Turning leather waste into a profitable footwear business
One of the young entrepreneurs was Yoi Yohanantoko from Yogyakarta who has developed a leather footwear business called “Bucini Footwear: The Beauty of Leather.” He was selected from more than 100 applicants and was able to improve her business. Here is his story:
12 November 2014
The ILO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (MoMT) and the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo), conducted a joint entrepreneurship development pilot project using the ILO’s Start Your Business (SYB) modules for six months, from June to December 2013. Covering three areas (Yogyakarta, Semarang and Solo), the pilot project aimed to support the MoMT and Apindo in creating an entrepreneurship development model using the SYB modules to be replicated at the national level by the MoMT in the year 2014.
During the pilot project, 60 potential young entrepreneurs (20 participants from each area) were trained and assisted in starting and developing their businesses. One of the young entrepreneurs was Yoi Yohanantoko from Yogyakarta who has developed a leather footwear business called “Bucini Footwear: The Beauty of Leather.” He was selected from more than 100 applicants and was able to improve her business. Here is his story:
“I came from a business-oriented family. My family had a leather bag production business called M-Joint. When seeing piles of leather waste, I was thinking of producing leather footwear to make the best use of the waste. The leather waste was usually thrown away as they were priceless. Shoes also do not need leather as much as bags and the waste will be more valuable and saleable when they are turned into an economic-valued products like shoes.
“I then learnt how to make shoes using the internet as I had no idea how to produce shoes. However, I believe that we can learn everything and we can do whatever we believe. Thus, I spent my days browsing and learning the footwear production process. Based on what I learnt, I developed my own production flow and called my business, “Bucini Footwear: the Beauty of Leather.” The Bucini name was taken after my grandmother who always inspired me to build my own business.
“Yet, when start building my business, the reality hit me hard. I realized that business idea and knowledge about your business idea were not enough. Building business is more than that. I sometimes confused what should I do to maintain my business. Fortunately, I could participate the ILO’s Training of Entrepreneurs with 19 other young entrepreneurs in Yogyakarta.
“In the training, I learnt so much about how to start and improve my business. I also learnt about business planning, financial planning, purchasing, costing, packaging, marketing and promotion. After the training, I also received an after training support which helped me to improve and expand my footwear business. As a result, my business’ earnings has increased from Rp. 18 million to Rp. 40 million per month. By end of 2014, it is targeted to continue increasing to Rp. 60 milllion. From only two employees, I have now employed 15 employees and produced 400 pairs of foot wear per month.
“I wish that my business experience could inspire other young entrepreneurs. I also hope that the SYB programme will be able to reach out more entrepreneurs so that their businesses could also thrive. In addition, my business is also opened for other entrepreneurs who want to learn how to manage and improve a business as one of my mission is to be useful for others.” (*)
During the pilot project, 60 potential young entrepreneurs (20 participants from each area) were trained and assisted in starting and developing their businesses. One of the young entrepreneurs was Yoi Yohanantoko from Yogyakarta who has developed a leather footwear business called “Bucini Footwear: The Beauty of Leather.” He was selected from more than 100 applicants and was able to improve her business. Here is his story:
“I came from a business-oriented family. My family had a leather bag production business called M-Joint. When seeing piles of leather waste, I was thinking of producing leather footwear to make the best use of the waste. The leather waste was usually thrown away as they were priceless. Shoes also do not need leather as much as bags and the waste will be more valuable and saleable when they are turned into an economic-valued products like shoes.
I wish that my business experience could inspire other young entrepreneurs. I also hope that the SYB programme will be able to reach out more entrepreneurs so that their businesses could also thrive."
Yoi Yohanantoko
“I then learnt how to make shoes using the internet as I had no idea how to produce shoes. However, I believe that we can learn everything and we can do whatever we believe. Thus, I spent my days browsing and learning the footwear production process. Based on what I learnt, I developed my own production flow and called my business, “Bucini Footwear: the Beauty of Leather.” The Bucini name was taken after my grandmother who always inspired me to build my own business.
“Yet, when start building my business, the reality hit me hard. I realized that business idea and knowledge about your business idea were not enough. Building business is more than that. I sometimes confused what should I do to maintain my business. Fortunately, I could participate the ILO’s Training of Entrepreneurs with 19 other young entrepreneurs in Yogyakarta.
“In the training, I learnt so much about how to start and improve my business. I also learnt about business planning, financial planning, purchasing, costing, packaging, marketing and promotion. After the training, I also received an after training support which helped me to improve and expand my footwear business. As a result, my business’ earnings has increased from Rp. 18 million to Rp. 40 million per month. By end of 2014, it is targeted to continue increasing to Rp. 60 milllion. From only two employees, I have now employed 15 employees and produced 400 pairs of foot wear per month.
“I wish that my business experience could inspire other young entrepreneurs. I also hope that the SYB programme will be able to reach out more entrepreneurs so that their businesses could also thrive. In addition, my business is also opened for other entrepreneurs who want to learn how to manage and improve a business as one of my mission is to be useful for others.” (*)