Jakarta. Asih Widiyani, a customer at the financing firm PNM, recently shared her success story of selling products made from rose, ranging from chips to beverages.

Asih is a customer that takes part in PNM’s empowerment program: Membina Ekonomi Keluarga Sejahtera (Mekaar). Asih said the local rose farmers struggled to sell the flower when the price increased, prompting them to throw the roses away. This motivated Asih to come up with ideas on how to make value-added goods out of roses.

“So I produce processed rose sticks, syrups, and even rose chips. Of course, I struggled to come up with something tasty at first. But after many trials, people are finally into my products,” Asih was quoted as saying in a recent press statement.

The Kediri government often buys her products --which go with the brand name of Kwt Gimbal Rejeki-- as souvenirs for their visitors. “They find my products unique. They can pre-order my products, and I also sell them online,” Asih said.

Asih said she received tons of training, and is now skilled at using social media platforms to sell her products. She admitted that PNM’s empowerment program had helped her secure capital and assistance. She added: “I got the needed capital to start my business without any collateral thanks to Mekaar.”

First launched in 2015, PNM Mekaar is a capital loan service for underprivileged women who are ultra-micro entrepreneurs. PNM implements a system of joint responsibility by all group members which is expected to bridge the gap in access to financing so that customers are able to develop businesses in order to achieve their goals and help their families live better lives.

The benefits that the company distributes through PNM Mekaar services include improving financial management and providing capital financing without collateral. PNM also teaches its members entrepreneurial skills.