Muktamar Expo as a Place to Introduce Business Ventures
Muktamar is a major Muhammadiyah activity that is held every 5 years. Of course, it is a moment that all parties have been waiting for, including micro business owners (UMKM). As is known, there are many series of activities from the 48th Muktamar, one of which is the Muktamar Expo Fair which presents UMKM owners from various sectors, including food and beverages, crafts, clothing, services, books, and others. This Expo Fair is a place for business people to introduce and disseminate their products to the public. This activity held on 17-21 November, 2022 and located in De Tjolomadoe, Karanganyar. Not only for Muhammadiyah participant, Muktamar Expo was presented for public participants. LPM Campus interviewed two of the hundreds of business owners who participated in the Expo Fair to find out more about what is the reason they participated in this five-yearly event.
One of those LPM Campus interviewed was Mr. Budi who came from Kalimantan. He got information of the Muktamar Expo event through his close friends in Solo and micro-business groups on social media. Within 5 days of the event, he sold food in the form of tahu walik, wader crispy, and drinks; opened from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Budi said that the enthusiasm of visitors to the Muktamar Expo for visiting his business booth did not reach of his expectations so far. It could be seen from the highest turnover obtained is only around Rp800.000. It is because his occupied booth was in the back corner, so few visitors came. He also said the income he earned until the end of the event could not cover the rental price of the stand. Budi gave advice for future activities to pay more attention to visitor access and provide exit access in line with passing the stands of other bazar participants. In addition, he hoped that outside merchants who did not rent stands could be put in order or restricted, so that bazar participants pay a fairly expensive stand rent.
Meanwhile, another bazar participant, Lina from Mojosongo, knew about the Muktamar bazar from a group of fellow traders. She sold food products in the form of corndogs (Korean street food), chips, and drinks that opened from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with the help of two employees. In addition, Lina has 8 outlets which include spread across Mojosongo, Celuluk, in front of SMA 5 Surakarta, UNS, UMS, and Palur. According to her, visitors in the 5 days of the event were considered enthusiastic because visitor access was made to be infectious. The turnover obtained by Lina ranges from Rp800.000-1.000.000 in a day which could cover the rental price of the stand. However, during the event Lina complained about the entry of bazar participants. According to her, bazar participants did not have an alternative route of entry and was instead equated with bazar visitors. This caused her to walk a long way because her stand was located in the back coupled with having to carry her equipment and merchandise. Until the event was about to end, she did not get a solution from the organizing committee. She also suggested that future activities could be improved regarding special pathways for bazar participants.
Reporter : Fathika Azzahra (Communication Science’ 20) & Ayu Ukhti Muslimah (English Education’ 19)
Writer : Fathika Azzahra (Communication Science’ 20)
Editor : Ayu Ukhti Muslimah (English Education’ 19)
