"With their own websites, their product sales will be easier."
Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - Yogyakarta National Crafts Agency (Dekranas) has appealed to Google to help spur crafts sales via its online sites.

"Based on our evaluation data, sales from online shopping are not to their potential, and have thus led us to join forces with Google," Chief of National Crafts Agency (Dekranasda), Yogyakarta region branch office, Tri Kirana Muslidatun said here on Thursday.

According to Tri, many people are still unaware about the online sale of crafts by Middle, Small, and Micro Enterprises (UMKM) Griya. Moreover, Yogyakarta Dekranasda was officially launched last December.

Tri Kirana explained that Griya UMKM would directly send buyers these products in small numbers. Were the buyers to buy these products in large numbers, the organization would readily connect them to the craftsmen, he added. Online shopping sites of Yogyakarta Dekranasda (craft-jogja.com) have incorporated around 80 craftsmen and product distributors as part of the process.

However, there were only about 10 percent of the total craftsmen who had collaborated with Yogyakarta Dekranasda.

"We assuredly support all craftsmen to create their own online sites. With their own websites, their product sales will be easier," he further added.

The craftsmen, Tri Kirana continued, will be able to easily communicate with buyers, get direct feedback and improve product quality. Tri also stated that craftsmen should learn to operate their own website to get better traction and promote their quality, while minimizing costs and selling products at a cheaper rate.

Apart from improving the online sites, Yogyakarta Dekranasda also needed to handle display crafts from craftsmen who incorporated Yogyakarta Griya UMKM.

"However, besides online shopping, consumers are frequently interested in displayed products. Thus, display products need to be re-arranged better," he added.

Tri also affirmed that Yogyakarta Dekranasda was going to provide all the necessary support to all craftsmen, so that they can be more independent.

"If they are all independent already, we can guide other new craftsmen," he stated.
(Uu,LPW/INE/F001/KR-BSR/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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