At present, together with his colleague, Agung has a bigger dream to improve the economic status of mobile street traders in Jakarta.
By
Elsa Emiria Leba
·5 minutes read
ARSIP SETYO MANGGALA
Agung Setiawan
It all started with a cup of hot coffee in Cisadon village, Bogor, West Java, several years ago. Agung Setiawan (38) then tried to improve the image of a mobile coffee vendor. At present, together with his colleague, Agung has a bigger dream to improve the economic status of mobile street traders in Jakarta.
In 2017, Agung, who is currently pursuing a motocross hobby, visited Cisadon village. There, he heard the lamentation of Mrs. Farid, the local seller of luwak (civet) coffee. Mrs. Farid\'s coffee was not selling well, while several kilograms of his coffee were still unsold.
Agung was moved by the story. He also opened a mobile coffee stall in September 2018 by selling Kocang coffee. The Kocang is short for "Konco Cangkruk" which means hanging out with friends. The coffee that was sold was obtained from Indonesian farmers, including the luwak coffee from the local farmers. The luwak coffee is made from the beans salvaged from civet cat poop.
The Kocang coffee was sold only at Rp 5,000 to Rp 7,000 per a cup. Agung used to sell in a number of places in Cibinong after office work. His business later expanded into selling coffee powder.
After a while, Agung discussed the possibility of empowering small traders with his friend, Sumardy (40). They were concerned about the fate of mobile street traders who were often raided by public order officers. Agung and Sumardy were optimistic that the empowerment of small businesses such as the Kocang coffee sellers, could create a large economic and social impact.
They then set up a start-up called Mantab in 2019. Mantab is trying to improve the status of street traders by cooperating with them as partners. The mobile street traders are given assets in the form of carts, bicycles, merchandise, and uniforms for selling. They don’t need to spend any capital at all.
ARSIP PRIBADI
Agung Setiawan
Mantab also provides education on marketing techniques, service ethics, cleaning, and financial management. "We teach financial management and business efficiency. Traditional traders often do not understand this. Sales turnover is often used for personal use, or selling products that are not needed, ” Agung said in a video call on Friday (16/10/2020).
Mantab, which has a distinctive red logo, still carries the "spirit" of the Kocang coffee. Apart from selling a variety of sweets and instant drinks, these street traders sell homemade coffee drinks at affordable prices.
More than 100 people have been registered as Mantab’s business partners. About 50 people are active traders, with 20 percent of whom are women. They are scattered in Jakarta, including Bendungan Hilir, Petojo, Kebon Jeruk, and Pasar Gembrong. These traders were selected through a process of file checking, interviews, and house surveys.
The street traders can carry out their business flexibly with a minimum of 20 trading days. Usually, their customers are office workers, app-based motorcycle taxi drivers, or local residents. "We want the mobile street traders to be like other professions. We have a mission to upgrade the status of the street traders by taking the advantage of technology so that their services are better and products are more hygienic as well as they can get more income for the family at home, "said Sumardy.
New job
Mantab\'s partners come from various backgrounds, including retired employees, former office workers, former security officers, students, and housewives. Their ages range from 20-60 years. According to Agung, during this pandemic, Mantab can become a “light” for the victims of layoffs.
Every month, Mantab partners can get a net profit equal to the regional minimum wage (UMR) or the same as the salary for office employee, which can reach Rp 6 million.
Now, even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, they can still make a net profit of between Rp 3 million and Rp 4 million a month. Partners who meet the target will receive a bonus.
The sellers look smart as they wear uniforms. In addition to giving a sense of pride in their profession, partners seem safe, clean and exclusive to customers, with their uniforms. "With uniforms they feel confident, consumers will appreciate it more," said Agung.
Mantab benefits from the sales of the products. They also apply profit sharing with the business partners, but with a thin margin.
Agung said that merchant partners do not need to worry about raids by public order officers. They already understand the locations where street vendors are prohibited. In addition, business is run by formal company called PT Merdeka Memang Mantab, which has also paid taxes.
In the future, Mantab will operate like an app-based motorcycle taxi . They will launch an application that connects potential customers with mobile merchant partners within a one kilometer radius. This application will be launched next year.
Mantab also plans to empower mobile herbal medicine street sellers, who are generally women who work to help support their families.
"In essence, we want to increase the value of others by providing professional business training. Mobile street traders are often underestimated, even though they are heroes for their families. When it comes to economic matters, they are heroes of the Indonesian economy, "said Agung.
Agung Setiawan
Born: Blitar, 15 Dec. 1982
Education: SMA Muhammadiyah 1 senior high school, Blitar
Occupation: Co-founder and COO of Mantab
Awards: Top 20 Finalist of Digital Hero of Micro, Small, Medium Companies Competition
Wife: Devi Junita
Children: Rahmalia Putri Felisya Setiawan and Fabio Puma Putrabumi Setiawan
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