TUMPAT: Rosazwana Mohd Abdul Aziz and her husband Ariffin Mail have been selling local handicraft products made of bamboo and rattan for more than 10 years.
The couple would usually sell between 30 and 40 types of handicraft products such as baskets, food covers and mats at their tiny shop along Jalan Kampung Talak, here.
Rosazwana said a majority of her customers were outsiders especially those from Kuala Lumpur and Pahang.
"Most of my clients are those who come to Kelantan for social visits and their numbers will normally be higher during school and public holidays.
"They like to buy handicraft products at my shop as they claim the designs are different from those sold by other traders.
"They buy the products either for personal use or as a gift.
"But since the Movement Control Order (MCO) started in March, my business has dropped," said the 28-year-old when met at her shop.
Elaborating, her husband Arifin said their business went down almost half compared to before the MCO began.
"We only get a few customers nowadays, all locals," said the father of three.
Ariffin said the situation forced him to stop ordering handicraft products from local makers.
"I do not want the makers, made up mostly of the elderly and poor, to suffer losses like us.
"Therefore, I have temporarily stopped orders for new handicraft products and will only continue if the pandemic in the country improves," said Ariffin whose handicraft shop was among the first to open in Tumpat.
