We recently completed the first phase of a project empowering women in Bojonegoro, East Java, by giving them the opportunity to sell technologies in their communities and earn commission from sales. Through this project, Kopernik distributed more than 300 Nazava water filters and UB.03-1 biomass stoves. Two women stood out in the project, Ibu Bety and Ibu Ning. They have each earned more than $82 profit from selling water filters. Both women are deeply involved in water and sanitation initiatives in their communities. I would like to introduce Ibu Bety, who sold 48 water filters within five months.
Ibu Bety comes from a family of educators. Her mother, sister and brother are all teachers, and although she was unable to finish junior high school, she is teaching in the local children’s kindergarten and earns $18 per month. Ibu Bety also owns a small kiosk attached to her house that sells daily necessities and has a strong commitment to expand her business in the future. She has been appointed by her peers in the village as one of our program coordinators. She has a strong commitment to improving water and sanitation in her community, and she has proven that she is doing an excellent job.
As the project developed, she saw a natural opportunity to sell water filters in the neighboring village of Beged. She formed a group of users in this village, ran a product presentation and made a profit share deal with this new group. Kopernik also invited Ibu Bety to a training workshop for a similar project in Lombok to share with the women agents there how she presents and sells products to other women. She delivered the presentation very well.
“I WANT EXTEND MY BUSINESS, BUT I NEED CAPITAL. THEREFORE, I NEED TO SELL MORE PRODUCTS AND EARN MORE PROFIT.”
She is aware that approaching finance institutions in order to get more funds for her business is impossible, but by selling water filters, she can start to gather more capital.
She has also set a minimum goal of selling 20 units per month. Despite the fact that we have not yet provided full sales training for the women agents in Bojonegoro, Ibu Bety has made a huge step ahead on her business proposal.
When I asked about her motivation to sell and run a business, she answered that she wants to contribute to her family financially. In fact, Ibu Bety, her husband and daughter still live in her mother’s house.
I also asked her for tips on selling water filters and she convincingly stated that a persuasive sales presentation and keeping minimal inventory are the key successes.
“I HAVE TO PERSUADE CUSTOMERS AND IT IS BETTER TO EARN SMALL MARGIN PER PRODUCT BUT SELL MORE AND QUICKER.”
Do you agree with Ibu Bety? Let us know your thoughts!
