WHAT kept Tunas Redy, better known as Lucy, strong was her passion on the pursuit, as a handmade handicraft seller. The 46-year-old first involvement with business since 2001, starting with the stem of interest she had during her younger days. “I used to sell an assortment of chips (kerepek) and other variety of cakes”, she shared.
By selling food related products, she realises that being in the food business, it comes with a high risk as her products are mainly perishables. “It entails risk such as inability to use raw materials as it becomes stale after two weeks. Not only that, my produces if not sold after a period would become soggy and distasteful”, she disclosed her hardships during selling food produces.
Earning only about RM 500 a month back then, she also added products to her makeshift food stall, such as bonsai, rosary, food cover and dolls which she had sewn beads decoration onto the dresses before selling. It was in 2013, a tragic accident involving her son happened that saw her life changed in a 180 degree spin. “Since my son got involved in an accident and is bedridden, I am unable to be in the kitchen as nobody takes care of my son.
“However, while I was taking care of him, I had more time to sit beside him and do some beads handicraft in front of him”, she shared. In the next year, Lucy went back to business, selling her beads handicraft instead.
“I actually had the foundation and interest to play with beads; at times I would buy beads to create accessories during leisure,” a cheerful Lucy said. Hailing from Kampung Jagoi, Lucy in 2013 attended iM Sarawak Entrepreneurship Programme after being told and chosen by the village head.
Through the programme, she learnt various business and marketing techniques to market her handicraft products wider. She also learnt to print name cards for distribution and selling purposes, which she admits is a big help for her business.
Being the Youth Chairman of the Women’s Bureau of her village, Lucy gets in touch with events and bazaars in and out of the village; thus helps in expanding her business as she becomes pro-active in opening up stalls in various locations. “At a time, I would have at least 3 stalls opened up to sell my products. While I am here, I hire additional workers to help man the other stalls”, she said clarifying that this is how she becomes successful.
“Tak boleh harap jual satu tempat saja kalau mahu maju”, she said which roughly translates to ‘Success does not come if products are sold at only one location’. Lucy’s handmade beads are not only sold in bazaars, as she also placed them in various hotels around Kuching.
She also receives request to sell them at West Malaysia. Her beads handicraft are of the assortment concept, with prices ranging between RM 3 to RM 200, however the petite lady makes it a habit to produce mostly on the Bidayuh culture.
“If I don’t, I am afraid that I will stray away from our tradition and culture. “Aside from that, my products are mostly pertaining the Bidayuh traditions as it has a high demand from customers looking for cultural accessories”, she disclosed.
Among the Bidayuh culture accessories handmade by her are sombon, pengih and tengan. With the high demand of products, Lucy hires her relatives as additional workers to help produce more beads handicraft as she admits she herself cannot meet the demand. With this, she shared, “Usually, I would get a huge amount of beads and send them over to my relatives’ house. If it is a bracelet, I would ask for 100 pieces”.
She added that she mostly source her work to her schoolgoers relatives as they are the one looking to earn extra pocket money. Learning from various experienced entrepreneurs during the programme, she also gain insight in distinguishing quality raw materials in making her handicrafts. “I used to only purchase cheap and plastic beads to make my handicraft, however I noticed not only do they look ‘cheap’ but they also could not attract many buyers”, she sighed.
It was when she started using expensive and quality raw materials, it became one of the factor of her blooming business. After realising the quality, Lucy turned to adding the quantity of her accessories in terms of stocks and designs.
What surprises Lucy the most since she venture into the world of business was that though she had a huge interest in handmade beads, instead she started her venture into the food industry.
Giving all into the hands of God, she said, “I believe God led me to learn different things such as learning to make cakes, learning to plant vegetables and fruits. “And now, learning to make the dried fish fillet, which is a popular food snack by one of the brand ‘Dahfa’.” “I had dried fish fillet for the first time in Bau, but that is one of my own produces,” she laughed.
Like any other pursuit, hers also comes with rough patches. Her resilient personality and her strong interest is what makes her still moving forward. “Even though there is no sales at certain area, I was not disappointed. Rather, I would keep on going”. Lucy also shared that initially when she had insufficient capital, she had difficulties in making her handicrafts as while there were raw materials she was able to get, there were also those that she was unable to purchase. Her future plans include opening a ‘gallery’ to display her handicrafts and to offer rental services at wide.
“I do have rental service at the moment, RM 50 per costume including customary accessories. But with only two costumes, I am unable to expand my rental services”, Lucy explains her plans next year. She also provides handmade beads lesson to prospect students who wishes to learn the how-to. With only RM 10 per person for one class, she includes raw materials. She added for expensive produce and raw materials, it is charged differently.
iM Sarawak is a social development initiative led by 1Malaysia Sarawak Advisory Council members formed by Prime Minister Mohd Najib Tun Razak to help improve the quality of life of various communities. iM Sarawak Entrepreneurship Programme helps in improving the quality of life of small traders and people from the lower income group by enhancing their soft skills and business acumen.
The two-days programme saw participants from various places attending the workshop to equip them with essential entrepreneurship skills. The programme also includes a 30 days mentoring session by iM Sarawak to ensure benefits and objectives of the programme are met.
