The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Winners emerge in Ribena/Lucozade’s ‘Back to School’

    The first set of winners have emerged in the 2017 edition of Ribena/Lucozade’s “Back to School” promotion, exciting shoppers of the products.

    Five lucky winners of N100, 000 scholarship were given their winnings  at the head office of Suntory Beverage and Food Nigeria, Lagos, in the presence of regulatory officials of lottery promos.

    Suntory Beverage and Food Nigeria Managing Director, Chinedum Okereke, said the promo was designed to help children return to school and alleviate the burden of school fees payment by parents in these challenging times.

    Okereke said:“The promo embodies Ribena’s motto of Goodness made fun, as we strive to make the high-pressure, back-to-school period more fun for children and parents.

    “This is our own little way of thanking our esteemed consumers for their continued loyalty and patronage over the years, and also reinforcing our dedication to helping the Nigerian child achieve his/her dreams.

    “We also want to use this as a platform to reach out and encourage patronage from new consumers, mummies, daddies, uncles and aunties are all enjoined to participate,”he added.

     

  • itel lauches affordable dual camera phones

    •Celebrates 10th anniversary

    Itel Mobile, has unveiled its latest mobile devices- itel S12 and S32 at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. This is part of its 10th anniversary.

    Speaking at the event, its Marketing Communications Manager, Oke Umurhohwo, said the newly launched itel Selfie centric phones are affordable, sleek and of high quality. The newly launched phones sells for N24, 000 and N32, 000 respectively.

    He said his firm is aware of the demands of its customers, hence the reason it introduced the most affordable dual selfie camera phones in Africa.

    Extolling the featues of the new phones, Umurhohwo explained that the new entrants come with an innovative front camera with capacity to capture more people in a single selfie shot.

    “Besides, when compared to the previous S31, the latest S32”, he explained, “boasts of 63° portrait lens for solo selfie and an ultra-wide 86° angle lens, which makes it easy for users to take group selfie.

    “Judging by the itel mobile trajectory, it is hard not to be excited for what the brand intend to achieve in the future. This can be seen today with launch of three new models S32, S32 LTE and S12; a clear upgrade on previous products. The three new models all come with Dual selfie cameras as well as fingerprint, with the S32 LTE version having 4G network ability,” he said.

    Commenting on itel mobile success, Umurhohwo said itel has always put the customers at the forefront of its business. “We believe that by providing customers with affordable, reliable and trendy mobile devices, we can allow more people get connected with the rest of the world in an efficient way.

    “With such belief in mind, itel is continually making efforts to get close to customer. The community is also at the core of itel Mobile’s philosophy. This has made the brand develop a robust CSR policy on education via the “Love Always On” initiative. Through the Love Always On campaign, various life-touching projects geared towards empowering pupils and students in different schools were carried out. Some of such projects include provision of education materials to school children, scholarships to brilliant students, as well as sponsorship of different student events across different tertiary institutions. As at October, 2017; over 1,300 students have benefited directly from itel mobile education support initiative,”he said.

    On service care issue, Umurhohwo  said the company has provided trained engineers, as well as made spare parts available for free software repairs. “It’s been 10 years of a fantastic journey. It is a milestone, we have grown over the years and this means beyond just selling our phones, we take service delivery more seriously and follow our users all the way as we are a people friendly phone,” he said, adding that itel phones are known for durability as the tides are changing.

  • Binatone unveils trade fair bonanza

    Binatone unveils trade fair bonanza

    Electronics manufacturer, Binatone, has disclosed its plans to participate at this year’s Lagos International Trade Fair, holding at the Tafawa Balewa Square Complex, Onikan, Lagos, between November 3 and 12. The firm said it will reward its customers with fabulous discounts of up to 10 per cent, plus free gifts galore on every purchase during the fair.

    Its Managing Director, Mr Prasun Banerjee, disclosed that Binatone products like Multi Cookers, Air fryers, Electric Hot Plates, Hair dryers, Hair clippers, etc. will be given out to customers upon the purchase of select Binatone products at the Fair.

    Unveiling the company’s products line-up, Banerjee disclosed that a full range of Binatone products that will be on display during the fair include the first of its kind, innovative new Binatone tower music fan with Bluetooth pairing, Designer ITAL 1660 stand fan, New 18″ stand fan ES1850, TS 2020 –unique high power 20″ stand fan, Blender model BLG 595 with unbreakable jug and ice crushing facility, JE 580 fresh juice extractor, a range of three and four litre jug and kettles and the energy efficient ceramic cooking plate for quick heating and cooking.  He stated that customers will also have the unique opportunity of buying Binatone’s new pressure pot with free transparent lid, new economy model table top gas cookers, heavy weight and high power 1200w dry irons, steam irons, and premium garment steamer for ironing “Babaringa” and “Boubou” clothes.

    “Another opportunity awaits members of the public to buy Binatone’s top of the range products at the Lagos International Trade Fair as we offer assurance to our customers with two years warranty on every Binatone product.

  • Chivita, Hollandia drive most innovative brand

    Chivita, Hollandia drive most innovative brand

    Every year, companies strive to be more innovative through     exploration of new challenges and uncovering opportunities to create more value.

    By being innovative, brands continually seek ways to reinvent themselves, propel growth and achieve market leadership.

    This was showcased at the Top 50 Brands Nigeria Awards, which recently held in Lagos.

    Innovative product offerings by Chi Limited such as Chivita – its fruit  juices and Hollandia, its dairy, ensured the firm was recognised among the Top 50 Brands and honoured as the most innovative brand in Nigeria.

    Renowned for continually enhancing existing brands, creating new product categories and effectively building emotional connection with consumers around them, the brand’s success story at the awards was driven by a desire to churn out innovative products like Chivita and Hollandia that are benchmarks and definitive standards in their respective categories.

    Deploying specific criteria including brand popularity, category leadership, innovation, national spread, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and online engagement to measure brands. The Top 50 Brand Award evaluated and celebrated top corporate brands that have consistently maintained leadership position in their categories, living up to their promises, and have become a part of the popular culture, attracting powerful visual cue that evoked emotion from consumers.

    Speaking on the awards, Chief Executive Officer, Top 50 Brands Nigeria, Taiwo Oluboyede, said with the volume of competition that businesses face it has never been more important for brands to stand out through innovation as well as develop a unique identity and value proposition through strategic branding.

    “The brands honoured at this year’s edition of the Top 50 Brand Nigeria Awards have transcended their product/services categories and mean much more to the consumers. Specifically, Chivita and Hollandia have been outstanding in this regard through a consistent delivery of innovative product variants that have become household names in Nigeria,” he said.

    He added:“The recognition among the Top 50 Brands and the Most Innovative Brands Award for Chi Limited is part of the outcome of a painstaking year-long brand research, which reviewed the brands’ performance, classification and rating.”

    Chi Limited Managing Director, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, expressed delight at the recognition and commended the organisers for creating an invaluable platform for celebrating brands that are at the forefront of their respective segments.

    “For us at Chi Limited, these awards will inspire us on our journey of innovation-driven success. We are passionate about our brands like Chivita and Hollandia and the strategic innovations that ensure a competitive advantage that places us second to none. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to healthy and superior products that add value and exceed consumer expectations,” he said.

    The Top 50 Brands Nigeria Award joins a list of recognitions the company has received in recent times. They include the “Most Innovative Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Company’’, at the Businessday Top 25 Most Innovative Companies and Institutions in Nigeria Awards 2017 and the Best Brand Equity Awards in Juice with Chivita, and Dairy category with Hollandia at the Best Brand Equity Awards 2016 in Nigeria to recognise and honour some outstanding brands for their equity and consumer preference.

  • Negative sex appeals killing sales, says don

    Professor of Public Relations and Advertising, Lagos State University (LASU),  Rotimi Williams Olatunji, has said the use of negative sex appeals by agencies and advertising practitioners does not inspire consumers to shop for firms’ goods or services.

    Contrary to the impression that the aforementioned stimulates sales, Olatunji said a research he carried out showed that negative sex appeals put off buyers and create apathy. He, therefore, suggested that virtues, such as loveliness, beauty, attractiveness and fun, among others, should be explored as they have very strong appeal.

    Olatunji of the LASU School of Communications, was delivering his inaugural lecture titled: “Advertising, advertisement and the rest of us”, at the university main campus in Ojo.

    He said:“The research I embarked upon showed that the use of negative sex appeals in advertisement is generally considered demeaning, amoral, and sometimes exaggerated and do not necessarily make advertising interesting or appealing. Respondents agreed that attractive female models and positive use of sex appeals in advertising bring benefits to brands.

    “On the other hand, negative use of sexual images in advertisement do not necessarily guarantee brand loyalty; do not readily sell the advertised brand, and do not significantly and positively influence purchase decision. Therefore, negative sex appeal does not build brand loyalty.”

    Olatunji advised advert practitioners to step up the use of indigenous languages in advertising, adding that consumers identify with language of the locals.

    “The best language of any human being is their mother tongue, and you cannot use a language better than the indigenous speakers,” he said.

    Olatunji continued: “You will discover that the media has been using indigenous language for broadcasting. For instance, there is a radio station, which uses the three dominant languages, so how do you advertise through such a medium without using the language of the people?

    “Second, foreigners, particularly Europe and America, are teaching their children our languages, but here, Yoruba is becoming extinct. There is something in language that talks about the lifestyle and technology of the people. That’s why I advocate the use of indigenous languages in commercials, especially our Pidging English, which cuts across every tribe. Interestingly, advertising messages through indigenous languages catch more attention than the one in English Language.”

  • Epara skincare launched in Lagos

    Epara,  a  luxury   skincare  brand  that   harnesses  nature  to  create   bespoke  products  for  women  of  colour has been launched in Lagos.  The products, which were  exclusively  launched   into  Harrods  last  April,  were  introduced to the Nigeria, last week.

    Speaking with its founder, Mrs. Ozohu Adoh , the Epara range was created from her own journey of suffering with severe skin sensitivity, uneven skin tone and hyper-pigmentation. According to her, when no existing product or treatment worked, then began her experimentation by mixing different oils and butters, leading to her research, which led her to finding a huge gap, and also  a huge opportunity.

    Epara’s ingredients are organic materials sourced from across Africa. The products are formulated to address specific needs in a healthy manner. For example, stubborn hyperpigmentation is a problem specific to women of colour. Most products geared towards this issue are harmful bleaching products. Adoh, however, found a way to address hyperpigmentation, using natural botanicals combined with micro-algae that specifically seek out the parts of the skin that are over-producing melanin. This leaves women with an effective, completely non-harmful product to treat dark marks, a first in the beauty industry.

    “In  2015,  we  began  working   with  a  UK  lab  to  super- charge    these    bio- available    ingredients,      such as  moringa  oil,   marula  oil  and  shea   butter,   with  advanced   scientific  formulations  and   Epara   was born. The range is between 95%–100% natural throughout and is free from synthetics, mineral oils and harsh chemicals,’’ she said.

    Clinical trials showed proven reduction in uneven skin tone  and  scarring  and  a   brighter  complexion  in  as   little  as two weeks. Epara also takes care t o ethically source its products, ensuring that all parts of the value chain are properly compensated, this empowers men and women in countries such as Tanzania, Ghana, Morocco and Nigeria. The founder has also created a programme that will help provide for African women and girls as people, who have purchased Epara products, return their empty containers for recyling.

    Adoh has created a holistic line, which works to address needs of women, serves to empower black women within the beauty industry and works to economically empower men and women throughout the continent.

  • Chivas announces 2018 ‘The Venture’ contest

    Chivas Regal has launched the 2018 edition of The Chivas Venture, a global search to find and support the next generation of startups, who want to succeed while changing the world for the better.

    According to its management, in this fourth year of the competition, one winner will be selected from each of the 29 countries that are participating and given the chance to take part in an exclusive Accelerator Programme.

    This will be followed by three weeks of online voting where the allocation of the first $200,000 of the fund will be put into the hands of the public.

    The search will then culminate in a series of high-stake pitches at The Chivas Venture finale, where the rest of the $1 million fund will be distributed.

    Management revealed that the top three participants will pitch their business plans at a finale to a panel of seasoned judges, which consists of Afua Osei, co-founder, She Leads Africa; Shola Ladoja, founder, Simply Green Juice; and Oluyomi Ojo, co-founder, Printivo.

    Richard Black, the Global Marketing Director for Chivas Regal, said: “Through our annual $1million fund, we have been able to accelerate the growth of some of the world’s most socially valuable businesses – which are now demonstrating real impact across the globe.

    “We inherited from our founders a firm commitment to using business as a force for good – and I cannot wait to see this year’s business ideas that might truly help shape our collective future for the better.”

    Its first launch in 2014 received over 6, 000 social entrepreneurs, eager to participate in the $1million dollar fund.

     

  • Nigerians urged to buy local fabrics

    A leading businessman has advised Nigerians to patronise local fabrics.

    It was at the yearly  Alumium Conference Centre, Lagos.

    The second in its series, the conference sought to create a better platform for young minds in business, using the exchange of ideas to motivate them.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Ruff n Tumble, Mrs Nike Ogunlesi, who gave the advice, spoke of her great passion for making clothes, hats, shoe designs.

    She said the recent introduction of modern adire materials was aimed at keeping our culture. This, she explained, will ensure a better understanding of local ways of dressing.

    Ogunlesi, however, lamented that  most textile companies had collapsed due to lack of maintenance,  low patronage and improper funding, among others. She blamed it all on successive governments, a situation she said had led most Nigerians to buy  used clothes, otherwise known as “Okirika”.

    Mrs Ogunlesi said extile companies were not flourishing like the 80s, hence the need to promote local fabrics to make the business boom.

     

  • Infinix mobility rewards customers with home appliances

    Infinix mobility has rewarded 15 Infinix ‘Note 4 and Note 4 pro customers’ at its just-concluded ‘Infinix Independence reward promotion’, as one way of appreciating its customers.

    ‘The Infinix independence reward promotion’, which ran for three weeks, bringing together customers from seven regions in the country as well as from online platforms, selected winners weekly, to win home appliances. The weekly raffle took place every Thursday during the promotion in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ibadan. The selected customers from the weekly raffle who went home with synix standing fan are Ajisefinni Tawa; Mutui Abdusalam; Aderonke Modupe; Rosemary Richard; Victoria Susan; Daniel Mayan; Funsho from Region 2; Akande Funmilayo; Lateef Abiodun and Oyekanmi Biyi.

    For the grand raffle draw, Infinix selected five customers from region 1, 2, 4, 5 and online customers on Jumia. Each of the customers went home with 40-inch Synix Television set. They are: Amaechi Odika; Airenbuwa Kayode-Iyasere; LT T Sahabi; Alimi Nofisat and Yemi Peters.

    The presentation took place at the Infinix Nigeria office in Lagos, where gifts were presented to customers by a Celebrity and Entrepreneur, ‘Noble Igwe’.

  • Nigerians urged to buy local fabrics

    A leading businessman has advised Nigerians to patronise local fabrics.

    It was at the yearly  Alumium Conference Centre, Lagos.

    The second in its series, the conference sought to create a better platform for young minds in business, using the exchange of ideas to motivate them.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Ruff n Tumble, Mrs Nike Ogunlesi, who gave the advice, spoke of her great passion for making clothes, hats, shoe designs.

    She said the recent introduction of modern adire materials was aimed at keeping our culture. This, she explained, will ensure a better understanding of local ways of dressing.

    Ogunlesi, however, lamented that  most textile companies had collapsed due to lack of maintenance,  low patronage and improper funding, among others. She blamed it all on successive governments, a situation she said had led most Nigerians to buy  used clothes, otherwise known as “Okirika”.

    Mrs Ogunlesi said extile companies were not flourishing like the 80s, hence the need to promote local fabrics to make the business boom.