PANGKALPINANG -- PT Timah Tbk's Micro Small Business Funding Program (PUMK) has helped Rustam develop a refill drinking water business which he has been doing for about 10 years.
Refillable water with the Rainaqua brand continues to grow after becoming a fostered partner of PT Timah Tbk. Rustam said he could sell hundreds of gallons every day.
This resident of Jalan Marica, Pintu Air Village, Rangkui District, Pangkalpinang City explained that he started this refill water business in 2013. However, his business was stagnant because he did not have the capital to expand the business.
"In the past, it was still running smoothly even though it was stagnant because now there are many people who have this business. So we have to be smart to find consumers," he said some time ago.
For this reason, he intends to increase the reach of his remarketing water, such as to schools and housing. However, to realize this plan he has limited vehicles.
"If you only expect something from here, we have many competitors. Now the customer wants to deliver the water and the distance is quite far. So far I have only driven by motorbike but it is less effective because at most I can only carry five gallons," he said.
After obtaining capital from PT Timah Tbk through the PUMK program, Rustam was finally able to buy a car to deliver his refilled water to consumers.
"I used the capital loan to buy a car, adding gallons. Because usually gallons are left at the consumer's house. Thank God, after owning this car, my turnover has also increased a lot because the customers have added," he said.
"I can deliver to housing, to schools, and some new areas such as to the axe and others. So there are more and more consumers. Previously it was only 100 gallons, now the increase is quite significant," he said.
Apart from himself, he said he also has one worker to help him serve customer orders. So that in one day he can sell hundreds of gallons.
"On normal days it's hundreds of gallons, but if it's summer it's even more. Because many people need water. This business is indeed promising whether you want it or not because the capital is only big at the start," he said.
He is grateful, with PT Timah Tbk's PUMK program, he can continue to develop his business. There are even plans to add more branches.
"Hopefully, when the capital has been collected, there are plans to open more branches, because PT Timah Tbk's PUMK program is really very helpful for small businesses like us," he said. (*)
