Young Generation of Cepogo Copper Ready to Go Worldwide

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Workers make lampshades at the metalworking center of Tumang Village, Cepogo, Boyolali, Central Java, Saturday (11/4/2020). The Covid-19 pandemic has made handicraft orders in the region dropped drastically. Most of the handicrafts from the village are sold to Jakarta, Bali, and for export to various countries.

After being curbed by the ongoing pandemic, the younger generation of copper craftsmen in Cepogo, Boyolali, Central Java, continues to be creative. With the help of the virtual world, their innovations are getting increasingly diverse. Creativity is the mantra to penetrate the international market.

Clang, clang, clang… The loud sound of copper being forged by hammers was heard amid the dangdut koplo music from a cell phone at a copper craft workshop in Kampung Tumang, Cepogo, on Saturday (31/7/2021). As the morning air of the mountains still blanketed the surrounding area, five young men were already bathed in sweat. The strong smell of paint and thinner filled the room.

"Alhamdulillah [thank be to God], there are always orders. Despite the pandemic, online orders are coming," said Nanang Ardiyanto, 23, a craftsman and workshop owner.

Nanang and four of his colleagues were finishing copper leaf-shaped wall ornaments. One by one the products were polished to a shine, then dried on the table.

In the first year, only one or two people asked about the crafts.

The young man from Cepogo village has been familiar with copper craft since he was a child. After graduating from an SMK vocational school in 2016, he helped in his uncle\'s workshop. As he was familiar with gadgets, he created an Instagram account for the Copper King, then uploaded the photos of the crafts produced with his uncle.

“In the first year, only one or two people asked about the crafts. After a year, I just started getting orders for myself,” he said.

The many orders have encouraged him to open his own craft business. The handicraft products are diverse, ranging from glasses, teapots and food heaters to chandeliers and wall ornaments. Prices range from Rp 200,000 (US$14) to Rp 6 million.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

A worker uses a welding tool while working on a lampshade craft at the copper craftsman center of Tumang Village, Cepogo, Boyolali, Central Java, Saturday (11/4/2020).

Nanang is increasingly consistent in marketing through social media. In addition to Instagram, he has tried e-commerce platforms such as Tokopedia. He is even willing to pay additional fees for promotional features on social media. His account has 17,500 followers.

Social media has been able to leverage his product marketing skills. His products are getting increasingly well-known. Most buyers come after seeing posts on the social media.

One of the favorite products is none other than food heaters. In a month, he can sell 60 to 70 of them. During the COVID-19 pandemic, trends are changing. The items most often ordered are wall ornaments and chandeliers.

Thus far, Nanang\'s market coverage is not only in Java, but also in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua. He is also preparing to export.

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Another young craftsman in Cepogo village who also uses an online platform to market his copper crafts is Bayu Dwi Hartono, the owner of Bayufist Art.

Bayu started his business three years ago. However, he only started to explore online marketing last year. The COVID-19 pandemic has increasingly encouraged him to take advantage of this marketing strategy.

Initially, he only produced craft products ordered by his colleagues. The pandemic caused a sharp fall in orders.

“I created my own Instagram account for marketing. It turned out to be fruitful," he said.

In stages, more and more orders began to flow through social media with no marketing costs; just have an account and be diligent in uploading products. He sometimes uploads his manufacturing process to the @bayufist_art.co account, which now has 2,555 followers. He has uploaded more than 3,000 photos.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

A number of handicraft products produced by craftsmen at the copper crafting center of Tumang Village, Cepogo, Boyolali, Central Java, Saturday (11/4/2020).

For the sake of attracting buyers, Bayu continues to be creative, such as making wall lamps, pendant lamps, bowls, sinks, wall ornaments and bathtubs. Wall lamp products feature carvings, one of which is the form of a leather puppet mountain.

The price of his products ranges from Rp 500,000 to Rp 15 million per piece, with the most expensive product being a bathtub.

"Every day, there is someone who asks for information. However, not all of them immediately make orders,” said Bayu, who is still targeting the domestic market.

Most orders come from Bali and Tangerang, mainly for spas.

Exports

Cepogo\'s metal products have also been exported. Chairman of the Tumang Cepogo Copper Crafts Association, Muhammad Mansyur, said most of the exports go to the United States and Europe.

During this pandemic, we still receive orders from Australia and Japan, but the numbers are not large.

Sumanto, the owner of the Bintang Pamungkas handicraft business that was formed in 1993, said he now exported to Australia, the US, Germany, Japan and Saudi Arabia. The local market mostly consists of mosque construction projects and hotels.

"During this pandemic, we still receive orders from Australia and Japan, but the numbers are not large," said Sumanto.

Cepogo village chief Mawardi said the local metal craft industry had been handed down through generations. It started from the manufacturing of household appliances, such as kettles, boilers and frying pans. In the 1980s, the products were replaced by aluminum. Some took the initiative to switch to art crafts with wall decoration products, wall lamps and calligraphy.

Today, half of Cepogo\'s population of 9,000 people make their living from metal crafts. In the digital era, the creativity of the rural youths is ready to appear on the world stage.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.