Having experienced ups and downs, this woman’s natural soap business is now gradually picking up. Operating since 2023 as part of the Polewali Transformation Community Development (TCD) project, the ladies’ group was initially not widely known by the general public. Virgin Coconut Oil, which has a myriad of benefits, is not yet very familiar to the local market, including its derivative products such as soap. The lack of interest in using VCO soap is also influenced by the relatively low purchasing power in the area. This condition makes it difficult for the women of Polewali village to market their VCO soap. This challenge became the subject of long discussions with the GHNI TCD Training Team. Various breakthroughs were born.

The VCO soap group continues to improve product quality while learning marketing management. In the initial stages, production was adjusted to the number of orders. However, each month only around 20-50 units were sold, still far from the target. Those numbers have not been able to add much economic value for families of the women who make soap.

This year, the trend of natural soap is increasing in demand. Consumers are starting to switch from factory-made soap to handmade soap with good raw material quality more guaranteed. This is an opportunity for mothers in Polewali. They are increasingly persistent in marketing their products to the wider community, reaching a number of cosmetic stores in the province. A member of the soap group, Mama Guritno*, is grateful that this condition has had a positive impact on VCO soap sales. She said that a number of stores now routinely order the VCO soap they produce. Now the sales volume continues to increase to around 70-100 units each month. Mama Guritno and the soap group ladies are now continuing to develop products and expand marketing. It is hoped that market demand will continue to increase and sales targets can be achieved each month, so that the results of VCO soap products can support the livelihoods of families in the Polewali Village.

*For the purpose of safety and wellbeing, “Guritno”, is a pseudonym for the individual mentioned in this project.

Thank you,

Written by Didi, GHNI Partner