Three sanitation entrepreneurs who receive assistance from USAID IUWASH PLUS shared tips on how to promulgate business in the COVID-19 pandemic to 70 other sanitation business persons from five project’s regions.
Those three entrepreneurs are the sanitation business person from Probolinggo city, Mr. Sulistyo Priantono Putro; from Jayapura city, Mr Sugeng Hadi, and the Director of BUMDes Wiraraja in Lumajang district, Mrs. Disse Aria Dewi.
They shared their experience in an online sharing session facilitated by USAID IUWASH PLUS on July 9, 2020.
According to Mr. Putro, self-motivation, unique branding, and networks are the keys to promote and sustain the business, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Sugeng Hadi utilized WhatsApp™ and OLX marketplace to market his sanitation products.
In addition, he also distributes brochures to construction materials shops. He also works with the district environment office to convince his potential customers, such as offices, shops, and farms, of the importance of managing domestic wastewater.
In addition, he also distributes brochures to construction materials shops. He also works with the district environment office to convince his potential customers, such as offices, shops, and farms, of the importance of managing domestic wastewater.
Mrs. Dewi shared that she engaged community cadres to sell the sanitation products and continued the promotion through online media during this pandemic period.
According to Mrs. Dewi, involving cadres is helpful to promote septic tanks that the BUMDes sells.
“BUMDes Wiraraja has received 25 orders from the community which will be paid in credit mechanism. During the pandemic, we still continue marketing online and the serving construction order within the village. Yet, the construction outside the village has to stop due to the pandemic,” she said.