Prospects from online sales

Currently, online sales are considered a "fertile ground" for expanding product markets and reaching a diverse range of customers.

Black Crow sticky rice from Thanh Son district is being sold via livestream on social media platforms.

E-commerce is no longer a foreign concept in society, especially in the current era of Industry 4.0. This reality requires businesses to proactively change and adapt quickly to consumer trends. Many innovations in business methods to suit consumer psychology have been implemented by businesses, such as shifting to online sales, delivery, improving product quality and design, reducing prices, offering shipping incentives, and giving gifts. Alongside traditional, direct business methods, businesses in the province have quickly completed procedures and connected with e-commerce platforms to sell their goods. In particular, businesses and cooperatives have actively brought their products to major domestic distribution channels such as Shopee, Voso, Tiki, Sendo, Postmart, and TikTok.

Livestreaming sales from a pomelo orchard in Doan Hung district.

Established in 2020, the Thanh Nam Tea Cooperative (Thanh Son town, Thanh Son district) has signed contracts to cultivate safe tea with 80 households in Thanh Son and Tan Son districts, increasing the cooperative's total tea cultivation area to 100 hectares; mainly LDP1 tea, Bat Tien tea, and Oolong tea. Currently, the cooperative has 16 types of tea products, including two high-quality products, Thanh Nam Shrimp Bud Tea and Thanh Nam Jasmine Tea, which have been recognized as 3-star OCOP products.

Ms. Duong Thi Duyen, Director of Thanh Nam Tea Cooperative, said: In 2023, the cooperative opened two stores to introduce and sell OCOP products in Thanh Son district and promoted products on e-commerce platforms, boosting sales on social media such as Facebook and Zalo... Currently, the cooperative's products have been exported to Saudi Arabia and are sold in stores and supermarkets inside and outside the province. The cooperative's teas are diverse, serving the needs of many customer segments, with prices ranging from 300,000 to 1,500,000 VND/kg.

Selling on social media platforms is a well-planned and meticulous strategy aimed at attracting customers.

After 3 years of operation, the VNS Phu Tho Bamboo Cooperative (Dong Luong commune, Cam Khe district) has expanded its workshop to ^500m² with modern machinery and equipment. Each month, the cooperative purchases approximately 20,000-30,000 bamboo and rattan plants from various regions within and outside the province. Products made from bamboo and rattan, such as knives, spoons, forks, straws, household utility items, trays, teapots, cups, tea boxes, tables, and chairs, are popular and trusted by consumers. In 2022 and 2023, the cooperative received OCOP 4-star certification for its product group (bamboo knives, spoons, forks, and straws) and OCOP 3-star certification for its product group (bamboo trays, teapots, cups, tea boxes).

The Provincial Cooperative Union coordinated the organization of training to improve trade promotion skills and the application of social media platforms in promoting, introducing, and selling products for cooperatives in ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Phu Tho province.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Vuong - Director of VNS Phu Tho Bamboo Cooperative, affirmed: To achieve sustainable development, in addition to traditional sales and participation in exhibitions and product distribution in the locality and neighboring provinces, VNS Phu Tho Bamboo Cooperative has also established a website and registered to sell products through e-commerce platforms and social networks to introduce, promote, and sell bamboo products to the market. To date, the cooperative's products have been sold nationwide and exported to several countries such as South Korea, India, Japan, France, and the United States.

Besides maintaining the effective operation of their websites, businesses and cooperatives have maximized the benefits of social media platforms to post articles, advertise product images, upload videos , and livestream to introduce their products and goods, thereby gaining interaction and continuing to receive orders from customers. This also helps consumers, even without directly visiting the store, to still grasp and update complete information and images about the quantity and quality of products, thereby stimulating consumer demand.

According to Ms. Le Thi Hai Yen, Vice President of the Provincial Cooperative Union: In 2024, with the theme "For the sustainable development of the collective economy and cooperatives in the province," the Provincial Cooperative Union will support 14 cooperatives in building productivity and quality management systems, applying and transferring science and technology, and digital transformation. Training courses will be organized on planning, operating, and developing production and business linkages along the value chain, promoting trade, and selling products for livestock and crop cooperatives in Thanh Son, Tan Son, Yen Lap, and Thanh Thuy districts. At the same time, efforts will be intensified to promote and encourage cooperatives, cooperative groups, and ethnic minority and mountainous communities to apply e-commerce, connect and expand markets for products from ethnic minority and mountainous regions, combined with product displays and promotion, thereby creating optimal effectiveness in building consumer outreach strategies.

It is clear that e-commerce platforms with online consumption methods are proving to be an effective approach, helping to increase production value and create sustainable outlets for farmers' products.

Thanh Tra