Tabanan, Rainbow over Ricefields

Ketut Carma’s Success at Last

Who would ever have predicted that I Ketut Carma could record a success merely through trial resulting in a big business capable of recruiting several hundreds of employees. The business, named “CV Mutiara Internasional” (CV International Pearl) is a business partnership known since the Dutch colonial era. 

The success has been the fruit of his keenness and toughness, backed by high-spirited efforts and zest toward establishment of the enterprise, located at Jalan Raya Yeh Gangga no. 147, Banjar Tanah Pegat, Desa Gubug, Tabanan, in 1991. 
The success story started when I Ketut Carma was an employee in a cargo company charged with packaging ordered commodities to go abroad. Many customers relied on his capability in performing his job correctly. Nevertheless, a customer came one day with a strange request. The customer asked for a candleholder made of iron in accordance to the sample he showed.  
He was in confused how to find a man, skilled in making such an object. He traveled throughout Bali but failed to find the right person for the job. Then, he tried himself to produce such a thing and was successful. He now owns ten branches under management control, nine in Tabanan and one in Tulungagung, East Java. Each unit has 16 workers. 
“CV Mutiara Internasional” stands on a property of 7,200 square meters with production of various handicrafts, principally divided into two main groups according to their respective functions. That is handicrafts for immediate consumers and secondly, for decorative purposes. The first group consists of candleholders, fruit bowls, tissue boxes; photo-albums, fountain pens, towel hooks, mirrors, vases and other household ornaments and utensils. “Consumers are now ordering toy birds”, Carma said.  
The articles produced rely upon iron concrete combined with wood, rattan, bamboo, seaweed, and ceramics. In settling a range of jobs starting from design formation up to finishing, about 300 workers are needed. There are mechanical devices for welding, formation, refining, painting, and heating.  
Carma said he does not have much time for product design, but it depends on market demand and the mode of design brought in directly by consumers. Apart from this method, Carma’s enterprise also relies upon technical aid and job control offered by some states such as Canada, America, Italy, Britain and France.  
According to Carma, who is married to Nengah Sri Lantari and was born in Klungkung, some purchasers came directly on 18 February 1962 to transfer their respective orders in advance, while it took 3 months maximum to realize the orders and 20 containers to do the shipping.
The entrepreneur added his company has not relied on domestic buyers. Most of his products have gone abroad. About 75% of these have gone to the U.S., 15% to Europe and 10% to Australia. If there were sales to local purchasers, some commodities go to hotels or art shops. After October 2002, his enterprise has retained its performance amid blows exerted by the ensuing economic crisis. (sana)