Category: Shopping

Chi Limited, makers of Happy Hour by Chivita Fruit Drink, has  launched a new fruit drink, Frooty Happy Hour. The product available in 100ml pouches is touted as a healthy, refreshing, fruit flavoured drink with exciting variants that offer an instant shot of refreshment for consumers.

Retailing at N25 price point, Frooty Happy Hour is currently viewed as the most affordable quality product in the market. It is said to be a healthy beverage as it offers natural fruity benefits as well as provides high quality refreshment for the mind and body.

Along with its handy pack size which resonates with an upwardly mobile youthful consumer segment desirous of rejuvenating satisfaction anytime and anywhere, Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita further seeks to increase its appeal and create a connection with consumers with three intriguing variants of Orange, Pineapple and Red Berries.

The brand’s tagline of “a shot of refreshment” highlights a consistent and memorable brand message that communicates its promise of unrivalled refreshment. At its core is a promise to deliver a shot of affordable fruity refreshing goodness with each consumer experience.

Speaking about the new product, Managing Director of Chi Limited, Deepanjan Roy, said  Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita was introduced to invigorate and tap into a market demand for more affordable options of great tasting, refreshing and healthy drinks.

“Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita is an invitation to consumers to experience a refreshing drink but more importantly, to do so at a price point of N25, which is more affordable to meet a growing demand and offer consumers added value for healthy refreshment for every hour,” he noted.

Frooty Happy Hour by Chivita 100ml pouches are currently available in roadside kiosks, Chi Shoppe, departmental stores and Neighbourhood shops across Nigeria.

The final quarter of the year when stores, homeowners, online and offline, woo customers with bonanzas and freebies to make brisk sales has come. It is usually the time to restock for another year, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

The  final quarter of the year  is time for bumper sales by retailers and others involved in shopping business.

It is the time  many retailers and malls give all sorts of bonanzas and freebies to woo customers. Not wanting their stock to spill over into the new year, they begin clearance sales by October.

A visit to some gross sales shops and malls in Lagos metropolis and online monitoring confirmed that many retailers are making brisk sales by dangling carrots. Every year, malls in addition offer various promos to spice up sales. On most occasions, their wares are displayed outside the shop as if they won’t be patronised if they’re inside the shop. To them, the  methodology is to promote at ‘give away’ costs. When done  online, it is named ‘deals of the day’ or ‘today’s sales’ as their promos blink endlessly the second a shopper logs on  the web. The promos are positioned at strategic places for all to see. Most outlets and malls visited stated that they have been recording gross sales as much  as forty per cent. Sellers are optimistic that by the end of the quarter in December, they may have achieved their goal of destocking and restocking. According to some retailers, turnout has been encouraging to push their sales this quarter.  Although, some stated there have been extra window buyers, however, the consciousness has gained sufficient floor. At Daviva, an upscale clothing  retailer, the sales person who requested not to be named, told The Nation Shopping that most retailers had been developing with one gross sales technique or the other because the quarter started three weeks in the past. Based on this , it would assist them make big gross sales when the Yuletide comes.

“Our promotional give aways have been on since first week of September like every other retailer. We do that yearly in order  to have bountiful gross sales. We’re pushing out as many items as potential by slashing their costs into three, generally  to lure prospective customers,” she stated. Pressed further , she said: “With this, we’re in a position to get rid of outdated inventory, outdated designs  which herald new ones for the brand new Year.”

Retailers are extra aggressive with promotions, attempting to clear out merchandise and restock new designs for the brand new Year. From investigations,  about  10 per cent of the Nigerian retail business, report month-to-month gross sales when it isn’t festivity or particular gross sales interval. That’s the reason all of them take the final quarter  critical.

Teens don’t necessarily have the same spending habits as older cohorts. For one, many don’t even have a job. But marketers still need to pay attention to this group—and here’s why.

A November 2017 survey from technology company Inmar queried 1,156 US teen internet users aged 13 to 19, with the sample skewing female. It found that teens, like many shoppers, are always on the lookout for a good deal.

In fact, many teens were influenced to shop at their regular store by low prices, sales and discounts, as well as high-quality products.

And that’s also what keeps them loyal. Two-thirds of respondents said a great price was one of the characteristics that made them loyal to brands and retailers, and almost as many said high-quality items or services did the same. Getting exclusive benefits also bolstered loyalty among a sizable minority of those polled.

Mobile is another factor that influences how this group shops. According to Inmar, more than half (56percent) of teens use their digital devices for online shopping. And separate studies have shown similar sentiments as well.

Take a February 2017 survey from Euclid Analytics, which found that respondents ages 16 to 21—who are also referred to as Gen Z—use their smartphones in-store more than the average shopper. Many of those surveyed said they use their phones to take pictures of products for future reference, to talk and chat with friends and family about their purchases, and, more commonly, to compare prices.

eMarketer estimates that 81.1 per cent  of 12- to 17-year-olds in the US will be smartphone users this year. That puts them slightly ahead of the total adult population, for which smartphone penetration is expected to be 79.7 per cent this year.

The International Cake Exploration Societe (ICES) Nigeria chapter has held its 10th Cake Expo at the Event Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. The event brought together cake makers, manufacturers and sugar artists, among others, to exhibit, train and hold seminars to promote the industry. TONIA ‘DIYAN was there.

The need to promote cake- making as a viable source of income for entrepreneurs seems to have been realised by the International Cake Exploration Societe (ICES).

The group has elevated the art of cake decorating to a higher level.

It uses the platform of its yearly cake show as a primary motivator  to hone the skills of Nigerian cake artists, among others.

On Wednesday, it held its 10th Cake Expo at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

At the event, were shows, and training. It afforded sugar craft enthusiasts’and professionals to come from all over the country and beyond to learn, share and teach.

Participants said the event has raised the standard of sugar craft or cake decorating.

The expo is built around a series of classes where people are taught about cake making – from baking, decorating to the business aspect of it. Designed to touch lives, the show has opened a window of opportunities for sugar enthusiasts to learn free.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande, who was represented at the event, advised participants to  join the cake society, saying: “If you want to be a fantastic baker, you must belong to this group and to belong here, you will be able to learn more, and when you learn more, you sell more. It is your work that will sell you. I, therefore, indulge both males and females interested in cake making to belong to this organisation to improve themselves.”

The commissioner praised the organisers for holding the event. “When you improve in what you do, you will be able to sell more. One should not be stagnant; people should try as much as possible to improve in their work. This is an event that people should look forward to yearly because there is hardly an event that is not celebrated with cake.Cake has become a symbol of celebration, joy and happiness; therefore, I congratulate all those involved and are participating in this event. I want to encourage people to put in more effort into their work and your work will sell you to the whole world. If your work is good, people will patronise you,” she said.

Mrs Nnena Nkwocha, the pioneer ICES Nigeria representative,  said: “It is good to be here and to see what this vision has become. It’s a dream come through for me, a wonderful vision. When I conceived what it was meant to be, it is what it has turned out to be.  It’s been years of teaching people, a lot of people, that I met initially as new entrants in the industry have become instructors.”

On the food and beverage industry’s contribution to the economy, Mrs Nwocha said: “The  economy is unfair to this industry. If it gave this industry the chance, it would really add a lot. Here you’ll find professionals. There are doctors, lawyers, people who have left other professions to join this place. We are not a bunch of people who do not know what we are doing. We all have a vision and if the economy will give us the support in the sort of product that we need and how the imported products are priced or taxed. If they will give us the soft loans that we need to get bakeries that are of standard because the biggest constraints we all have is finance.

‘’The finance to set up the way we ought to set up. But I think  inspite of that, Nigerians are very talented and very resilient people and you can see that here. You can see artwork that will blow your mind away.”

She continued: “This is an industry that carries huge potential. Food and beverage is a large industry and it’s one that can propel the country forward. Tourism is built around it. The works of our hands have spoken for us. If you go to events these days, you will see cakes in all shapes and forms. It involves a lot of skills and training. In a cake there are borrowed skills from carpentry, engineering, because if I am going to put up a structure, it has to be firm on the inside. Apart from that there is art, there so many things that you draw from.”

The group’s Communication Director, Amanda Sam Wobo, said: “Today, the cake industry is celebrating the cake expo in Nigeria, which is 10 years old. Most people are going into the baking industry now and this is where people can learn new techniques, new things; know the ingredients to use for products because today we are actually having discounted classes. For a class that goes for N15, 000, participants pay N10,000. This is where cake makers will meet people because it’s a national thing; so, all the states are here.

“We pay N10,000 yearly as our national membership, then $75,000 for international membership; because every year between July and August, we go for the convention in the United States where ICES was founded. So, this is our own way of having our convention in Nigeria every October. But aside that, we also have our day of sharing where your membership fee gets you to attend the day free and by the day of sharing, we mean our members coming to teach for free. ‘We care and share with the ice’ – that is our slogan.”

Also, Susan Ogunbayode, ICES’ Country Representative, said: ”We are adding to the Nigerian employment. We have over 6,000 members and by the time they all employ one person each, I think it helps out. At the convention, we teach how to bake and how to use their fingers, letting them know there is nothing like unemployment. “

Dubai Holding and Emaar Properties have announced the launch of Dubai Square, a new retail metropolis that pushes the boundaries of modern retail and leisure in Dubai Creek Harbour by drawing on next-generation technology.

Blurring the boundaries of online and in-mall shopping, integrating indoor and outdoor, and delivering a social experience like none other, the all-new Dubai Square is designed for the new era of customers, digital, connected and tech-savvy, and setting a benchmark for retail experiences in the 21st century.

“Dubai Square disrupts the traditional mall and retail experience. Focused on the aspirations of the new generation of customers, it reflects the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as a global hub and a smart city. Dubai Square will play a pivotal role in further establishing Dubai as the next champion of global retail,” Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties said.

Dubai Square is set in the heart of Dubai Creek Harbour, the six-square kilometre mega-development only 10 minutes from the Dubai International Airport and the iconic Burj Khalifa by Emaar, as well as set by the historic Dubai Creek. Adjacent to Dubai Creek Tower, the astonishing new icon, Dubai Square – in its totality – represents a 2.6-million square metre (about 30 million square feet) retail, hospitality and residential district for the future.

According to Alabbar, Dubai Square will be linked directly to the Dubai Creek Tower through a cutting-edge underground extension.  Here, they can revel at a plaza at the base of the Tower.

The Plaza is a clock-shaped haven of landscaping, palm trees and water features sprawling across half a kilometre of land – the length of ten Olympic sized swimming pools.

Equivalent to the size of more than 100 football pitches – with over 750,000 square metres (8.07 million sq ft) of gross floor retail space – Dubai Square pushes the boundaries of design and mall layout. Dubai Square has nearly more than twice the gross leasable area of The Dubai Mall.

Dubai Square, Alabbar revealed, is spread across three levels, each presenting a unique set of experiences to the customer. Skylights, glazed roofs and shopfront windows will be part of the sensory visitor experience.

Parks, patches of green and lush landscaping will provide a natural balance to state-of-the-art facilities. Special LED technology is set to drive impactful and interactive backdrops and delight customers throughout their journey.

Fierce competition, requiring creative marketing and sales promotions to woo customers, characterise the last quarter of the year.

Friendly-customer service representatives, fast service and an appealing selection of merchandise, paired with special pricing structures help retailers achieve a profitable sales season.

The last quarter of the year is usually for bumper sales; with many outlets and malls giving various bonanzas and freebies to woo buyers. Not wanting their stock to spill over into the new year, most outlets usually start clearance sales this month to signal the beginning of the last quarter of every year.

But realising the state of the economy, most retailers have decided to get prospective shoppers early by starting their pre-Christmas sales to get into shoppers’ wallets. By so doing, such traders are able to cut off their competitors by promoting wide selection, good pricing and a calm, relaxing shopping environment this last quarter.

A visit to several retail stores across Lagos was insightful. Despite the recession,  some people are optimistic that by the end of this quarter in December, they would have achieved their aims of destocking, restocking and most importantly, making huge profit.

They have made shopping this season fun-filled as they offer freebies to early shoppers. Jewellery shops give away not-too-expensive ornaments, some others have initiated a promo regime, giving out raffle tickets. Findings also revealed that others have slashed prices, offering ‘buy-one, get-one-free (BOGOF)’ deals and others selling combos for half the price.

The strategy has made some retailers optimistic that customers’ turnout in this last quarter would be encouraging. Although some traders said they recorded more window shoppers last year, their strategic awareness would stimulate sales this year.

A salesperson at Poise Store, an upscale makeover and beauty store, who asked not to be named, told The Nation Shopping that most retailers had come up with various strategies, hoping that these would help them boost sales during the Yuletide.

“Our promotional offers began few days ago like every other store. We do this yearly so that we can have bountiful sales. We are pushing out as many items as possible by slashing their prices into three, sometimes four, just to lure customers,” said another source in a high-end boutique.

With this, the source explained, her boutique would do away with old stock, old designs and bring in new ones for the New Year.”

These shops have not stopped restocking. For instance, clothing stores, such as Mango, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, and Kids country, as well as online stores, which sell clothes, have brought in new fashion trend to attract customers. With this, they are hoping to make their double their sales figures.

A sales person at The Accessories 2 die 4, a jewelry store, Uduak Osere, said: “We can only be optimistic that sales will not be too different from the usual and we have come all out with various strategies to help us achieve that.’’

From investigations, only a few, representing about 10 per cent of the industry, report monthly sales when it is not festivity or specific sales period. That is why they take the last quarter more serious.

A shopping analyst Mrs Debola Majekodunmi said: ”Yes, there are undecided shoppers and procrastinators, but we want to be pleased with the sales we will make this time just like we were last year. This period is long awaited.’’

Chi Exotic Nectar has unveiled a new 150ml pack for its Pineapple Coconut product.

It offers the same taste and refreshment.

The pack is price friendly. It is the result of deploying innovation to drive brand growth in a dynamic market environment.

The variant offers an irresistible taste and distinctive refreshment that makes it ideal for indulgence and relaxation. Its taste and trendy pack size connects with the taste preferences and healthy choices of a youthful consumer segment.

According to a Brand analyst with Pride Communications, Linus Nwokoji, the fruit juice segment of market is being driven by competition, retail power and local consumer choices that determines brand and product line extension.

“The Chi Exotic Pineapple Coconut 150ml pack size is an innovative way to invigorate the market with its affordable N50 retail price.Its superior taste is sure to enable it trigger more demand, maintain market dominance as well as improve penetration in geographical markets,” he said

Chi’s Marketing Director, Mr. Probal Bhattacharya, said the Chi Exotic Pineapple Coconut packs demonstrate the brand’s resolve to deepen its reach by offering consumers an affordable option without compromising their quest for refreshment and taste.

“We are confident about the prospects of the new Chi Exotic Pineapple Coconut 150ml pack size. The 150ml pack size was introduced to align with the demand and choices of consumers by availing them the same healthy great tasting juice, but at a price point that is both pocket friendly and value driven,” he added

The new pack adds to the existing 1Ltr, 500ml and 315ml handy pack size. It can be bought in any Chi Shoppe, and any kiosks and departmental stores.

South Africa wines, spirits and liqueur manufacturer, KWA has announced the introduction of Wild Africa Cream Liqueur into the wine market.

Speaking at the unveiling in Ikeja, Lagos, the brand Manager, RTD’s Liqueurs, KWA SA, Barry Badenhorst, said the firm aimed to celebrate Nigeria and satisfy its consumers.

He said: ‘’Wild Africa has been around for few years and its available basically in every continent and because Africa is in our name, it’s time to move our African countries better so we decided to bring it to Nigeria and from here, Wild Africa will become household name that most people know because we believe as they taste the brand, there is no going back.’’

He added that there is a partnership between the company and  household products manufacturing and commodity distribution conglomerate, Ekulo Group. It will leverage the latter’s distribution network to have significant visibility around the country.

Also, the Regional Manager, West Africa KWA, John Terfa Mka, said the brand is offering quality products at affordable prices.

He sad: ‘’Unique selling is the quality thing we are brining while also coming at price point to understand that great value can be purchased in very affordable prices. Some products at that category have priced themselves so high but we give quality even better than what is in the market.’’

Hollandia Soya Milk has introduced a 100ml sachet  pack into the market.

The pack has a blue strip and  small icons that typify various sports.

Endorsed by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria as a healthy drink, Hollandia Soya Milk is cholesterol-free and comprised protein, calcium, Vitamins A, C & D.

According to a nutritionist, Mrs. Temi Obiaya, soya milk not only offers nourishment but helps to lower cholesterol levels to keep the heart healthy.

“Soya milk possesses a lot of nutritional benefits; hence, it is important that more people embrace soya milk as a dairy alternative. With very few brands seeing the value in providing soya milk as a product offering, I have come to cherish Hollandia Soya Milk not only for its zero cholesterol, but also its smooth texture and delicious taste,” she said.

Chi Limited’s Managing Director, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, said 100ml sachet pack is aimed at making soya milk more affordable and accessible.

“Although Hollandia Soya Milk has always been available in bigger pack sizes, we believe that having 100ml sachet packs will enable consumers have access to high-quality nutrition and a healthier dairy alternative in a ready-to-drink form which can be consumed anywhere and anytime, at an affordable and convenient price,” he said.

The 100ml sachet pack adds to the existing one mililitre pack and 315ml handy pack.

Hollandia Soya Milk ml sachet packs can be found in any Chi Shoppe, kiosks and stores.