Badung
The Center of Tourism
Mario's Handicraft, Serving Foreign Buyers
Tourism of Bali
gives a positive impact to development
of handicraft of the local community.
Its evidence, many craftsmen appear in
numbers in keeping with the number of
tourist visit. On the contrary, this work
grows slack when the tourist visit drops.
Type,
form and materials used in this industry
sufficiently vary, ranging from fabric,
paper, candle, and wood to metal. Its
products are not only sold in the vicinity
of tourist resort, but there is also some
that penetrate international market. Oneof
them is Mario's handicraft.
Mario's handicraft chaired by I Wayan
Marian, SE and his younger brother I Ketut
Alit Wijaya is handicraft of which materials
are made of iron. Ironworks that situated
at Busana Kelod Hamlet, Baha Village,
Mengwi-Badung or some 20 km north of Denpasar
lies in the midst of vast spreading of
green rice field. Its building is simple
onthe land of 15 ares.
According to Wijaya, Mario's Handicraft
has thousands of designs. Some take animal
style such as rooster, bird, butterfly,
tortoise, fish, frog and others. While,
other motifs that are no less attractive
are trees, flower, Christmas tree and
Santa Klaus. In addition, there are also
wall ornaments in the form of shirt seat,
hand phone box, flower pot, garden decoration
in the form of birds along with its wording
'welcome' and so forth.
Explained, they have got down to deeply
involve in handicraft business since 7
years ago. But, he did it seriously since
September 2004. While, his potential buyers
are mostly from overseas. Progress of
his business is in keeping with development
of Bali tourism in which the family of
Wayang and Ketut recruit the unemployed
to work in this company. "To realize
this business, we've made some debts and
up to now we still pay its instalments,"
he says seriously.
Small amount of his products are marketed
at art shops around Ubud, while most orders
are from American and Swedish tourists.
Within a month, the husband of Ni Made
Darwiati regularly does consignment for
4 times there. Once consignment encompasses
5,000 pieces.
To promote his product, Mario's Handicraft
frequently joins an exhibition. He once
took part in theexhibition at prominent
tourist resorts like Nusa Dua, Kuta, Sanur,
Ubud and Jakarta. Other than at home,
his works also once exhibited in Thailand
on the assistance of Badung Government
Commerce and Industry Office. "Amongst
the exhibition I participated, most buyers
come after the exhibition in Jakarta,"
he says.
Though he obtained a lot of orders, either
of the local or overseas, Alit admits
that price concern does not matter. However,
the rise of oil price approaching 100%
makes him work harder and think smarter
in order his customers do not turnaway
from him.
Raw materials like iron are got it from
Surabaya (East Java) and partially from
Tabanan. In the meantime, for finishing
section, he employs paint, glazier's putty,
timer and sandpaper that is purchased
in Denpasar. He also makes use of other
equipment compressor, grindstone, weld
and open. "For the time being, our
handicraft products have not glanced at
by hotel management whereas some hotel
decoration needs our product," he
says while adding he also carries out
promotion through the Internet, brochures
and magazine. (BTN/015)
