Products associated with nature
The family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu (born in 1992, Mau Ca residential group, Tra My town) has long been doing gardening, growing many types of spices such as turmeric, lemongrass, perilla, bitter melon... Previously, agricultural products were mainly sold fresh to traders, with low value, depending on the output.
After researching the method of making herbal soap from fresh turmeric and lemongrass on the internet, Ms. Kieu experimented, improved the formula and created a natural soap product that is safe for the user's skin. In 2024, she participated in the Bac Tra My District Creative Startup Competition with a fresh turmeric soap product and won third prize.
Motivated, she continued to research and expand products such as perilla soap, bitter melon soap, cinnamon soap, honey soap... all using available ingredients from the Tra My highlands. Currently, in addition to selling locally, the products are distributed through online channels, with more than 5kg of finished soap per month.
"It's been just over a year since I started, and I'm very happy that the product has been well received by the market. I believe that herbal soap - a benign product from nature - is a modern consumer trend. In the future, I want to expand the scale, perfect the brand to gradually build the brand."
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu
Also in Tra My town, Ms. Tang Thi Thuong started a business with a hair care product line including fermented mugwort shampoo and fermented coconut oil hair conditioner. As a food technology engineer, Ms. Thuong did not choose to work in a laboratory, but returned to her hometown to develop products from local resources.
Ms. Thuong's shampoo products are made from 100% natural ingredients, especially using fermentation technology to help preserve the medicinal properties of medicinal herbs, support hair darkening, reduce dandruff and scalp fungus. With this idea, she won second prize in the 2024 Bac Tra My District Creative Startup Competition. Currently, the product is available at some OCOP points of sale in the district.
Spread the idea
The start-up movement in Tra My has received strong influence among the union members thanks to the leadership of the town’s Youth Union Secretary - Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang My. Ms. My is also the one who directly experienced the start-up process from local specialty products.
In 2022, when the People's Committee of Bac Tra My district launched the Innovation and Startup Competition, Ms. My successfully developed the idea of producing Tra My cinnamon rice paper, a local specialty, and won the Second Prize, which was then recognized as a provincial-level startup project. In 2023, she continued to participate with the Siamese chili salt product, winning the District-level Encouragement Prize and the Provincial-level Encouragement Prize.
From her own practical experience, Ms. Hoang My actively guides young people to materialize their ideas, from building product formulas to designing packaging and labels, contacting printing and bottle units, and supporting administrative procedures such as quality testing and product declaration.
For many young people in the highlands, project development, idea documentation, presentation skills, etc. are still unfamiliar. Therefore, the Town Youth Union has proactively introduced them to participate in training courses organized by the district and province. For award-winning products, we also support packaging upgrades and product communication on digital platforms.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang My - Secretary of Tra My Town Youth Union
Not only stopping at supporting individuals, Tra My Town Union also acts as a bridge to bring startup products to participate in OCOP product display and exhibition events, district and provincial startup festivals. Through this, many projects have met partners, sent sample products and are promoting market expansion.
“In the near future, we will guide you to bring your products to participate in OCOP evaluation and ranking, gradually professionalize, and associate with the strengths of the highlands. Starting a business in the mountainous areas has many challenges, but if you know how to take advantage of local resources, it will be a unique advantage,” Ms. My affirmed.
[VIDEO] - Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang My talks about the support of Tra My Town Youth Union for start-up projects:
In recent times, Bac Tra My District Youth Union has coordinated to organize activities to support young people in starting and establishing businesses, including training programs and capital support. Accordingly, Bac Tra My District has recognized nearly 50 startup ideas and projects and 26 OCOP products that meet 3-star and 4-star standards. Of these, 18 products are still valid.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/loi-the-khoi-nghiep-tu-dac-san-vung-cao-3152280.html
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