As Indonesian citizens start to increase isolation, small businesses start to feel the financial drought. For the majority of consumers, it might be a temporary relief to our wallets as we start avoiding unnecessary shopping. However, with the worry of covering bills and paying employees, MSME’s are beginning to wonder if they businesses can even last within the next couple of months.
Fortunately, with technology developments, some female entrepreneurs are able to make a few adjustments with transitioning to more of an online platform.
Aiden and Ice is a successful female-owned jewelry business based in Jakarta, Indonesia. With intricate and unique designs, Aidan and Ice has been able to catch the attention of many young users in Indonesia. Through this success, the business has even gotten the opportunity to present their products in the 2019 Paris Fashion Week. Fortunately, The WEclimb platform was lucky enough to get an insight of their current state during this global pandemic. Nadia Sukirno (on the left), Co-founder of Aiden and Ice, has brought a fresh perspective on how her business is dealing with the disease.
“We have a lot of sales and marketing events cancelled due to the pandemic” says Nadia Sukirno when asked how COVID 19 has impacted her business.
The entrepreneur admitted that, due to the outbreak, several struggles with economic demand appeared. However, she mentioned that she was currently proactive with adjusting and finding solutions. With the Indonesian economy having a setback, the business owner has been trying to find ways, such as managing costs, to “be able to provide payments” for her employees.
Many small businesses around Jakarta have to worry about maintaining the needs of their customers (and more importantly, their employees) with also having the risk of facing bankruptcy. This leads to the challenge of choices they have to choose in order for their business to stay alive.
With the cancellation of events and sales in the physical world, Nadia Sukirno and her business had to consider the option of doing “more online and social media marketing activations” during the midst of this hectic mess. The co-founder claimed as entrepreneurs, “we need to be creative in re-strategizing” and transitioning into focusing on services on the internet. Luckily, given the strong structured base she already had before the pandemic, Nadia Sukirno and her business is still able to tackle financial obstacles and adapt to the terrible circumstances that have arisen. Hopefully, Aiden and Ice is still able to thrive and be successful during this outbreak.
With the modern world having access to many technology developments, businesses are fortunate enough to have the option of transitioning to the online spectrum.
Having a positive perspective from a successful entrepreneur gives us a light at the end of the tunnel, and creates hope that women can also adapt and overcome the global pandemic.
