Abbas Suswadi, from Mining Worker to Cake Entrepreneur

Abbas Suswadi succeeded in overcoming various obstacles. Using pension money, Abbas developed his mother's bakery business.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Abbas Suswadi, the Director of Tridara Cake and Bakery, was interviewed at his home in Kalikoa Village, Kedawung District, Cirebon Regency, West Java on Saturday (18/5/2024).

It's not easy to change gears from worker to entrepreneur. Especially if you have been an employee for decades. One of those who was quite successful through this was Abbas Suswadi (39), the pioneer of Tridara Cake and Bakery. This resident of Cirebon, West Java, is firmly on the path of culinary business.

Four award plaques and certificates are displayed on Abbas' office desk in Kalikoa Village, Kedawung District, on Saturday (18/5/2024). With a smile, he shows the certificate from the State Treasury Service Office Type A1 (KPPN) Cirebon at the Ministry of Finance.

"At that time there was a visit from the Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani. Minister asked, who makes this (cake)? "The banquet (cake) was from me," said Abbas regarding the certificate he received in mid-February.

Sri Mulyani's question was a blessing. On that occasion, Abbas received many orders for cakes and bread from officials.

KPPN Cirebon is only one of the agencies that often enjoys its products. Other institutions are the Syekh Nurjati Cirebon State Islamic Institute, a number of schools and sub-districts, to PT PLN (Persero), which accompanies his efforts under Rumah BUMN Cirebon.

"Next week there is an order from the high school in Waled for a school event. "The order is 380 boxed snacks and boxed rice," he said.

The various cakes she offers include chocolate bread, pizza bread, banana bolen, chicken lemper, and martabak. There are also various Cirebon culinary delights, such as empal gentong.

Also read: Nasi Jamblang and Empal Gentong, culinary reminders of Cirebon

Requests from schools to the government did not come overnight, but took a long time, even years. Moreover, Abbas has no background as a businessman and lacks large capital. Since 2008, he has been an employee at several mining companies on the island of Kalimantan.

However, in 2021, Abbas, who lived alone in Kalimantan, was infected with Covid-19. He had to undergo isolation until his recovery for a month.

"Finally, my family asked me to resign (resign). "Moreover, my wife is in Cirebon and can't come," he said.

The cost of transportation from Kalimantan to Cirebon is not cheap. Every time he goes back to his hometown, he has to take three flights. The long distance relationship with his family and the Covid-19 pandemic have made him choose to return to his hometown. Of course, he does so as an unemployed individual.

He also tried to continue his mother-in-law's bread business, Nur Asih. Before 2021, Asih only sold dozens of bread for the local food stalls around the house.

“Initially, my mother made bread for her grandchildren. Then in 2015, it went on sale. But, not yet focused on business. "If you want to take a holiday, take a holiday," he said.

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Using his pension money, Abbas began developing his mother's bakery business. The first year, he was forced to learn to make bread and cakes.

"If we don't know the manufacturing process ourselves, how can we know the standards for good bread?" he said.

The standard he referred to is the composition of the raw materials for his bread. If there is too much water, for example, the bread will become soggy. And so he created and recorded the measurement for each type of cake and bread. This is different from when he used to work before. At that time, he just followed the standard operating procedures of the company.

Not only that, the working hours as a novice entrepreneur are also different when you have been an employee for 13 years. “In the past, I left at 7 in the morning, came home at 5 in the afternoon. When I was in the cake business, I produced it at 1 in the morning and then sold it at dawn. Duh, how come the working hours are so long, huh?” he said.

I regret it

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Abbas Suswadi, the Director of Tridara Cake and Bakery, was interviewed at his home in Kalikoa Village, Kedawung District, Cirebon Regency, West Java on Saturday (18/5/2024).

Abbas often has to do it alone. Yet, when he used to work, he had an important position with 25 subordinates.

At home, he also has to start earning money from scratch, whereas before his salary was clear and fixed every month. These various conditions made him rethink his situation.

"At first, I regretted leaving my job. But, I gradually reduced that regret. The biggest enemy in business development is oneself. This is what must be fought against," he said. Instead of getting lost in remorse, he chose to innovate.

He, for example, branded his business as Tridara. The name was taken from his in-laws' family's basic food stall in the 1990s in Pancuran, near Cirebon Station.

Also read: The Story of Harisah Porridge, Takjil that Glues Friendship on the Coast of Cirebon

At that time, Tridara supplied food and drinks to hawkers on trains. However, the effort did not continue.

"When we were about to close, the bill was this much,," said Abbas, holding his index finger and thumb close to represent the thickness of the debt records of his in-laws' shop customers. "Mum said, just burn the bill," he added.

Through Tridara Cake and Bakery, he brought the name back to life. He also innovated by launching snack boxes so that not only bread was sold, but various cakes. Abbas also took part in training held by the Cirebon City Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, Trade and Industry Service and other agencies.

In March 2023, he registered with the State-Owned Enterprises Business House (BUMN), a platform for developing micro, small and medium-sized businesses. After going through a series of selection stages, he finally joined the BUMN House with the assistance of PT PLN (Persero).

"We receive training twice a month regarding financial literacy, how to brand, and how to build a mindset to become a businessman," said this alumnus of D3 Aeronautical Engineering, Bandung State Polytechnic.

Also read: Wahid Chozim, Persistence in Developing Jamblang Rice

Along the way, several other MSME players withdrew. Because, there are those who only hope to get capital assistance.

"On the contrary, I don't want monetary assistance. If it's in the form of money, it will eventually run out. It's better to provide continuous training instead. If knowledge is the provision, it won't disappear," said Abbas.

She also knows how to take care of business administration, from household product industry permits (PIRT), halal labels, to tax payments. Complete administration makes it easier for her to receive orders from government agencies. In fact, she already has a limited liability company.

Free training

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Abbas Suswadi, the Director of Tridara Cake and Bakery, was interviewed at his home in Kalikoa Village, Kedawung District, Cirebon Regency, West Java on Saturday (18/5/2024).

Now, in a day, she receives a minimum of 50 boxes of cakes or almost 2,000 boxes per month. Whereas, her mother-in-law's bread business used to only receive dozens of orders per week. She also employs five workers, including one employee who records the financial accounting of her business.

"If there are orders for more than 200 boxes of cakes a day, I call two people. They are online motorcycle taxi drivers and street vendors. "So, a total of seven people work," said Abbas.

The other workers are mothers around his house. From there, he wants to share his fortune and how to make cakes.

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Abbas admits that his business doesn't always have many buyers. Sometimes, when it's quiet, he chooses to seek out new innovations. For example, he utilizes online sales and collaborates with banks to implement standardized payments using QRIS codes.

Indeed, it is said that the income from Tridara Cake and Bakery is not yet comparable to his previous salary when working in mining. "But back then, the salary was high and I had a lot of debt. Now, there is no more debt. I can even lease a house for my office," he said with a smile.

Abbas also does not hesitate to share his knowledge. For example, he has trained members of Senjapreneur, an entrepreneurial organization at IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, several times.

He even made his office a training place for UMKM actors. It's all free. Many people have gained entrepreneurial knowledge from Abbas without cost.

By getting to know many people, he is confident that his business will grow. In fact, he has prepared a land to build a bakery and training facility.

"I plan to have 50 employees. "The more people are empowered, the more their fortune will increase," he said.

Abbas Suswadi

Born: Cirebon, December 12 1985

Education: D3 Aeronautical Engineering, Bandung State Polytechnic