Pemberdayaan Pengrajin Topi Lontar melalui Inovasi Produk dan Pemasaran Digital di Desa Santong Lombok Timur

Abstract

Perajinan topi lontar merupakan salah satu potensi budaya lokal masyarakat Desa Santong, Kecamatan Terara, Lombok Timur, yang memiliki nilai identitas sekaligus peluang ekonomi kreatif. Namun, keberlanjutan kerajinan ini masih menghadapi kendala, terutama keterbatasan inovasi desain, kualitas produk yang belum seragam, dan rendahnya pemanfaatan media digital untuk pemasaran. Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan meningkatkan pemahaman dan keterampilan pengrajin dalam mengembangkan kerajinan topi lontar agar lebih bernilai ekonomi dan tetap berakar pada budaya lokal. Kegiatan dilaksanakan selama dua hari dengan melibatkan 15 peserta dari kelompok pengrajin dan masyarakat usia produktif. Metode pelaksanaan menggunakan pendekatan partisipatif, edukatif, dan praktik langsung melalui tahapan identifikasi awal, sosialisasi, pelatihan teknis, praktik pengembangan produk, pengenalan pemasaran digital, serta evaluasi. Data diperoleh melalui observasi, wawancara, dokumentasi, dan lembar evaluasi sederhana, kemudian dianalisis secara deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan adanya peningkatan pemahaman peserta mengenai nilai budaya, nilai ekonomi, inovasi desain, kualitas produk, dan pemasaran digital. Keterampilan peserta juga meningkat dalam pemilihan bahan, teknik anyaman, pembentukan pola, finishing, serta pengembangan variasi desain. Respon peserta terhadap kegiatan tergolong positif, ditandai dengan partisipasi aktif, keterbukaan terhadap inovasi, dan minat untuk melanjutkan pengembangan usaha kerajinan. Kegiatan ini direkomendasikan untuk dilanjutkan melalui pendampingan desain, pengemasan, kelembagaan, dan promosi digital secara berkelanjutan oleh mitra.

Empowering Lontar Hat Artisans through Product Innovation and Digital Marketing in Santong Village, East Lombok

Lontar hat craftsmanship is one of the local cultural potentials of Santong Village, Terara District, East Lombok, which holds both cultural identity value and creative economic potential. However, the sustainability of this craft still faces several challenges, particularly limited design innovation, inconsistent product quality, and the low use of digital media for marketing. This community service program aimed to improve the knowledge and skills of artisans in developing lontar hat products so that they have higher economic value while remaining rooted in local culture. The activity was carried out over two days and involved 15 participants consisting of artisans and productive-age community members. The implementation method used participatory, educational, and hands-on practice approaches through several stages, namely initial identification, program socialization, technical training, product development practice, introduction to digital marketing, and evaluation. Data were collected through observation, interviews, documentation, and simple evaluation sheets, then analyzed using a descriptive qualitative approach. The results showed an increase in participants’ understanding of cultural value, economic value, design innovation, product quality, and digital marketing. Participants’ skills also improved in material selection, weaving techniques, pattern formation, finishing, and product design variation. Participants’ responses to the activity were positive, as reflected in their active participation, openness to innovation, and interest in continuing craft business development. This program is recommended to be continued through sustained mentoring in design, packaging, institutional strengthening, and digital promotion.