The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Tiles, beautiful for homes

    Tile is manufactured from a variety of materials, such as clay, stone, metal, terrazzo, and quartz, each with its own defining characteristics. The two most commonly used types of tile flooring are ceramic and natural stone.

    Tile is a versatile, durable material with a variety of beautiful designs and colors used in homes, offices, banks, and clubs in order to make it look attractive.

    Tiles, according to Mr. Salami Kehinde, owner of SK tiles in Mushin, Lagos State, are of various types. He mentioned some popular ones to include; Ceramic, Granite, Marble, Stone and Slate.

    He said ceramic tile, which is manufactured from clay resists stain easily, offers greater durability, has natural stain resistance, minimal water absorption and thorough-bodied color.

    “Many types of tiles are manufactured in a fashion similar to ceramic tile, but they are less common. These include brick, cement, glass, and terra cotta tile. The tiles are commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens and are of different sizes,” he said.

    He explained that natural stone tiles are produced from natural materials which are querried, finished and cut to size and type of tiles that are gotten from it are granite, marble and slate.

    “Granite,” he said, “is a type of igneous rock that is very dense and hard. Its distinctive appearance is due to speckled minerals found within the rock, its unique veining, and the thousands of available colors. Granite is nearly solid and, once it is polished, resists scratching. It is an excellent choice for flooring in kitchens and high-traffic areas.”

    Marble is a type of metamorphic rock that has rich veining and is available in a variety of colors. Marble is more absorbent than granite.

    Kehinde urged shoppers to consult professionals before application in order to determine the best tile that will be suitable for one’s style or taste and budget, as the picking of the flooring material is considered to be one of the most challenging tasks when designing the interiors of the home.

  • Reveling in loyalty programmes

    Reveling in loyalty programmes

    Shoppers want loyalty benefits such as discounts and free products. They think these would increase their happiness and retain them as customers, but how true is this? Asks TONIA ‘DIYAN

    Loyalty programme is a reward programme offered by a company to customers who frequently make purchases. A loyalty programme may give a customer free merchandise, rewards, coupons, or even advance released products.

    This has been in existence for decades in developed countries like the United States  (US) and Europe where it has become more relevant by personalising offers, rather than just rewarding bulk spending, and by embracing new technology. In these countries, it is logical to predict that instead of shoppers handing over a plastic card at the till, their smartphones will recognise that they are in the store and ping over an electronic voucher for their favourite brand. Retailers in this part of the world are also trying to imbibe same in their businesses, but how far can this go?

    Recalling how she started with her first loyalty card, Rita Banks, a regular shopper at a Lagos health shop, said loyalty cards have added value immensely to her life as she has been able to rack up a ton of points, which translates into discounts and coupons. She said the little loyalty card, as she called it, has grown to help her save over the years.

    “Loyalty programmes can be really fantastic. You can usually join for less than five minutes of your time and if you’re a frequent shopper the deals can be really worth it,” she told The Nation Shopping.

    Banks said: “If you’re a regular shopper and you do not have the loyalty card, you’re just throwing away money. Even if you’re an irregular CVS shopper, it’s worth signing up for.”

    She said the card tracks what one spends on and provides people with coupons geared towards shopping habits, adding: “To sweeten the deal even further, after certain amounts of spending, a shopper can also be entitled to cash rewards, though little.”

    The Nation Shopping visited some stores in Lagos that are  rolling out reward programmes. It was observed that a particular store in one of the Lagos malls rewarded ice cream lovers. For example, if one stops by at the store anytime in the week, the 13th cup of the day  is on the store management, but only if the 13th shopper has the rewards card. The shopper would use it like a gift card that keeps refilling and each drink or food item is worth a star. Once the shopper collects 12 stars, the next item is free. The store said it also often offers discount codes received when signed up for its rewards system and offers double stars on some items at certain times, to help the shopper get to his 12th star quicker.

    Some stores would give freebies not only when a shopper patronises them, but also on his birthday every year.

    For some stores, every 200 points earned gets the shopper a free reward, and every naira is worth five points.

    For Makeup Mavens, the Beauty Insider card is worth it. Some beauty shops can be pricey, but have excellent coupons one can take advantage of throughout the year.

    Additionally, rather than gift cards, the points racked up through purchases allow access to exclusive items and a coupon for a free item on birthdays each year.

    Some shoppers also told The Nation Shopping what they feel. Lucky Edehor said: “Loyalty cards make an awful lot of sense for the retailers, but they are less attractive for card carriers like me because I haven’t benefited in anyway since I was introduced to it.”

    Loretta Ede said: “Loyalty programmes are meant to break down barriers between customers and businesses. By identifying the factors that may cause customers to leave, a retailer can customise a fee-based loyalty programme to address those specific obstacles, but in this country, greed won’t let it work like that.”

    Bukola Adebayo said she has Loyalty card from Justrite, a neighbourhood grocery store, but was recently rewarded with a diary after six months of purchase. She said she is not impressed.

    Another shopper, Jackson Olatunji, got two pens for being loyal to Park ‘n’ Shop and has decided not to patronise the shop for sometime. “I was given the pen during a raffle and I left the place so disappointed. A shop like this should do better,” he said.

    According to experts, understanding customers means understanding their values and sense of worth. Depending on the business, some customers may find more value in non-monetary or discounted rewards. To them, while any company can offer promotional vouchers and discount codes if they want to, businesses that can provide value to the customer in ways other than Naira and Kobo have a unique opportunity to connect with their audience.

    Some business owners, however, partner another company to provide all-inclusive offers. They engage in strategic partnerships for customer loyalty, which is also known as coalition programmes. This, they are aware, can be super effective for retaining customers and growing their company.

    For example, a dog food company, could partner a veterinary office or pet grooming facility to offer co-branded deals that are mutually beneficial for the business and customer. When customers are provided with value relevant to them, but goes beyond what your company alone can offer them, they understand that their needs are cared for. Apart from that, the business network will grow to reach the partners’ customers too.

    Others have turned their loyalty programmes into games to encourage repeat customers and solidify their brand image. In this case, customers enjoy having little fun, but frequent purchases. This type of programme, they say, can make the buying process both fun and engaging.

    Casey Winters, a member of an online food ordering and delivery website called GrubHub, advised her colleagues on LinkedIn that: “You should strive to think of your programme as constantly evolving to stay interesting to your users. This will make your programme stay effective for longer as well as give you the flexibility to weak elements to make them more interesting to you as business. I have seen many companies stuck with a programme they no longer think is effective, but too afraid to shelve it because of potential user backlash.”

    At her store, once customers place three unique orders, regardless of price, they get to play a game for a chance of winning free gifts. Shoppers choose one of four cards and have a 25 per cent chance of winning a free dessert, drink, GrubHub credit, or other items.

    Considering how many businesses offer loyalty programmes in this part of the world, experts have advised that business owners should build loyalty by providing first-time users with awesome benefits, hooking them in, and offering those benefits with every purchase they make.

    Some store owners, who have implemented a customer loyalty programme, shared with The Nation Shopping the tactics worked and the one that did not. Some of them were able to measure the effectiveness of their loyalty programme.

    Casabellla Beauty Store Branch Manager, Funke Alarape said the loyalty reward started in her store few years ago and was introduced to appreciate loyal customers. She said for every item purchased from the store, shoppers get discounts  which accumulate whenever they shop.

    Her words: “We give the card to our customers as they step into the store and patronise us, and for every purchase made, 2.5 per cent given which can be used to buy from us and Health Plus, who we are into partnership with on the reward  programme. Our cards do not have duration, our customer can use them for a long period.”

    She added that aside the discount giving, they notify their card holders first if there are promotions on ground.

  • Online tech boosts shopping

    Online tech boosts shopping

    More businesses are capitalising on the benefits of online presence. This platform not only affords them more visibility, it also positions them to meet the savvy shopper, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN.

    The importance of information communication technology (ICT) cannot be over emphasised. This has further been enunciated a decade and half after the introduction of the Global System for Mobile telecommunications (GSM).

    According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, as at May 2016, 92 million Nigerians are connected to the internet. This development has bolstered trading on the hitherto quiet online platform.

    The increase and penetration of internet usage has, subsequently, led to a shift in shopping pattern locally and globally, and Nigerians are not left out on this trend, as different business owners and shoppers alike are taking full advantage of the opportunity this presents. Those that use tools and insights from the web have the opportunity to close the gap between the smart online shopper and the offline retailer, as well as stand out in a competitive marketplace.

    Online technology has also made business cheaper to operate, erasing the cost of rents, and also the wages paid in employing knowledgeable salespersons or shopkeepers, who also advise on what to buy or the clients’ needs and preferences. Today, the shopper has become accustomed to doing his own research to get the maximum value out of every kobo he spends and feel secure about the purchases he is making.

    Given this trend, offline retailers, aware that every moment in shoppers’ decision journey matters, and with a desire to win more clients, are also keying into the online retail store and shopping trend.

    This trend affords both the retailer and shopper has access to information about goods and services either needed by a client or provided by a retailer because there is a constant demand for product information, deals, availability, discounts online, amongst others.

    This is why most online retailers deliver personal and relevant suggestions via their websites. According to retail experts, the right message at the right moment is the next level in customer service. It can quickly and easily turn intent into action.

    Context also allows retailers to better anticipate what a shopper might need based on when and how such a arrived at the site.

    Online search drive traffic to stores and as the lines blur between online and offline, innovative retailers have no choice but to integrate mobile into their conventional store experience.

    When shoppers search for a store name or category, they expect to see a map with directions, a phone number that they can easily click-to-call, or special offers that suits their wallets.

    A popular South African retail clothing brand, Mr. P, in evaluating the effect of mobile clicks on its store locator links found that for an online clothing investment of N1 million, the value, in terms of sales proceed, brought by clicks on its online stores and in mobile ads generated an extra N1.6 million in sales.it is worthy of mention that the search element of shopping doesn’t end once the customer walks into a store. At some point, some people have been lost in malls, searching the aisles for an elusive item. Online search could serve as a map, a shopping list, a salesperson and a product finder all at once.

    YouTube and social networks like G+ help people share their opinion on products not just with a group of friends, but with millions of people. This is why Shopping online incorporates reviews and introduce shortlists to make it easy for people to discuss products and purchases with friends and family.

    Indeed, smart retailers are recognising the opportunities that lie in digital presentation, where instead of basing campaigns on the broadest reach possible they can now speak directly with the shopper haven created a chat box. Retailers are also seizing the opportunities around online comments by advertising against terms like “reviews” and working to promote the positive and counteract the negative.

    For Modupe Shopeju, owner of Delightsome Gift store in Lagos, the internet is fine for researching, but there is no replacement for holding, feeling, inspecting a product on a store shelf or showroom floor.

    She said: “I sell offline but have first contact with most of my customers online through my website. I don’t sell online because I believe it is important that you see and feel what you are buying. But so far, combining both has been very profiting for my business. Sometimes I speak on phone or chat with shoppers on my website before meeting them physically.

    “Analysis have it that meeting a shopper online opens exciting opportunities to close the gap between an on-screen image and that experience of holding a product in a store. When a retailer showcases products online in a unique way, they create opportunities for people to interact with products on an emotional level. When consumers’ emotions are activated, the desire to buy is sparked.

    Retail analysts have, however, advised that  retailers should be looking at how they are interweaving digital tools, such as mobile, context, and video with sales, marketing and customer service. When these things are used well, the technology becomes invisible.

  • SPAR opens Calabar store

    SPAR opens Calabar store

    SPAR, an Indian brand hypermarket, has unveiled an outlet in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. This brings to 10, the number of SPAR stores in the country.

    A former Minister of Tourism, Mr. Edem Duke, congratulated the promoters of the brand on investing in Cross River and for enhancing development in the state.

    According to the brand’s spokesperson, Mr. John Goldsmith, “SPAR is the hypermarket for all Nigerians, irrespective of socio-economic differences. Our outlets are carefully controlled to offer the most competitive prices on fast moving consumer goods and other items required to make life comfortable’’.

    With over 5000 sq. metres in retail space, SPAR Calabar, is the largest of its outlet in the country. The hypermarket  boasts of over 34,000 sq. metres of retail space in the country.  The new hypermarket, like other outlets, offers an array of products, ranging from grocery, bakery, butchery, fruits and vegetables, hot meals, wine and spirits, fast-moving consumer goods, consumer electronics, large and small home appliances, mobile phones, laptops and tablets, perfumes, watches and jewellery.

    SPAR, franchised by Artee Group’s Park and Shop for operations, is  located in Victoria Island, Lekki, Maryland Ikeja, MMA2, Abuja Wuse II, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

    In celebration of the Calabar inauguration, SPAR is offering all its shoppers an opportunity to win gifts. On any purchase of N2,500 ranging from electronic devices to edible goods.

  • Nigerians decry bread price hike

    The recent increase in bread price has drawn the ire of some Nigerians. Those who spoke to The Nation Shopping said before the hike, they ate bread at least four times  weekly because it was cheap.

    Mr. Akinya Oluwaseyi said he no longer buys three loaves of bread as he used to do owing to the hike in price. Mrs. Shukurat Babajide said has reverted to eating more rice because “rice can sustain one better than bread”.

    According to Mrs Babajide, notwithstanding that her family enjoys eating bread, its quality and size, has reduced drastically- a factor that now accounts for low consumption of the commodity.

    A distributor of Oldskool and Tee bread, who identified herself as Mrs. Keji, said until about a month ago, she used to buy a size of loaf at a distributor rate of N75, and resell to retailers at N85, who, in turn, sell to consumers at N100. This, she said, has changed as she buys from the bakery at N85, sell to retailers at N95, and the retailer on the other hand at between N120 and N150.

    The Nation Shopping investigation revealed that, indeed, not only has bread price been increased,  the quantity and quality have reduced. A sale representative of Harvest Bread, Mr. Odulami Olaonipekun, confirmed that several bread brands have increased their prices while the few ones that still maintain their previous prices have either reduced the weight or quality of the bread.

    He explained that going by the prevailing skyrocketing market prices of  bread ingredients, such as sugar, butter, yeast, preservatives, vegetable oil, flavors, no bakery or baker can break even, much more make profit without increasing bread price.

    “We used to buy a keg of vegetable oil for N6,500, but now, we are buying the same keg for between  N10,500 and N11,000. So you see that it is not easy to continue selling at the same old price,” Olaonipekun explained.

    Besides, he blamed the sudden increase in the cost of buying diesel and petrol, including the astronomical increase in electricity tariff as part of the reason for the price hike in bread.

    “The diesel I used to buy for N125 per litre suddenly changed to N195 without any genuine reason. All those things contribute to the increment in price because I don’t know how we can survive if we do not increase price, that means we will not be able to pay our workers’ salaries,” Odulami added.

    With the increased price comes a fall in demand and sales of the commodity. Another retailer, Mrs. Faith Fashola, said the new price has led to a drastic fall in her sales.

    Despite claims of high prices of bread ingredients, some bakeries maintain that they have not increased their bread price, but have rather reduced the weight of their product. For instance, a supervisor with Adura Agba Bakery, Mushin, Lagos, Mr. Kabiru Akeem, said the prices which they used to sell still remains the same as they are still building the name and would want to remain in the market as there are many brands to compete with.

    “We still sell at the previous price, not because the economic situation is not affecting us but because we are still building the name; but the increase in prices of everything has made us to reduce the weight of the bread,” Kabiru said.

    With bakers determined to remain in business, and those involved in the supply chain of bread determined to make profit, the heat has been passed to the final consumer.

    However, stakeholders in the industry are worried that going by the harsh economic situation, and the increasing level of consumer behavioural change, it may not be long before the bread industry collapses, leaving in its wake an addition to the country’s army of unemployed Nigerians.

  • Nature’s gentle touch provides free hair consultation in Calabar

    Recare Limited, manufacturer of Natures Gentle Touch has announced the provision of free, no obligation hair consultation to women at the newly opened SPAR in Calabar mall.
    It is in a bid to reinstate its commitment to promote love for natural hair that Recares is providing a week-long free hair consultations which kicked off on July 18 and it features a one-on-one consultations with skilled hair consultants. Consumers, who have taken advantage of the period have had access to free hair diagnosis, professional hair care tips and practical demonstrations on ways to maintain healthy hair.
    According to Daniel Komla, Field Education Manager, “We are amazed at the amount of foot traffic to our stand in just two days. We have consulted for up to 229 women already and majority of the hair challenges we have discovered are breakage, over processed hair and receding hair line.
    “A lot of women need to understand the state of their hair so they can properly care for it by using the right products; and that is the reason why we are providing these services to help identify hair challenges and proffer natural ingredients based solutions.”
    Gift Edet, a boutique owner unable to contain her excitement, said: “Although I have been able to purchase my Natures Gentle Touch hair products in other stores here in Calabar, this is the first time I am having a session with a professional who has helped me to understand the hazards of over processed hair.”
    Launched early this year, the free hair consultations has benefitted several corporate bodies, individuals, communities and will roll out to more communities.

  • SPAR opens Calabar store

    SPAR opens Calabar store

    SPAR, an Indian brand hypermarket, has unveiled an outlet in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, which brings to 10, the number of SPAR stores in the country.

    A former Minister of Tourism, Mr. Edem Duke, congratulated the promoters of the brand on investing in Cross River and for enhancing development in the state.

    According to the brand’s spokesperson, Mr. John Goldsmith, “SPAR is the hypermarket for all Nigerians, irrespective of socio-economic differences. Our outlets are carefully controlled to offer the most competitive prices on fast moving consumer goods and other items required to make life comfortable.”

    With over 5000 sq. metres in retail space, SPAR Calabar, is the largest of its outlet in the country. The hypermarket boasts of over 34,000 sq. metres of retail space in the country.  The new hypermarket, like other outlets, offers an array of products, ranging from grocery, bakery, butchery, fruits and vegetables, hot meals, wine and spirits, fast-moving consumer goods, consumer electronics, large and small home appliances, mobile phones, laptops and tablets, perfumes, watches and jewellery.

    SPAR, franchised by Artee Group’s Park and Shop for operations, is located in Victoria Island, Lekki, Maryland Ikeja, MMA2, Abuja Wuse II, Port Harcourt and Calabar.

    In celebration of the Calabar inauguration, SPAR is offering all its shoppers an opportunity to win gifts. On any purchase of N2,500 ranging from electronic devices to edible goods.

  • NAFDAC warns supermarket operators against foreign goods

    NAFDAC warns supermarket operators against foreign goods

    The National Agency for  Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned supermarket operators to adhere to the rule on foreign goods.

    Its Acting Director-General, Mrs Yetunde Oni, at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the agency in Lagos, said it expects that foreign stocks on supermarkets’shelves would have been exhausted before  December 31.

    NAFDAC, Oni stressed, will not tolerate the violation, infraction or deviation from the approved guideline of the global listing scheme.

    The global listing rule includes: that the importation of products banned by the government shall not be allowed; ‘mandatory’ fortified food shall not be allowed, that is salt, flour except they have been fortified to the levels prescribed in the food Grade (Table or Cooking); salt regulations and the Food Fortification with Vitamin A Regulations; supermarket operators can only retail the imported items once listed and distributed within their supermarket chain only, among others.

    Oni noted that the need to accommodate the supermarket operators, fast food chains, hotels, embassies and international organisations that house peculiar and large number of products, led to the introduction of the global listing scheme in 2003.

    The NAFDAC boss listed the items on the import prohibition list not be found in the supermarkets to include: live or dead birds including frozen poultry, pork, beef, birds, eggs, refined vegetable oil (except linseed, castor and olive oils), spaghetti or noodles, fruit juices in retail packs or waters, including mineral waters and aerated waters containing added sugar or sweetening matter or flavour, soaps and detergent and cane or beet sugar.

    She enjoined supermarket operators to patronise made-in-Nigeria products as it will help create jobs and boost the economy in line with government’s change mantra.

  • The waning influence of brand loyalty

    The waning influence of brand loyalty

    The power of brand loyalty seems to be waning, gradually. Consumers now choose what is readily affordable ahead of their preferred brand. What could be responsible for this? TONIA ‘DIYAN writes

    Kudi Ogunsanya is a regular traveller on a particular British airline carrier. For her, flying with this airline to any destination in the world has been a tradition of over 40 years, which she inherited from her parents. So strong is her family’s loyalty to this airline brand that for her and her household, travelling outside Nigeria is either with this British carrier, or no trip. But her continued loyalty to this brand was recently put to test, especially in the face of the biting harsh economic realities in the country.

    Recently, when she had to make a choice between flying her preferred airline and others plying the same route from Lagos to America, she finally settled for a Middle East airline for her trip. Her decision was hinged on the over 45 per cent fare differential between both airlines. For her, the difference in fare is enough to pay for other things like shopping in America.

    “Well, I think I have had enough of this loyalty thing to this airline. Now, I have to face the present economic reality, and consider my pocket. I have to now patronise ‘pocket friendly’ products or services ahead of consideration for brand loyalty, after all, any airline will get me to my destination safely irrespective of the time difference,” Ogunsanya told The Nation Shopping.

    Her choice is one of several now threatening consumers’ loyalties to a brand, especially with the array of competing brands and services all coming at varying prices but offering same quality.

    Ogunsanya’s choice is better captured by another consumer, Mr. Matthew Smith, who contended that consumers have become more ruthless in their hunt for value. “Consumers are being much savvier in their shopping habits, because they now place a lot of factors ahead of loyalty. This is why shopping is now done across the discounters and premium retailers; and this trend will only continue,” he said.  And for some consumers like Omoba Adeyinka, exploring new brands is the attraction. “My old brands are common and I like to explore new things,” he said.

    Literarily, brand loyalty is an attachment to a particular product or service from a certain manufacturer, such that irrespective of any circumstance, a consumer remains committed to the product of a manufacturer. Now the tide is changing.

    Research have shown that consumers or shoppers are no longer keen when it comes to brand loyalty- a development that is believed to be swelled by a retail environment now being increasingly driven by promotions. While it is worthy of note that deploying price promotion to boost sales has always been an important part of retail trading and brand loyalty, yet, in recent times, it has also become more of a concern to retailers as the number of products sold on discount continues to rise, thereby cutting down on retailers’ profit earnings. This price promotion strategy is just one of the several ways retailers now strive to outdo one another.

    It is now common to see retailers and manufacturers deploy various promotional strategies, especially competitive product categories all to ensure that a product or service either retains its loyalists or attract new ‘converts’ to it. This is why if one retailer introduces a deal, others copy it and even add a new idea. The strategy has proved to be effective considering that some shoppers trade-off their loyalty to a particular brand ahead of price and are always happy to buy across price tiers. So, the same shopper, who will buy a brand ‘A’ today, for instance, is the same that will buy a brand ‘B’ tomorrow, depending on what is on offer/discount.

    Aware of consumers’ frequently changing habits, manufacturers have had to remain on their toes to ensure that their brands keep talking to its loyalists and at the same time, trying to recruit new patrons to their products. This, according to experts, is due to the fact that consumers can easily compare prices when products are on the shelf, leading to more price-matching, which has had a major effect on the promotional landscape, thereby resulting to brand disloyalty amongst consumers.

    Perhaps, this is why in the Lagos metropolis, it is said an average of 42 per cent of consumers have a brand in mind before they go shopping, while the remaining 58 per cent go for any brand that suits their pocket and meets the quality required such as   Semovita and Semolina. Even in categories such as the beverage sections where consumers are found to be more loyal, findings have it that 51 per cent of shoppers pre-plan which brand they are going to buy prior to setting foot in a shop, while 30 per cent change their mind while in the shop and an average shopper buys the cheapest items on the shelf.

    Buttressing this point is a Lagos-based cosmetics manufacturer. The manufacturer, who pleaded to remain anonymous, explained that while his products remains very competitive, but the bulk of his sales are from the promotions he offers from time to time. For him, he finds relatively little loyalty, as consumers choose what is on offer before their preferred brand.

    However, experts have warned that retailers should pay close attention to the types of deal they offer because a higher level of discount does not mean higher return on investment. They should also consider whether to discount their premium brand, regardless of promotions or support a weaker performing brand with the hope of increasing sales. This is because it has been found out that sometimes, during a week-long sales promotion, it will be possible for the premium product to record sales that triples smaller brands.

    But come what may, some consumers say they will remain committed to their brand. A lawyer, Mrs. Aderinola Abiola, is one of such ‘die-hard’ brand loyalist. She explained that she prefers staying glued to her favourite brands because they have proved to be trustworthy and have never failed her. “I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be loyal to my brands. As the saying goes, the devil you know is better than the angel you just met,” she said.

  • Consumers laud Samsung’s Galaxy J series

    Consumers laud Samsung’s Galaxy J series

    Samsung has taken another leap in its mobile phone brand rating. It has introduced a new smartphone, Galaxy J series, reports TONIA ‘DIYAN.

    Consumers across the country have applauded Samsung for introducing a new phone in addition to its collection of smartphones. The phone is expected to cater for the growing demand for affordable and superior smartphones with high-end performance and better user experience.

    Samsung has been manufacturing low-end Android phones that have become popular among consumers and people can now buy at affordable prices.

    Android phones from Samsung have made it possible for more Nigerians to migrate from feature phones to smartphones.

    Producers of the phone are optimistic that increasing demand for Smartphones will be met in the new Galaxy J. Series.

    They said the brand endeavours to provide suitable products for consumers based on market demand.

    On the other hand, phone lovers say their dream to own high-end smartphone has finally come true at a time when features like removable batteries and expandable storage are neglected in favour of elegant all-metal designs.

    The Galaxy J series, they say, is one of the very few decent smartphones that set out to please everyone.

    According to users of the phone, i

    nts camera feature, which captures extreme detail is appealing.

    Apart from that, it has a dual flash, dual 16MP Auto-focus back and 8.0MP Auto-focus front camera, making mobile gaming and movie experience unique and it has more battery life than other smartphones.

    Mobile phone analysts are impressed with the specifications of the Galaxy J series.

    They said Samsung leveraged on its many years of experience to perfect the one-handed user experience on the J7 as the device is easy to hold and sits very well in one’s palm.

    These analysts are aware that a major complaint by users of smart mobile devices is that their device’s battery doesn’t charge fast enough, even after extended charging periods and assure Nigerians that with the Galaxy J’s Adaptive Fast Charging feature, users can finally enjoy everything the Galaxy J7 has to offer, without the fear of the battery needing a recharge so often.

    For Michael Abiodun, a civil servant in Lagos, who needed a new smartphone to reflect his heightened financial status, the J7 served him best.

    He explained to The Nation Shopping at the launch of the phone in Lagos that he was informed by a friend about the arrival of the Galaxy J series into the market, and the interest the product has been generating among high profile phone users.

    He then decided to go shopping at the popular Computer Village in Lagos, where he located a Samsung Shop and inquire for the Galaxy J series, which include smartphones designed with amazing cameras, brilliant displays and pricey price tag.

    Abiodun lauded the initiative for its ability to push the boundaries of mobile innovation, yet remain affordable despite the proliferation of smartphones in the market.

    He said: “The J series, which plays in the mid-range segment of the mobile phone market, also offers impressive specifications and features. Many big smartphones tend to be highly priced and beyond the reach of majority of people. This is where the Galaxy J7 stands out: offering users a big device at a price that won’t dig a hole in their pockets. With the introduction of the Galaxy J7, and Galaxy J5, Samsung is set to continue its dominance of the mid-range smartphone segment.”

    This unique smartphone, according to Samsung, lets users get the most out of their mobile experience with functions and features that take mobility to an entirely new level. The producers explained that from the brilliant screen, with advanced resolution, contrast, and colour reproduction, viewing text, images and video, user experience has never been better.

    According to them, the J series captures impressive images with manual aperture settings and even a flash on the front-facing camera. Selfies are immediately improved with beauty face mode, and palm recognition makes it easier to snap the photo without ruining posture.