Small, local businesses can face significant challenges when competing with larger, established brands, especially in a globalized world. In the case of Indonesia, they launched a program called UMKM program. Under that program, the government is providing support and resources to help small business owners succeed. My family and I have personally experienced the benefits of Indonesia's UMKM program, as my mom was able to receive a grant through the program to help us start our bakery. The grant was a tremendous help and made it possible for us to get our business off the ground. I have also heard and read about the positive impact that the UMKM program has had on other small businesses in the country. It's great to see initiatives like this that aim to support and empower small business owners. I think supporting small, local businesses is important. These businesses are often the backbone of the communities and contribute to the local economy. While it's natural to have concerns about the quality of products from small businesses, it's not always the case that products from larger brands are superior.

I recently came across a TikTok ad for a locally-owned bag store on social media. I was surprised to discover that the store was only a couple of minutes away from my home. It's great to see small, local businesses using social media as a tool to market their products and reach new customers. They may not have a big budget as larger brands to invest in marketing but the use of social media seems to have helped them reach a wider audience.

Even though I'm not typically a big shopper, I recently needed a tote bag. So, I decided to check out the locally-owned bag store that I had seen on TikTok, even though I usually prefer a multinational brand when it comes to bags. However, I was in the market for something a bit more customized and unique, so I thought it was worth giving the local store a try.

In my experience, small, local stores often offer customized and limited supply products, which means that only a few people have a particular item. As someone who values exclusivity, this is one of the reasons why I sometimes choose to shop at local stores. It's a chance to find unique and one-of-a-kind items that may not be available at larger, multinational retailers.

As you can see above,all of the bags looked really cute and were sold ranging from 15$ $50. Upon closer look, I found that the materials used in the bags were of good quality and the inside of the bags was spacious. Not only are these bags stylish and fashionable, they're also a great option for those on a limited budget.

The locally-owned bag store I visited had a wide range of bag options available, including laptop bags, backpacks, and tote bags. I was specifically looking for a tote bag that had multiple compartments, and I was pleased to find what I was looking for at the store. Many tote bags don't have compartments, which can be frustrating for someone like me who likes to be organized when traveling.

I was confused to choose between olives and brown. Then, I decided on the brown one and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was easy to fold, unlike some of the other bags I currently own. Being able to fold the bag is a big bonus for me, as I don't always use it and only take it out when I reach my destination. The attention to practical details like this was one of the things that impressed me. The staff also mentioned it is made from waterproof material, as this is a very useful feature to have in a bag, especially in rainy weather. It can be frustrating to have a bag that gets wet even briefly, so knowing that my bag will stay dry is a big relief. The staff at the store were helpful in answering my questions and providing information about the products, and I appreciated their knowledge and willingness to help. They even showed me that a 15’’ laptop can fit inside of it.

One thing I noticed about the products was that they seemed to have a minimalistic, Korean aesthetic, which is something that I personally prefer when shopping. I like items that have a minimalist color scheme and overall look, and many of the products at the store seemed to fit this style.

After purchasing my tote bag, I ended up browsing their other items and discovered that they also sell small collections of jeans and cardigans. It was interesting to see the variety of products that the store had available, beyond just bags.

Last but not least, It was interesting to visit a small, locally-owned store after not having done so in a while. I found that these types of stores can be quite trendy and offer more unique products than what is typically available at larger retailers. I'm not sure why some people choose to shop at big chain stores like H&M, but everyone has their own preferences when it comes to shopping.