Randi Anto, reaffirmed the company's commitment to empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
"It is our responsibility and focus to help MSMEs expand their markets and grow to a larger scale," Randi said.
Beyond financial assistance, Jamkrindo also helps MSMEs leverage digital marketing strategies.
Through a partnership with PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM), Jamkrindo launched a digital marketing training program for Garut’s leather entrepreneurs.
"With enhanced capacity building, we hope MSMEs can generate higher value and improve their businesses," Randi added.
Husni Adiin, Chairman of the Garut Jacket Manufacturing Group, highlighted that local MSMEs have successfully expanded beyond Indonesia, exporting high-quality leather jackets to neighboring countries.
"The training provided by Jamkrindo is highly relevant and beneficial for our industry. We hope these programs will continue to expand in the future," said Husni.
written by Erik Purnama Putra,
2nd Place Winner of the Perum Jamkrindo Journalism Competition 2019.