FROM A HAIRDRESSER TO HAIR SALON OWNER

That is the story of Ms. Do Thi Phuong Lieu, a member of center 10 of Transaction Office No. 01, TYM – Vinh Phuc Branch, Vinh Phuc province. On October 12, 2023, Ms. Phuong Lieu was one of eight VWU members at provincial level with excellent project at and was awarded at the Women’s Startup Day event “Promoting indigenous resources” organized by Vietnam Women’s Union of Vinh Phuc province.

That is the story of Ms. Do Thi Phuong Lieu, a member of center 10 of Transaction Office No. 01, TYM – Vinh Phuc Branch, Vinh Phuc province. On October 12, 2023, Ms. Phuong Lieu was one of eight VWU members at provincial level with excellent project at and was awarded at the Women’s Startup Day event “Promoting indigenous resources” organized by Vietnam Women’s Union of Vinh Phuc province.

In 2009, Ms. Lieu learned about TYM through the introduction of local VWU officials and TYM staff. She was impressed with an organization that only allows women-owned businesses to borrow money and deposit savings. She decided to register and become a member of center 10 (Nui village, Quat Luu commune) from September 28, 2009.

Ms. Lieu shared that during her 14 years of joining TYM, she always received attention and help from TYM staff and VWU to be able to access appropriate and timely credit services to meet her needs. Recently, the total amount of loan TYM has lended her is 645 million VND. “Currently I am using the 5th investment loan of 70 million VND. Every 4 weeks, I repay nearly 6 million VND in both principal and interest. Over time using TYM’s loans, I found that the form of borrowing and then paying it off in installments is very suitable for the needs of many women and their families and does not put pressure on women when taking out loans,” she confided.

Ms. Lieu’s starting point was as a hairdresser, serving the basic hair needs of local people. After working, she realized the market potential so she boldly went to school to improve her skills and techniques in curling, straightening, and styling hair to develop her career. After 3 months of vocational training, Ms. Lieu returned and started building her career at home in Nui village, Quat Luu commune, Binh Xuyen district, Vinh Phuc province.

In recent years, Quat Luu commune has had many innovations and developments. This is a commune located around Khai Quang industrial park, near Vinh Yen City, near the center of Huong Canh town, and is home to many administrative agencies and businesses. Therefore, the number of workers and employees coming to live and work in the commune increased rapidly. Services including hair care and beauty services are also expanded and developed. Through research, Ms. Lieu realized that in the commune there are nearly 200 workers and accommodation staff, which is the potential market that she wants to target. For this target customer group, in addition to service quality, flexibility in service time is an important factor, Ms. Lieu analyzed. In addition, Ms. Lieu also offers a number of incentive programs such as: Gratitude to loyal salon customers every 6 months, free hair care for new customers, discounts for regular customers.

With her own determination, along with the help of her family and relatives, especially the support from Vietnam Women’s Union and TYM’s companion on the path of starting a business, Ms. Lieu’s hair salon is stable . Now, Ms. Lieu not only has more opportunities to develop her family’s economy and comprehensively develop herself, but she also has the conditions to support women in the commune to have more income. Currently, her hair salon has 03 assistants working with an income of 8,000,000 VND/person/month. Ms. Lieu herself also contributed her efforts to building the local movement. Over time, Ms. Lieu was trusted by the members and elected to be the local Vice President of Vietnam Women’s Union and Vice President of the Folk Dance and Sports Club. Ms. Lieu shared: “Joining VWU is an opportunity for me to affirm my position, have more new friends and customers, and is an important factor to help me increase my income.”

Since joining TYM, she feels that TYM has become a fulcrum to help her grow in her career and life: “Vietnam Women’s Union and TYM staff are very enthusiastic and thoughtful in sharing. There are times in life when I encounter difficulties, but by my side I always have friends who kindly encourages, shares, and helps me become more confident towards my life goals.”

In 2023, Ms. Lieu boldly registered to participate in the Women’s Entrepreneurship Contest, promoting local resources organized by the Central Vietnam Women’s Union, with the hope of having the opportunity to inspire her career.

“Receiving an award at the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Promoting Indigenous Resources competition is a great honor for me. This is also the motivation for me to continue expanding my career in the future. I hope TYM in particular and Vietnam Women’s Union in general will always be a solid fulcrum to help women have the opportunity to assert their role in the family and beautify their lives.”