CFID is pleased to announce that it has started the implementation of the project “Support for women in the development of businesses”, this project is financed by the Slovak Agency for International Development and Cooperation/SlovakAid.
Over 20 business women from different cities of Kosovo last Saturday (November 11, 2023) participated in the first online training within the framework of this project. The main focus in this training was advice offered to businesses on how to advance sales of their products, how to identify and connect with desired customers, analyzing market gaps, so that their businesses can be as successful as possible. .
During this training, many women shared their experiences of how they started their small businesses and how far they have reached.
Tuba Koçbashli, owner of a business in Prizren, which deals with the preparation of sweets, their decoration and family surprises, says that when she started dealing with this activity, she had many objections and lack of support from her family.
Since Tuba also has the profession of a teacher, her family and society were skeptical that such an initiative would have positive results, and that according to them “the job of a teacher was safe, she didn’t need anything else”.
Despite this, Tuba’s will and desire to work did not back down and she reached where she is today – a successful mother in the field she has chosen.
“First, I produced products for my family members. For every family that had parties, I started posting on social media and the orders started pouring in. I have had customers since the first year I started production. I was the first in Kosovo for decorations. At first, a product was very expensive. I started it in the home kitchen. I had the will and desire to work, even though I wasted a lot of time on a decor. In addition, I am also a teacher. They criticized me, telling me that what you need, you have a secure job, it’s not worth it, it’s a waste of time. The profit has been minimal. Only my brother and nephew have supported me, while my mother and sister told me ‘they are expensive, no one buys them’. Back then, there were no decorated cakes. My daughter’s requests for a cake with Mickey Mouse made me think of it as an idea,” says Tuba.
Tuba made this success story as part of the discussion on how businesses can identify their customers, how to connect with them and how to increase their reach. During this training, it was emphasized that quality and originality are two main elements to have continuous success.
In addition, by the leader of this training, it was said that consumers’ preferences and tastes for different products, whether for sweets or even traditional foods, change constantly. This fact was considered very important in building a success story for all women targeting the long-term market.
“Quality and originality are the two main elements to succeed in this sector. Your ability to identify ideal customers is imperative to continued success. What makes you unique? We know that in Kosovo there are many businesses that are led by women. What sets each of you apart? What do you offer that others don’t? Consumers and customers are looking for original recipes of organic ingredients. It is a fact that needs to be taken into account that consumer preferences change very quickly. A successful business is one that creates loyal customers”, it was emphasized in the training.
Even the women who receive orders for the products every day, who promise that they ‘know how to make them best’, affirm that the demands of customers are changing day by day.
“It’s true. Now we have different requests, for example, there are clients who are diabetic, have allergies to eggs or any other ingredient. We try to prepare more ingredients to suit their requirements. Then, now the demands for healthier cooking have increased”, said one of the women participating in the training.
In addition to these, another element that was evaluated as highly relevant was the continuous analysis of the market, what is missing and what are the customer’s requirements, so that market penetration is as easy as possible.
In this regard, some of the participating women emphasized that when they started the activity with different products, there was a lack of them, so this was one of the reasons they reaped success.
As part of the training, Selvete Nura, owner of a pastry shop in Mitrovica, while talking about her achievements in the business field, expressed her concern, saying that another woman she does not know is completely copying her recipes and everything. , which is about business.
Long-term strategy and not focusing on winning the moment were the key words in the coach’s response, along with Selvete’s concern.
Meanwhile, another focus during this training was drawing attention to women that they should invest in safety certificates, including hygiene rules and the origin of the main ingredients.
Also, it was emphasized that the connection with customers should be as diverse as possible. Certain products should not be exposed only in markets or social networks, but should include as many physical and online channels as possible. Fairs, conferences and organizations were mentioned here as opportunities that can influence a business to increase the number of customers and achieve the greatest possible results.
Otherwise, the training cycle will continue with women in the business field from all over Kosovo, in which there will be even more detailed information and advice regarding how to do business as well as possible.
The project, “Support for women in the development of their businesses” – is developed by the Center for Innovations and Development/CFID and is financially supported by the Slovak Agency for International Development and Cooperation/SlovakAid.
