Cotton product maker eyes marketplaces countrywide
Cotton product maker eyes marketplaces countrywide
The Lao Cotton shop, the only cotton products operator in Champassak province, is now expected to invest an additional amount of 50 million kip to expand the range of items it currently produces.
Following the positive reaction from customers both locally and internationally, the operator is keen to increase its range of high quality cotton products.
The owner of the shop, Ms Bounsy Sorsengsoulichanh spoke to Vientiane Times at the recent Intellectual Property Fair in Vientiane. She told reporters that initially she has put a small amount of money into the business over the past two years.
“My business operation has been running quite smoothly over the past years and the number of customers has been increasing all the time. This is because there is only my shop selling cotton products in the province,” she said.
“That is one reason for me to invest another 50 million kip to increase the quantity of products,” she said. As a small business operator, Ms Bounsy is hopeful to make a significant profit by gaining more than 50 million kip by the end of this year.
Champassak is one of the biggest provinces in the country but it has a small number of cotton product shops, paving a smooth path for sellers to gain more profits.
“Most of my products were bought from handicraft producer groups in Xanasomboun district, Champassak province, but it depends on my design,” she said.
At the shop, a cotton handkerchief sells for 2,000 kip while cotton cloth sells for 20,000 kip per metre.
“I think I gain good feedback from local markets in my home province, so Vientiane will be my next market. This is because many customers from Vientiane have ordered more than 4,000 metres to 5,000 metres,” Ms Bounsy sai d.
She was also optimistic that the international market for cotton products is turning brighter, with some foreign customers from Thailand and European countries also interested in her Lao cotton products.
“Most of our products are uniquely designed; it also depends on the orders of our customers but I avoid any copies of the weaving styles of other provinces,” Ms Bounsy added.
Almost all of the customers intended to buy the cotton to make shirts or other items such as tablecloths.
Small and medium d enterprises (SMEs) in Laos are a key driver of economic development, despite the fact that access to funds remains a challenge.
