From market stall to physical store: Kaohsiung fragrance youth brand gains recognition

A Kaohsiung-based youth entrepreneurship brand, "Yi Ning Fragrance," is gaining recognition as it expands from market stalls to a physical storefront. The brand, which specializes in unique, handmade fragrances, recently received a visit from Kaohsiung City Youth Bureau Director Lin Kai-hsuan, who experienced the scent-blending process firsthand.

Founded by Tim, "Yi Ning Fragrance" focuses on creating perfumes through manual blending, emphasizing the use of natural ingredients and avoiding plasticizers. The brand also offers workshops where customers can learn to create their own personalized scents. Tim highlighted that the business initially operated through market stalls, participating in events like the 2022 Taiwan Design Expo and the Taiwan Creative Expo, where the positive response to their scent-blending workshops indicated a strong market demand for customized fragrance experiences.

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The fragrance industry is relatively rare in youth entrepreneurship. Last year, only one fragrance brand was selected for the general youth entrepreneurship subsidy.

This demand spurred the decision to open a physical store and a scent-blending classroom. The expansion was significantly aided by the Kaohsiung City Youth Bureau's general youth entrepreneurship subsidy program. Tim noted that such support is crucial for micro-entrepreneurs who often struggle to secure adequate resources compared to larger corporations.

The Youth Bureau stated that the subsidy helps alleviate the initial financial burden for young entrepreneurs. They plan to continue offering diverse support resources, including mentorship and subsidy programs, to help more young people turn their creative ideas and expertise into successful businesses. "Yi Ning Fragrance" now offers custom scent experiences and fragrance gift sets at its new location in Wang's Brothers Park.

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Compared to large corporations or mature brands, micro-entrepreneurs often find it more difficult to obtain sufficient resources. The general youth entrepreneurship subsidy perfectly serves as an important support during the early stages of entrepreneurship.