The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Jumia launches new Web App

    Jumia launches new Web App

    Jumia Travel, an online hotel-booking company, has launched the web version of the Extranet App, an application that aims to give more flexibility and independence to hotel managers. Through this channel, the firm seeks to further empower its hotel partners across all markets with top-notch technology. The tool, which allows hotel managers to confirm and view their in-coming Jumia Travel reservations, change their rates and update availability of room, is available on Android phones and its operating system.

    According to the Chief Operating Officer at Jumia Travel, Charles de Moucheron, the portal is working on direct integration with existing partners hotel systems to manage bookings, update rates and availability. “After integrating the first channel managers in May 2016, we are now integrating multiple hospitality software solutions for our hotels partners to work better with us. The Web Extranet is built on the latest technology that delivers the shortest loading time currently available in the market. This is customised to accommodate even markets where internet speed is still limited,” he said.

    The new version is a progressive application which delivers an app-like experience to the user. With a market that is highly characterised by a “mobile-first” adaptation, the tool is mobile-optimised, which means the app size can adapt to any screen size; be it on the mobile, smartphone, tablet or desktop.

    “It’s like giving me the total control of my hotel on your platform on the go, anywhere I am in the world,” Jadas Jean, General Manager, Ibis Hotel, Lagos Ikeja. The sentiments are echoed by Morning sides Suites Front Desk Supervisor, Samson Aiyelabola, who notes that “the Web Extranet is user friendly and simple to control critical aspect of the business”.

    New features such as reviews, statistics and a finance section where hotels can review their invoices will soon be introduced. The launch of the Web Extranet is part of a wider programme by Jumia Travel to bring on board the latest technology to the hospitality industry in order to democratise travel in Africa.

  • Roger Dubuis helmsman visits Lagos

    Roger Dubuis helmsman visits Lagos

    The Polo Luxury Group last week welcomed Jean-Marc Pontroue, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roger Dubuis, to Nigeria on his first official visit to the Polo Luxury Stores.

    Polo Luxury Group Managing Director, John Obayuwana, expressed  delight at the visit, praising the efforts of the brand in pioneering innovation, creativity and uniqueness in the manufacturing of high-end timepieces.

    Pontroué has been at the helm of affairs of the luxury watch brand, successfully steering the company to all-new heights, by differentiating it from competitors on many creative platforms, such as product to presentation, high-tech mechanics to ultra-theatrics, among others and ensuring that Roger Dubuis continues to knock the socks off its amiable collectors.

    Thanking the Polo Luxury Group for the success of the Roger Duduis brand, Pontroué spoke of its deal with its local partner for over eight years and about the viable connections of the Polo Luxury Group in western Africa and across the continent. Particularly, in rapidly expanding the growing number of its valuable customer base across the vibrant continent.

    Honing in on the uniqueness of each Dubuis timepiece, the brand is known for its winning mentality allowing for the development of spectacular designs with unquestionable credibility. In further showing pride in its origin and traditions, the Dubuis timepiece is known for its signature – the Geneva Seal, a reinforcement of the authenticity, quality and credibility of the global brand.

    “When you have the Poincon de Genève for every watch, then combined with our innovative and expressive designs, it is guaranteed to work for us and thus exceeding the expectations of our esteemed customers,”  Pontroué said.

    In expanding its market and in meeting up with customer demands, about four years ago, the brand delved into the creation of unique timepieces for the elegant and discerning woman. Channelling its strong, expressiveness, dedicated to high-end watches for men, the brand effortlessly translated its appeal to the luxury market for women. The ladies timepiece range continues to gain high momentum in demand across the globe with each piece almost automatically becoming a best seller overnight.

    Polo Luxury Group remains the largest retailer of the Roger Dubuis timepieces in West Africa and one of the brand’s foremost dealer on the  continent, guaranteeing an exclusive collection of 100 per cent authentic Geneva seal certified timepieces.

     

  • Shoprite promotes breast cancer awareness

    Shoprite promotes breast cancer awareness

    Shoprite Nigeria has reinforced its commitment to its host communities by promoting awareness on the danger of breast cancer in the country.

    Through the Shoprite Community Network, the retailer has partnered renowned non-profit organisation, Run For A Cure Africa (RFCA), offering customers free breast cancer screenings at selected stores across the country.

    During the opening of its 20th store, about 300 women were screened on the day. Last June, a similar event was hosted at the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos to mark the retailer’s 10th anniversary in the country.

    Shoprite’s partnership with Run For A Cure Africa began in 2009. The Shoprite Community Network provides the resources and platform for the non-profit group to fulfil its mandate of fighting breast cancer in Africa by erasing societal stigmas and creating more access to screenings.

    RFCA Coordinator and spokeswoman, Mrs. Ebele Mbanugo expressed her gratitude for Shoprite’s support of the organisation’s work. “I want to thank the Shoprite Community Network for its support of RFCA. With their assistance, we have been able to host five free breast cancer screenings since forging a partnership in 2014. These screenings are important for the early detection of breast cancer. Seventy-five per cent of breast cancers in Nigeria are discovered in the last stage. If detected early, the probability of survival is above 90 per cent,” she said.

    For Shoprite Nigeria’s Operations Manager, Carl Erickson, the support for RFCA’s work is important to increase education and survival rates of women impacted by the disease. “We’re glad to offer consumers lower prices, convenience and a world-class shopping experience, as well as create opportunities that can possibly save lives such as the free screenings,” Erickson said.

    Shoprite’s expansion in Nigeria over the last decade has been mirrored by its support for local community initiatives, especially in locations where its stores are based.

     

  • ‘Unregulated importation undermines local investment’

    ‘Unregulated importation undermines local investment’

    mr Piyush Nair is Managing Director Bayswater Industries Limited, producers of Mr. Chef Beef and Chicken seasoning cubes as well as other seasoning powders. In this interview with Tonia ‘Diyan, Nair speaks on the state of the  economy vis-à-vis its impact on the shopping habits of consumers. 

    With the recession, the disposable income of consumers has shrunk, leading to an adjustment in spending. What is Mr. Chef doing to maintain customer patronage?

    True, the times are quite challenging for all manufacturing organisations, particularly with the inability to source foreign exchange (FOREX) for import purposes to accelerate local production. With the sharp drop in production, there have been job losses and other consequences. But there is still opportunity for growth if the government supports aggressive production rather than encourage consumption. For more than 40 years, customers have been loyal to our products because over the years,  Mr. Chef Beef and Chicken seasoning cubes have maintained consistency in quality regardless of the state of the economy. We are very happy about this, particularly because it has also helped us to remain a partner in government’s efforts to turn the economy around.

    Can you be more specific?

    As a major producer of seasoning cubes and powdered seasoning, our key objective is to be an indispensable kitchen companion that would make the cooking experience of our customers both inexpensive and a great delight. During the recent period of scarcity and high cost of tomatoes and other condiments, for example, our customers did not have to struggle to make great and tasty meals because our brands were and are always in season. Mr. Chef easily filled the gap. Our products like tomato seasoning powder and cubes; ginger onion garlic powder; jollof/fried rice seasoning mix; atarodo pepper as well as mom’s pride chicken and beef cubes and classic beef and chicken seasoning powder, to mention a few easily filled the gap for consumers.

    What informed the recent launch of your latest product, Choco Love?

    Broadly, Choco Love is a nourishing cocoa beverage drink that we formulated to promote the sharing of family love. This, in itself, makes Mr. Chef different from other brands in the market because we always aspire to put family first. Choco Love is produced to conform to the African concept of ‘family’ which revolves around sharing love and unleashing the confidence within each individual. This concept recognises that the family does not necessarily refer to bloodlines but also to the humanity that we all share.

    What is your assessment of the environment in which you operate?

    Producers of fast-moving commodity goods (FMCGs) will readily admit that the unregulated importation of substandard food seasoning is killing our market segment. These grey imports also constitute health hazards because many of these products are usually not certified by the authorities. This is a major problem not just for Mr. Chef but for all producers. At the root of this problem is the fact that consumers tend to place cheap pricing ahead of other considerations. The importation of these unregulated goods also undermine the huge investment that we and other local producers have made-in-the economy.

    So, what solutions would you proffer to deal with the problem?

    First, the government needs to encourage local producers to do more so that the economy can experience rapid transformation. With more local production, employment opportunities will open up and there will be more money in the pockets of citizens. It is a cycle that creates prosperity. This, however, will not happen if government does not help us to protect our heavy capital investments. Placing a ban on unwholesome imports to protect the health of the people as well as save our industry and the nation’s economy is an option that needs to be quickly considered.This is not anti-competition. On the contrary, doing this will create a level playing field for all producers. This, in turn, will make the operating environment sufficiently attractive to investors. It is high time everyone that believes in Nigeria demonstrated that love by making serious investment in the  economy as we have done.

  • Shoprite: Promoting CSR through breast cancer awareness

    Shoprite: Promoting CSR through breast cancer awareness

    Shoprite Nigeria has reinforced its commitment to  communities where it operates through its efforts to raise awareness around the impact of breast cancer in the country.

    Through the Shoprite Community Network, the retailer has partnered renowned non-profit organisation, Run For A Cure Africa (RFCA), periodically offering customers free breast cancer screenings at selected stores across the country.

    A recent screening hosted during the opening of its 20th store saw about 300 women being screened on the day. Last June, a screening was hosted at the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos to mark the retailer’s 10th anniversary in the country.

    Shoprite’s partnership with Run For A Cure Africa began in 2009. The Shoprite Community Network provides the resources and platform for the non-profit organisation to fulfil its mandate of fighting breast cancer in Africa by erasing societal stigmas and creating more access to screenings.

    RFCA Coordinator and spokeswoman, Mrs. Ebele Mbanugo expressed her gratitude for Shoprite’s support of the organisation’s work. “I want to thank the Shoprite Community Network for its support of RFCA. With their assistance, we have been able to host five free breast cancer screenings since forging a partnership in 2014. These screenings are vitally important for the early detection of breast cancer. Currently, 75 per cent of breast cancers in Nigeria are discovered in the last stage. If detected early, the probability of survival is above 90 per cent,” she said.

    For Shoprite Nigeria’s Operations Manager, Carl Erickson, the continued support for the work being done by RFCA is important to increase education and survival rates of women impacted by the disease. “We’re glad to be able to offer consumers lower prices, convenience and a world class shopping experience, as well as to create opportunities that can possibly save lives such as the free screenings,” said Erickson.

    Shoprite’s successful expansion in Nigeria over the last decade has been mirrored by its support for local community initiatives, especially in locations where its stores are based.

  • Recession boosts ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ items

    Recession boosts ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ items

    Nigerians are fast adjusting to the present economic realities. Many consumers, who, hitherto used foreign made goods, are now looking inwards in order to cushion the effects of the hard times.

    In the view of Mr. Isaac Onukwuba, a director at the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the craze and love for foreign made goods and services by Nigerians would compound the hardship in the country.

    According to him, the present economic downturn could be reversed if Nigerians produce, patronise, sell and consume locally made goods and services.

    Onukwuba said this while commenting on Made-in-Nigeria utility vehicle called “Transform Nigeria Vehicle,’’ manufactured by Innoson Motors in Nnewi, Anambra State.

    The NOA director said buying and selling made-in-Nigeria products and services should be done with the highest sense of national pride because “this is our own”.

    He explained that this was the only way Nigerians could gain from the rest of the world.

    “Promoting Made-in-Nigeria is the surest way of making Nigeria and Nigerians survive the current situation.

    “Those countries where we run to get all these imported products applied the same principles to build their economy,’’ he said.

    Like other chambers across the country, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has called on local industrialists and other stakeholders in the manufacturing sector to step up production forwards boosting the nation’s economy. Mr Jude Igwe, the Chairman, Organising Committee for the forthcoming 11th Abuja International Trade Fair, gave the advice at a news conference recently.

    “Experience has shown that our economy can no longer be sustained by that and that, is why the chamber has, after careful consideration, chosen the theme: `Make it in Nigeria’ as very apt. We must make it in Nigeria if we must find our way out of the current economic challenges. There are no two ways,’’ Igwe said.

    In the view of the Managing Director of Innoson Group of Companies, Dr Innocent Chukwuma, adequate investment in technological advancement would pave the way for local manufacturers and as well proffer lasting solution to the realisation of the present economic struggle in the country.

    The Innoson boss, who spoke during a day visit to the Centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, observed that for any country to become an exporting nation, it has to patronise locally made goods to boost local production and the country’s economy.

    The decline in technological advancement in rural communities were the causes of the present economic challenges in the country, he said, stressing the need for local manufacturers to collaborate with government research agencies and universities, in order to actualise the vision of the present administration in the country for Nigerians to patronise locally made goods.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, senator representing Lagos-Central Senatorial District while speaking at the ongoing Made in Nigeria Festival, MaIN Fest 2016, said the patronage of locally-made goods is key to growing the economy.

    The CEO of Konga.com, Shola Adekoya, speaking during a Panel Discussion titled: ‘Doing Business in Nigeria,’ said: “Where we are today isn’t acceptable to us as a nation and as a people. The rest of the world is moving on and we’re being left behind. We also need to keep in mind that there are new ways of doing things and we have to begin to leverage on them as government agencies, parastatals, and businesses to achieve desired results.”

    The Konga boss further stated that for a nation to make great progress, human and infrastructural developments are necessary.

    “The development of a nation is important, as it’s not just about discussing the issues plaguing the country, but focus should be on fixing them. As technology moves, we need to begin to rethink our policies and strategies so they align with technological advancements.”

    Speaking  Konga doing business in Nigeria, he said: “When Konga began no one believed that e-commerce could be successful in Nigeria but staying focused on our mission as the engine of commerce and trade in Africa, we are empowering indigenous MSMEs across the nation to reach a wider market across the country. Konga is helping MSMEs match with the fast changing technology by providing a platform that showcases their products to the entire world at just a click.”

    The Federal Government is on the verge of kick-starting a campaign on made-in-Nigeria goods, a move designed to encourage Nigerians to patronise locally-produced goods and services.

    This is part of the measures being adopted by the government to conserve foreign exchange, stimulate economic growth and create jobs.

    The government has also hinted of plans to commence the implementation of the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

    Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, made the disclosure in Abuja recently while inaugurating the Joint National Planning Committee for the 22nd Nigeria Economic Summit (NES#22), scheduled for 10th to 12th of October, 2016, to be anchored by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG).

    The NESG prides itself as Nigeria’s most influential and leading private sector think-tank with a mandate to promote and champion the reform of the Nigerian economy into an open, globally competitive economy.

    Shedding light on the proposed summit, the minister said it will essentially be used to galvanise support from stakeholders on the need to commit to structural and fiscal changes required to strengthen the Nigerian economy.

    “It starts with changing our orientation in consumption pattern by shifting our mindset and preference for anything imported and foreign made to patronising made-in-Nigeria products,” he said.

    While acknowledging that there was a degree of truth in this, he pointed out that “we must challenge ourselves to do better”.

    “By encouraging patronage, we are challenging our manufacturers to invest in the technology required to upscale our quality. We are therefore calling on all our economic agents (government, corporate organisations and individuals) to re-orientate to Nigerian made goods and services first, before considering imported products,” Udoma stated.

    Justifying the need for the theme, the NESG secretariat said the theme ‘Made in Nigeria’ would be used to embody the imperative to commit to the structural and fiscal changes required to strengthen the Nigerian economy.

    The long term goals is to help reinvigorate moribund industries and services that have shown potentials in the past and curtail the growing demand for foreign exchange for consumption rather than capital products and equipment.

    Giving further insight on the Summit, the NESG secretariat said the event will begin with Ministry of Budget and National Planning Day and a plenary focusing on policy dialogue and macroeconomic environment.

     

  • Chi reiterates commitment to youth devt

    Chi Limited has partnered  King Jaja Hall of Residence in the University of Lagos to celebrate its Hall Week. The event was in line with the firm’s efforts to engage  a critical segment of its consumers, as well as support youth development initiatives.

    This partnership is coming just a few weeks after the company’s support for University of Lagos Marine Football Club and the Lagos State Principal’s Cup, which is renowned to be one of the biggest grassroots football competitions in Nigeria.

    Inaugurated in 1974, King Jaja Hall is home to over 1000 students. Its hall week activities are annual events that round up the session, easing off academic stress and giving opportunities to hall residents to showcase their talents and socialise with one another through various extracurricular activities.

    Chairman, King Jaja Hall, Taiwo Ibrahim Abiola, praised the management of Chi Limited for coming on board to add excitement to this year’s hall week.  “For a company with a reputation for supporting youth development initiatives across Nigeria, the partnership with King Jaja Hall by Chi Limited to celebrate our week-long activities comes as no surprise. Chivita fruit juice is already hugely popular amongst the youths on this campus because it is a 100 per cent fruit juice and contains no added sugar, no preservative and no added colours. It is also refreshing, nourishing, and in affordable packs”, he said.

    According to Chi Limited’s Managing Director, Deepanjan Roy, “Our youths are key to our future and we need to do everything we can to help them achieve their full potential so that they in turn can do their own bit to help shape and share in our future success. For us at Chi Limited, we shall continue to offer the best there is in fruit juices, dairy products and snacks for their wellbeing whilst supporting positive initiatives to ensure an all-round development for the youths.”

    Chi Limited, through this partnership, seeks to bring the brand truth of Chivita 100 per cent to life.

  • Shops, malls gear up for last quarter sales

    Shops, malls gear up for last quarter sales

    The last quarter of the year when shop owners, online and offline, woo buyers with bonanzas and other freebies to make brisk business has come. It is also the time to restock for another year, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

    The last quarter of the year is usually time for  bumper sales in shops; when many outlets and malls give all kinds of bonanzas and freebies to woo buyers. Not wanting their stock to spill over into the new year, they start clearance sales by October when the quarter begins.

    A visit to some sales outlets and malls within the Lagos metropolis and online monitoring showed that many retailers are making brisk sales by daggling  carrots.

    Every year, malls as well as shopping places come up with various promos to boost sales. Most times, their wares are displayed outside the store as if they will not be patronised if they are inside the store. To them, the  method is to sell at ‘give away’ prices. When done  online, it is called ‘deals of the day’ or ‘today’s sales’ as their promos blink endlessly the moment one logs on  the internet. The promos are usually placed in strategic positions for all to see.

    Most shops and malls visited said they were recording sales as much as 40 per cent regardless of the economic recession facing the country. Sellers are optimistic that by the end of the quarter in December, they would have achieved their aim of destocking and restocking.

    According to some retailers, turnout has been encouraging to push their sales this quarter.  Though, some said there were more window shoppers, nevertheless, the awareness has gained enough ground.

    A sales person at Daviva Store, an upscale clothing store, who asked not to be named, told The Nation Shopping that most retailers were coming up with one sales strategy or the other since the quarter began three weeks ago. According to them, it will help them make huge sales when the Yuletide eventually comes in.

    “Our promotional offers have been on since first week of September 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,” she said.

    Pressed further, the source said: “With this, we are able to do away with old stock, old designs and then bring in new ones for the New Year.”

    Mr Price, a South African clothing store with franchise in Nigeria, is said to have recorded a 50 percentage increase sales since September 1.

    From observation, the store has not stopped restocking and is experiencing serious sales from fashion lovers, who want fashion items that are in vogue as their items cut across all ages.

    Some other clothing stores such as Mango; Tommy Hilfiger; Nike; Ruff ‘n’ Tumble; Kids country, among others, as well as online stores, who only sell clothes, have brought in key fashion trend that is new in the fashion market and is attracting customers. With this, they are hoping they will make their revenue figure rise close to double of  what is expected as most of them said they were optimistic they would boost their last quarter earnings outlook.

    A sales person at ‘The Accessories 2 die 4’, a jewelry store’, Uduak Osere, said before the recession,  sales at her stores in their various locations in the last quarter are rated at 90 per cent and that at intervals, she would have to shut doors to help her manage the crowd already inside the store at times. “But this year with the present economic recession, 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,” he said.

    Apart from the high hopes of huge sales this last quarter by some businesses, gift-giving and fun treatments at the end of the year for children, are important   particularly, at shopping malls. Observations said stores that stock children gift items and those who use one fun item or the other to entice and entertain kids have started advertising last quarter shopping, which included Christmas shopping, which began since the beginning of August when back to school sales promo was on. This year, retailers are more aggressive with promotions, trying to clear out merchandise and restock new designs for the New Year.

    From investigations, only a handful, representing roughly 10 per cent of the Nigerian retail industry, report monthly sales when it is not festivity or specific sales period. That is why they all take the last quarter more seriously.

    For Debola Majekodunmi, a shopping analyst, “the no money in circulation issue is not peculiar to this year alone”. “Last year, the story was the same and with those known as high spenders when it comes to shopping and getting bonanzas or freebies. I don’t think we will do badly this year,“she said.

    She continued: “Though sometimes, 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 for.”

  • SPAR is ‘best supermarket of year 2016’

    SPAR is ‘best supermarket of year 2016’

    SPAR, a hypermarket store chain in Nigeria, is the best supermarket in Nigeria.

    According to the African  Quality Institute, organisers of the African Quality Awards, SPAR Nigeria was nominated from a list of other supermarkets operating in the country based on the supermarket’s hypermarket’s quality standards and relentless service in offering Nigerians the best  products at the best prices.

    The African Quality Achievement Awards (AQAA) is an annual event initiated to celebrate leadership innovation and creativity in quality management in Africa.

    The award ceremony, which held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers Ikeja, Lagos, was an initiative of the African Quality Institute in collaboration with IBMN Integrated Services, The Certified Institute of Quality Management and the Pan African Quality Organisation. Dignitaries, representing various industries and businesses nationwide, were present at the event.

    SPAR as a hypermarket store, takes cognisance of the various kinds of shopping missions and adapts its products and services in respect of choice, quality, service and value to translate the entire shopping experience into a world class.

    According to SPAR, over 5 million customers patronise its outlets annually, choosing products and services supplied by over 1,000 small, medium and large entrepreneurs and manufacturers across Nigeria. Today, it employs over 2,000 people from every section of the society.

    Speaking on the occasion, SPAR spokesperson, John Goldsmith, thanked the organiser for acknowledging SPAR’s team efforts at consistently delivering quality in terms of product offerings, choice of products, customer service and retail store infrastructure across its 10 stores in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

    He added that to deliver consistent quality across all its stores, SPAR’s team is continuously monitoring the quality deliverables. “Being a hypermarket SPAR offers a very wide range of products starting from grocery & household, bakery & butchery, fruits & vegetables, hot meals, wine & spirits, fast moving consumer goods, consumer electronics, large and small home appliances, mobile phones, laptops & tablets, perfumes, watches & jewelleries and furniture.

    Quality deliverables for each product categories are very different from each other, which necessitates setting quality standards for each product category and a continuous measurement against the benchmarks.

    “When it comes to quality service delivery, SPAR replies on its retailing training programmes for all their staff members across levels and locations. SPAR in Nigeria is a part of worldwide chain with a global presence across 42 countries, which gives it access to world class training programmes and best practices.

    SPAR takes human capital development very seriously. In the recently launched SPAR store in Calabar, its Group Managing Director, Mr Haresh Keswani, engaged directly with the new team in training and grooming new recruits to equip them with the required skill sets to deliver world class shopping experience.

    “It’s very important to stay connected with the shoppers, get feedback on continuous basis to make sure their expectations are being met. The shoppers evolves continuously and so the quality standards and processes has to be improvised and periodically revamped to deliver the shopper expectations. SPAR has opened multiple channels to capture the voice of their shoppers through dedicated hotline numbers, emails and social media platforms,” Goldsmith said.

    He added that “with the proliferation of Facebook and Twitter, growing number of shoppers prefers to reach us through them”.

    He said: “Attending to customers is no more confined to Store Operating Hours, it has become 24 x 7 job and SPAR has put a dedicated team to address this. Customer feedback both compliments and complaints are taken very serious and are routed to all the concern function for immediate resolution and to make the future training programs more robust.

    “Working towards this end, SPAR remains unswerving in ushering positive socio-economic changes in its host communities. This approach remains embedded in the hypermarket’s ethos even as they rapidly expand their footprints deeper into Nigeria. The Artee Group is working on an aggressive roll out plan of SPAR stores across Nigeria. Apart from strengthening the presence in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Calabar, SPAR stores will penetrate new geographies like Enugu, Asaba, Kaduna, Ilorin to name a few.”

  • Blue Pictures, Crimson Multimedia hold Sully VIP Media Screening

    Leading film distribution and consulting company Blue Pictures, Crimson Multimedia Limited and Filmhouse Cinemas, have held a VIP media screening for the Hollywood  film Sully.

    The movie, screened at the newly open Filmhouse IMAX Theatre, was attended by celebrities, such as Timi Dakolo, Bryan Okwara, Funmi Holder, Ayoola Ayodeji, and Marvelous Odiete.

    Starring Tom Hanks as Capt. Chesley Sully’ Sullenberger, the movie also stars three-time Academy Award nominee, and three-time Tony Award nominee, Laura Liney as  Sully’s wife, Aaron Eckhart, Jerry Ferrara, Autumn Reeser, Sam Huntington and Max Adle.

    Sully” tells the story of American pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who heroically glided his disabled plane United States Airways Flight 1549 onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers onboard.

    However, even as Sully was being praised by the public and the media for the unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.

    The movie, which is based on Sully’s 2009 book, “Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters,” is produced and directed by Clint Eastwood.

    Speaking after the movie, Ben Raynor, General Manager, Filmhouse Cinemas, explained that this was the first IMAX in Nigeria and West Africa and that it was the next step; the next big thing in entertainment.

    Explaining the edge of the IMAX screen to others, Ben explains: “The view is bigger, the sound is clearer-not necessarily louder but clearer and you feel every part of the movie. Everything is positioned in such a way that you get optimum view. Whether you sit in the front, the back, by the side or in the middle, your whole vision is of the film. And then when you bring 3D to the whole mix, the 3D comes out better with IMAX.”

    He added that Filmhouse would be opening soon with IMAX screens in other parts of the country.

    For Ace McDonald, Lead Creative, BranndIT, “the IMAX is an innovation in film industry and we are getting there, because the entertainment industry is getting better than what it used to be.

    Speaking after the premiere, Season 12 MTN Project Fame winner, Ayoola Ayodeji, said: “It was a lovely experience watching Sully on IMAX and I will want to see the technology replicated in every part of the country. To think that the events in Sully actually happened to people in real life is quite humbling, especially in a world where millions of lives have been lost due to similar incident, I am just inspired.”

    Since its launch in 2006, Blue Pictures has established a working relationship with independent studios and act as sub distribution consultant to the major studios, such as Walt Disney, Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox.

    Blue Pictures also act as consultants to Crimson Multimedia Ltd in Kenya; as a sub-distributor for the major studios, Independent India Studios – Eros and other smaller independent studios in the US.