Each order is a time to build reputation

From the first orders of handmade turmeric starch to packages of coconut cakes, dried mango, and macadamia nuts, Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh (born in 1991, in Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang City) has brought Do 37 products to many culinary events. Ms. Oanh's entrepreneurial journey is a story about a woman's aspiration to rise up with the belief that: Working from the heart will touch the heart.

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: "Taking quality as the root, taking customers as the center". Not long after, when realizing 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 taking on a production job 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 down. 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 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, running production and business operations.

But it was also these challenges that tempered her mettle, helped Ms. Oanh learn how to manage her time, improve her business knowledge and seek local support resources. Step by step, her entrepreneurial journey shows that with perseverance, even starting from a small kitchen, "business moms" 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 with programs to support women in starting a business, and was encouraged to carry out the 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 it provide practical support for women to start a business, the Association 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 more strength. "And when they trust me, I will try harder to not let that trust down," 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... Those things helped her confidently transform from small business to professional production.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, realizing the potential for tourism development in Da Nang, she shifted from products serving domestic consumption to specialties serving international visitors. The nutritious cakes with coconut flavor, dried mango, cashew nuts, macadamia nuts... are beautifully packaged and have been chosen as gifts by many foreign tourists.

When asked about the value she is pursuing in her business path, Ms. Oanh said 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 get to 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 helps out. Without 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