From small kitchen corner to cooperative model
In 2016, after giving birth to her first child, Ms. Oanh chose to start a business with the intention of both taking the initiative to take care of her child and creating value for the community. She started by selling handmade turmeric starch.
Every day, she diligently posts, introduces products, packages and delivers each small order she makes. From the first orders supported by friends, she gradually has new customers - people who trust her products.
In 2017, she boldly established the business Do 37 with the business philosophy: "Quality is the root, customer is the center". Not long after, when she realized the green consumption trend was blooming, she expanded her product line: cereal powder, brown rice tea, turmeric starch and other foods.
From the small kitchen corner of the past, Do 37 has gradually transformed itself, entering the market with a more professional production process. In 2023, Ms. Oanh officially established the Do 37 Clean Agricultural Products Cooperative, gathering many like-minded members to develop products and spread a green lifestyle.
For Ms. Oanh, the first days of starting a business were not only the first steps in business but also a challenge of perseverance and effort to overcome difficulties.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh and her products
As a stay-at-home mom, taking care of a young child and working in production with many tasks to handle in a day: finding sources of goods, packaging products, writing promotional content, responding to customers... her days start very early and end late.
There were nights when she could only sleep for a few hours before waking up to worry about orders. There were times when the products were not up to standard, orders were returned, costs increased, and difficulties made her spirit depressed. Some people advised her to stop her business to focus on her children, but she knew that if she stopped, she would not be able to start over again.
The challenge for a startup like her is not only the lack of capital or experience, but also the balance between the roles she takes on at the same time: being a mother, managing production and business activities.
But it was also these challenges that tempered her character, helped Ms. Oanh learn how to manage her time, improve her business knowledge and seek support resources from the local community. Step by step, overcoming herself, her entrepreneurial journey shows that with perseverance, even starting from a small kitchen, "business mothers" can go far.
"You don't have to wait until you're good enough to start…"
In her entrepreneurial journey, she has always had the support and companionship of the local Women's Union from the very beginning. "I used to be a young mother who knew nothing about business. Through the Union, I attended training courses, was connected to programs to support women in starting a business, and was encouraged to carry out procedures to register to establish a Cooperative...".
Products of Do 37 Agricultural Cooperative are present at many culinary fairs.
Thanks to the support activities of the Association, Ms. Oanh can access loans, equipment as well as management skills. Not only does the Association provide practical support for women to start a business, it is also a spiritual support for "women to help each other progress".
Every time she has difficulties, Ms. Oanh seeks out local Association officials for strength. "And when I am trusted, I will try harder to live up to that trust," Ms. Oanh said.
“Starting a business doesn’t necessarily have to start from something big. You just need to start from what you have, what you understand, and be honest. Each small order is a chance to build credibility, each stumble is a chance to learn something.”
Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh, Director of Do 37 Agricultural Cooperative
In addition, she also received practical support and companionship from local programs such as a machinery and equipment package worth 100 million VND from the Department of Industry and Trade of Da Nang city, market connection activities, loan support, legal support... These things helped her confidently transform from small business to professional production.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, realizing the potential for Da Nang tourism development, she shifted from products serving domestic consumption to specialties serving international visitors. Nutritious cakes with coconut, dried mango, cashew, macadamia... beautifully packaged, have been chosen as gifts by many foreign visitors.
When asked about the value she is pursuing in her business path, Ms. Oanh said that it is authenticity - from quality to brand story. According to her, customers today not only buy products but also care about the product story.
"Customers don't need a perfect story. They need a real story. A mother who was exhausted from staying up all night to pack goods, was stressed because of losses but still persevered because she believed she was doing something meaningful. I believe this will go into the minds of customers," she shared.
For her, women entrepreneurs may face many difficulties but also have many strengths such as: meticulousness, perseverance, sincerity and the ability to master their own space. "We don't need to wait until we are good enough to start.
Just start, correct mistakes, learn from mistakes, rest a bit and continue. As long as you don't give up, you will reach where you want to be," she said. Starting a business is not a path of roses. And what helps her not to give up is her family.
"My husband is my life partner, my companion who supports me whenever I need him. He takes care of the children when I'm busy so I can work with peace of mind. Late at night, when he sees his wife diligently packing goods, he lends a hand. If it weren't for my family, I wouldn't have made it this far."
Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh's startup project won second prize in the Ngu Hanh Son District Women's Startup Competition (2022) and first prize in the Da Nang City Women's Startup Competition (2023).
Contact information: Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh, Director of Do 37 Agricultural Cooperative; address: 66 Le Dinh Chinh, Hoa Quy, Ngu Hanh Son district, Da Nang city; Phone number: 0946596718.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/moi-don-hang-la-mot-lan-tao-dung-uy-tin-20250602163804537.htm
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