Buleleng Northern Lights

Christmas and New Year
Many People in Search of Greeting Cards

The tradition of congratulations on these feast days amongst the fellow devotees or that of other religions has come about since the past time. It has become one of the expressions of interfaith tolerance. One of the traditions that have been familiar within the community is sending greeting cards regarding the feast day to colleagues celebrating it.

Several kinds and designs of greeting cards are for sale at the market today. By this Christmas 2006 and New Year 2007, the card makers have prepared many styles and designs. Similarly, the technique of its making supremely varies. As was told by Samsul (35), a card maker living around Lovina, Buleleng – North Bali, the making of greeting cards for Christmas and New Year 2007 has been worked up since two months ago. Based on his experience, such cards should have been marketed one and a half months before the holiday.
To meet the market demand, Samsul employs three workers where two are assigned as manual drawing makers. This manual drawing makes use of media like linen paper and watercolour. Meanwhile, another worker makes greeting cards by silk-screening technique.
Samsul has produced greeting cards since 1991 when he studied at the Department of Fine Arts Education of Ganesha Education University, Singaraja. At that time, he just made greeting cards manually, namely by drawing one by one on the surface of paper until it was completed. Entire works were altogether carried out by him. His marketing coverage was restricted to some shops and mini markets around Singaraja city. When his orders increased, Samsul then took his classmates to do it together. Its proceedings were then divided based on the number of cards produced.
Since 1994, the marketing of his greeting cards got down to reach supermarkets around Denpasar by applying a consignation system. The market demand, that in fact is progressively rising, encourages his confidence and commitment to stay deeply involved in this business.
Today, the marketing of his cards does not only target the Singaraja area but also has expanded to Denpasar and even to East Java. Theme of his cards produced has now been further developed by making the greeting cards for birthdays and so forth.
He now focuses his activity just on the design while the production is entrusted to other parties based on contract work system. In the meantime, the selling price of his greeting cards varies depending on the uniqueness of design and materials used. Printed cards are sold at IDR 2,000 to IDR 5,000 per piece. (BTN/Ketut Supir)