Suyuti's Story: From a Rickshaw Puller to a Furniture Entrepreneur Who Penetrated the International Market

In the hometown of R.A. Kartini, a rickshaw driver named Suyuti proves that honesty and hard work can lead to extraordinary success. Armed with determination and an unyielding spirit, Suyuti, originally from Demak Regency, has become a successful furniture entrepreneur, with products that have successfully penetrated export markets to countries such as Europe, the United States, and Uruguay.

Suyuti initially moved to Jepara hoping for a better life. However, with only an elementary school diploma and no specialized skills, he struggled to find work. Amidst this uncertainty, Suyuti decided to become a rickshaw driver. Despite his young age, he felt no shame in the job and remained grateful for the opportunity to support himself.

"I worked as a rickshaw driver for four years. Although it was difficult, I was grateful because I was able to support myself and not burden my parents back home," recalled Suyuti, now the Director of CV Kreasion Antique Furniture, his furniture company, in a conversation with PosSore on Monday (August 12th).

While working as a pedicab driver, Suyuti acquired a regular customer: the son of a wealthy foreigner who owned a company in Jepara. The customer, impressed by Suyuti's honesty and hard work, offered her a job at his company. There, Suyuti learned many things, eventually becoming a quality control worker.

However, when the monetary crisis hit Indonesia, Suyuti was forced to lose that job. She then moved to Jakarta with her neighbor to seek new opportunities. After gaining experience in the capital, Suyuti returned to Jepara and worked at a furniture company, where she met her soulmate, a sandpaper worker who is now her wife.

This experience and her drive to improve her life inspired Suyuti to open her own furniture business. Despite facing financial constraints, her enthusiasm remained unwavering. Her wife's support further strengthened her resolve. With honesty as her guiding principle, Suyuti openly told a woodworking entrepreneur about her desire to open a business despite having no capital.

"The wood entrepreneur trusted me. He lent me the raw wood materials on the condition that I return the money after my furniture was sold," Suyuti said.

This trust became valuable capital for Suyuti. She immediately started a business making antique and unique furniture, which she named CV Kreasion Antique Furniture. Her principle of always maintaining trust has helped Suyuti's business grow rapidly. Her furniture products are starting to attract interest from buyers, even from abroad.

According to Suyuti, whose hobbies include keeping birds and fishing, to ensure customer satisfaction, he regularly tests samples of his furniture products at Intertek, a testing facility in Semarang. This testing is conducted before mass production of furniture. Only after the product has been certified as suitable by Intertek does Suyuti proceed to the mass production stage with the design agreed upon with the buyer.

Once the design is approved, Suyuti and her team will redraw, take measurements, and prepare the construction for furniture production. These steps are crucial to ensuring that the resulting product meets the desired quality standards.

This approach has yielded significant results, with an increasing number of orders coming in from international buyers, including those from Europe, the United States, and Uruguay. Customer satisfaction is Suyuti's top priority, and this is evident in the increasing number of orders her company receives.

Suyuti's life philosophy of "Live Simply and Always Be Grateful" reflects her humility and awareness of simple yet meaningful values ​​in life. For Suyuti, living simply doesn't mean giving in to circumstances, but rather the ability to accept and be grateful for what she has, without getting caught up in excessive desires. This attitude gives her peace and wisdom in facing every challenge that arises.

By always being grateful, Suyuti, who loves the color black, is able to see every opportunity, no matter how small, as a gift to be cherished. This attitude of gratitude is what keeps her motivated and never gives up, even when she has to go through difficult times. For Suyuti, gratitude is a vital foundation that gives her the strength to keep moving forward, even when the path is fraught with obstacles.

This philosophy also shapes Suyuti's relationships with others, including in her business. She believes that by living simply and remaining grateful, she can maintain integrity, build strong relationships, and maintain the trust of those around her. These values ​​ultimately led Suyuti to success, not only materially, but also in achieving inner satisfaction and true happiness.

In addition to maintaining product quality, Suyuti also collaborates with furniture designers to showcase new designs every six months, ensuring her products always follow market trends. Furthermore, she regularly holds exhibitions in Milan and Paris, further opening up market opportunities for her furniture products.

Now, with a well-thought-out business strategy and consistent honesty, Suyuti has achieved the success she once only dreamed of. From a rickshaw puller, she has transformed into an internationally recognized furniture entrepreneur, inspiring many that success is possible for anyone who dares to dream and works hard.