Biru Pagi Studio is a textile and print business in Yogyakarta, producing hand-printed scarves and fabric goods in small runs. Its founders chose Buy Small because they wanted the purchasing decisions behind their own products to support the independent creative businesses around them. They set a goal of spending at least one in five supplier rupiah with independent suppliers, including a neighborhood paper maker, a small photography service, and a family-run packaging workshop. The studio tracks orders in a simple monthly sheet and compares the total with overall supplier spending. In its first two quarters, independent businesses received 22 percent of its supplier spending, compared with 15 percent before the pledge. A locally made paper wrap also reduced the studio’s average packaging lead time by four days. Co-founder Ayu Prameswari says the pledge prompted the team to look beyond the cheapest catalogue option and build dependable working relationships. The studio checks quality and delivery standards for every supplier, regardless of size.
