We’ve got some exciting news to share with you about our latest project with Nomi Network Cambodia (NNC), for which we are commissioned by the Canadian Trade and Investment Facility (CTIF). NNC is on a mission to empower women who are survivors of trafficking and those who are at risk – and we’re thrilled to be working alongside them to help these women entrepreneurs grow their businesses and access new markets for their products.

Developing and implementing a strong Marketing and Export promotion Strategy

So, what have we been up to since the start of this project in 2022? Well, we’ve been busy developing and implementing a robust Marketing and Export promotion Strategy (MES) for NNC’s Micro, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) partners in the handicraft and fashion industries. We know that these women-owned and led businesses have incredible potential, and we want to help them realise it.

For this, we conducted comprehensive market research to inform our MES. This strategy will enable women-owned and led MSMEs in the handicraft and fashion industries to access domestic and international markets, including Canada. We’ve provided NNC and the MSMEs with strategy recommendations for a value proposition, branding, market segmentation, product & promotion strategy, and collaboration opportunities with strategic partners.

Strengthening the capacity

But that’s not all. We also provided capacity-building support to NNC staff and MSME partners through the development and delivery of training programs. We hosted successful training programs in Phnom Penh, covering:

• Export marketing and CSR, led by trainer Tove Antonissen
• Branding and promotion, led by trainer Luz Maria Barrientos
• Digital marketing, led by trainers Mariët Saakstra and Girda Safitri.

MSMEs connected to NNC receiving their training certificate

And we didn’t stop there. We also held a Training of Trainers program to enhance the soft skills of NNC’s future trainers. During the program, the consultants shared valuable insights to eight local trainers on various aspects, such as creating a training plan and script, identifying and overcoming challenges that may arise during the training, utilising useful offline and online tools for the training, and the next steps to become an effective teacher. The participants also received peer reviews on their strengths and areas for improvement.

Creating opportunities

We also organised a study tour to the HGH India trade fair. This presented a valuable opportunity for NNC’s task force and Nomi Network India’s team to meet with potential buyers, establish connections for the upcoming networking event, and gather trade fair intelligence. We achieved fruitful results, identifying ten exhibitors or companies with the highest business lead potential, securing two new trainers and one buyer.

The final chapter: Virtual Matching Event

To give the MSMEs connected to Nomi Network Cambodia an opportunity to put all the learnings from the (International) business essentials training to practice, we co-organised a virtual business matching event on March 30, 2023. This event started off with sharing sessions by sector experts Marieke de Haan and Girda Safitri about trends and a business case presented by Godie van der Paal of Kingdom of Wow – a Cambodian business exporting ethically made footwear.

Participants of the Nomi Network Cambodia Virtual Matching Event

In addition, the event showcased 25 MSMEs owned and led by women from Cambodia’s fashion and handicraft industries who had the opportunity to meet up with international buyers. Our high expectations turned out to be realistic, as the event increased exposure and visibility for participating businesses and expanded networks and new business contacts for NNC’s members. A quote from one of the buyers participating in the event: Thank you for including me in this event. I was so impressed by the stories of the buyers and would like to work with some of the artisans I met. All the best! 

We’re thrilled to have been a part of NNC’s mission to support women’s economic empowerment in the handicraft and fashion sectors in Cambodia. We believe that with the right strategy and support, these women entrepreneurs can achieve great things!

Are you looking for a partner on your journey towards success? From conducting market research and finding the perfect business matches to creating compelling digital marketing content, we are here to support you every step of the way. Get in touch with us.