Three Countries to Order Typical Balinese Handicrafts

Three countries, namely France, Italy, Czech, order various kinds of handicrafts made by skillful hands of Balinese craftsmen on regular basis at least two containers every month ahead. “We just recently sent various handicrafts ordered by our partners in France as many as two containers with value about 70 million rupiah,“ said I Made Ada, a successful craftsmen from Tegallalang Village, Ubud. His business partner abroad regularly ordered various kinds of handicrafts and by the end of November; another order of one container should be fulfilled.

The orders comprise various kinds of handicrafts reaching thousands pieces, like toy fish, masks, chairs, and many others reflecting the typical Balinese style. The orders come from his business partner in France who has cooperated with him for years, and the products later are sold to several countries in Europe. Thus, demands will repeat by themselves on the next stage.
“As long as the orders can be fulfilled well, in terms that the products meet quality standard and architectural designs, the cooperation will last,” said the craftsmen who employed 25 workers with artistic specialties.

Orders are received from faxes, containers shipment is aided by cargo services and the payment is received from bank transfer. The system enables transaction without face-to-face meeting.
He admitted, the downturn of Bali’s tourism post Bali bomb blasts in 2002 and 2005 greatly affected the marketing of home industries’ and small medium scale industries’ products.
Tourists visiting Bali generally purchase handicrafts as gifts to be brought back to their homelands. Some of them even order in large quantity through cargo service.

Bali’s tourism is the main sector and a source of living of most of Balinese people. They hoped tourism recover soon.
“Without tourists visiting the island, it will be hard to sell handicrafts made by home, small and medium industries,” Made Ade said.