The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • New Infinix HOT 3 smartphone is new rave

    New Infinix HOT 3 smartphone is new rave

    A smartphone isn’t just a regular gadget; most consumers consider their smartphone as part of their every day life and a necessity to fit into their lifestyle, which is why Infinix aims to give consumers in Nigeria a better smartphone experience with every new device launched.Infinix hot 3 is the latest smartphone from the Hot series introduced  into the Nigerian market.

    And with demand from consumers about technology that can fit into the average consumer’s lifestyle and smartphones that are affordable, Infinix offers consumers HOT 3 the smartphone that meets the demand and it is equipped with the latest technology.

    The new smartphone comes with Quad core Mediatek 1.3Ghz processor which allows gaming fans to optimise their gaming experience with HOT 3, Operating on Android Lollipop 5.1 OS with Infinix’s customised user interface that helps users increase their smartphone performance by more than 20percent.

    Without a doubt Infinix HOT 3 offers more than just the regular technology for smartphone users in Nigeria, the colourful smartphone also offers users one of the best picture quality experience with 8 + 2MP and a Selfie camera with soft flash to enhance selfie pictures. The camera feature is also upgraded with a voice command feature to make picture taking seamless.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”smartphone” count=”6″ show_more=”on”]

  • Ice tea for consumers

    Across various cultures and traditions, tea drinking is generally seen as a lifestyle that cuts across age or ethnic barrier, with more people getting initiated into the culture. Tea drinking has become not just a part of our meals, but a natural remedy that re-invigorates and refreshes all day long.

    According to Healthguardiance.org, a reputable fitness and wellness website, research has shown that Ice Tea has been proven to be a healthy option as it contains anti-oxidants, low calories as well as a good hydrating and rejuvenating benefit.

    For Ice Tea consumers across Nigeria, exciting times lie ahead as Chi Limited, Nigeria’s market leader in juice and fruit drinks recently unveiled a new marketing communication campaign for its Ice Tea brand, tagged: “Come over to the Tea Side of Life”.

    Made from premium natural tea leaves with delicious fruity flavors, Chi Ice Tea is an excellent blend of natural tea extract with real fruits, produced to provide consumers a delightful and natural great-tasting beverage for rejuvenation.

    Meant to promote the culture of tea drinking across the various strata of society, the television advertisement aptly delivers the emotional attributes of refreshment, rejuvenation and naturalness associated with the brand.

  • With fuel price hike food prices go haywire

    In response to the 69 per cent hike in fuel price, food prices and those of other commodities have risen. TONIA ’DIYAN and TAIWO ADEYANJU report.

    It started like a rumour penultimate Wednesday afternoon, and by the close of work that day, Nigerians were faced with the stark reality that fuel price had been increased by about 69 per cent. The Federal Government increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, to N145.

    And characteristic of every PMS price increase, the food stuff segment has responded according to the increase. Across the various markets food prices have skyrocketed, making survival  more tasking.

    According to the Secretary of Tomatoes Sellers Association, Mile 12 branch, Lagos, Alhaji Biliya Adam, the new fuel price has affected the supply and transportation of tomatoes from the North.

    The Secretary of Daleko Market, Mushin, Lagos, Mr. Biola Owolabi, said the hike in  prices  affected everyone including retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers.

    Mrs. Modinat Badmus spoke of a trader at the Iporin Market in Surulere, spoke of a low turnout of shoppers as the prices she usually bought her goods had increased. This, she said, affected the retail price.

    She said prices of beverages, such as milk, sugar and others, had increased at the market where she buys them.
    “A dozen of peak milk we used to buy for N450 now sells for N480, even five pieces of sugar we used to purchase for N250 is now N275,’’ she said.

    A trader, who at the Sabo Market in Sagamu, Ogun State, Miss. Deola Ajayi, said the removal of fuel subsidy had affected traders as the prices of items they buy from producers had increased.

    Ajayi said many shoppers had reduced their list, saying staple items such as 10kg of  Semolina has increased from N1,800 to N2,800, a bag of sugar which used to sell for N7,000 to N10,000, among others.

    The increase in price is not only applicable to staple items as a shopper, Mrs Omotayo Babajide, who bought local clothing material in large quantity for a ceremony, at the Idumota market on Lagos Island, said the trader she bought the same item from last week had increased it by N400. She said the trader claimed  that the price was increased by the manufacturer. This, she said, left her with no choice than to hike the retail prices of her items to cover cost and make a small profit margin.

    The price increase has also left a sour taste in the mouth of many traders. For instance, Mr. Abdulwahab Abdulkabeer, who deals in men’s wears at the Idumota Market, complained of low patronage and turn out of buyers.

    Also, at Yaba Market, Alhaja Oluwayomi Owolabi disclosed that traders have been experiencing low turnout of shoppers since the beginning of this year. For traders, who display their wares for sale till late night, the challenge of illuminating their stall is a worry for them, considering the cost of fueling their generators which is now seen as a luxury.

    She, however, urged the government to make the product available for the masses.

    Online shopping platforms are also not left out. For shoppers on the  platforms, it is double losses for them. First, they have to pay for the increase in commodity price and pay more for delivery services.

    Nosa Idehen, Founder, WesternMall Nigeria Limited, an online auction platform that deals with direct sales, said the main challenge for his kind of business was delivering of goods purchased. His words: “As expected the tariff involved in delivering to customers will increase. Because we always find ways of making shopping easier and cheaper we intend to use different drop points around Nigeria so that customers will be able to pick up their items at the closest drop off point saving cost.”

    SPAR Nigeria’s spokesperson, John Goldsmith, also agreed that the new fuel price is likely to affect The Hypermarket business and its numerous customers.

    His words: “SPAR Hypermarket stores are part of the community and the whole eco-system of the country and hence the impact of the strike on SPAR store will be same as other business establishment. Raising fuel prices definitely impact the operation of the stores in both short and long run. As a part of the business community, we aspire for stable business conditions which enables concrete decision making and helps align actions for enhancing shopper experiences.”

    Although he said there has not been any sign of panic buying across its stores, the situation, he explained, may induce temporary preponement of purchase and would never boost sales in a long run.

    Goldsmith explained that in the given economic scenario, the cost of inflation not only affects price of the products, but also the business operating cost.

    For online retail store Gidimall boss, Osamede Evbakhavbokun, the new fuel price has affected his business and in actual fact it is still affecting it. The price for all products has increased and as such reduced sales as customers and client are being cautious, taking their time to see what will happen in the coming weeks before they can make any purchase.

    “Yes, labour has advised Nigerians to stockpile their homes with food, though we are not into foodstuffs and perishable goods but even at that, the foodstuffs is actually too expensive to stock when a ball of tomato is about N150.00,” he said.

    Once there is an increase in price of products, it takes a little while before customers accept the change in price and it is eminent as the fuel price has increased the cost of all products.

  • Old stocks: Clearance sales to the rescue

    For retailers of fast moving consumer goods, innovation is key. Faced with the challenge of disposing old stocks and re-stocking new ones when economic realities are taking their toll on businesses, most of them have resorted to clearance sales, a sure and innovative way of retaining the loyalty of old customers. TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

    Mrs Modupe Shopeju, owner of Delightsome Gift Concept, a store in Gbagada, Lagos, believes that the best option to dispose of old items is to discount them. Such items, according to her, occupy space that have been paid for.

    As a store owner, Mrs Shopeju pays rent and other bills, including salaries of workers. Sometimes, she even takes loans from the bank to fund her business. Expectedly, the challenge of meeting expenses and making profit imposes considerable pressure on her, hence, her resort to clearance sale.

    In a chat with The Nation Shopping, Mrs Shopeju narrated an ugly experience of how she kept a particular flower vase for four years because she wanted to sell it twice its cost price, a decision that boomeranged, making her incur losses instead of profits.

    Her words: “I had a flower vase I bought in 2011 on my shelf. I bought it for N2,000, and wanted to sell at N4, 000. I regret delaying selling that vase when I was supposed to sell it. I have come to realise that my money has been tied down since then, and that the space the item occupied for years would have been useful for other items. Now, that the economy is bad and my customers complain of lack of money. I am willing to sell it at N2,000.” She added that her decision to eventually sell at the cost price of that item has not made it inferior in anyway.

    Chinedu Agwu, a retailer in Balogun Market, Lagos, also embraced clearance sale.  Agwu owns a store where he sells shoes and bags. In his store, a black Gucci handbag has been on the shelf for one year and two months, but he thinks putting it on discount is the only solution to getting a buyer for it. He traveled abroad to buy some of the items and paid huge sum of money to ship them into the country.

    Chinedu told The Nation Shopping that because his business is an international, it needs huge capital and as such, he borrows money from the bank and for this reason amongst others, he often places some of his items on discount, particularly now that the economy is not friendly, which is capable of bringing customers from all around the world. This is because people tend to fancy discounted items more, especially luxury goods, which on a normal day they wouldn’t afford.

    “In some cases, people will be waiting for such shop to open because luxury items are on discount. Also, if I want a new deal and a company offers me a new product at a particular discount too, but I do not have the cash to make payment, I can place some of my items on discount, so that the cash I get from it can be used to purchase new items,” he said.

    Indeed, experience has shown that as a retailer, if an item is kept longer than necessary in a shop, the money used to purchase such item will lose its value. The risk of selling it more than its cost price will also arise. Besides, the item would have become older, out of vogue or out of fashion. Mrs Shopeju and Chinedu said the determinants of discount in a harsh economy are weak sales and lack of human traffic to their shops, which has made them discount their items.

    For slow moving items, the merchants said when a retailer is in business, he knows the turnover of goods he gets; he knows how often he sells his items, and if he hasn’t made sales within two months, he wouldn’t have sold everything. Sometimes a retailer can introduce discount because he doesn’t have cash at hand but, if he stocks well over 50 million worth of goods, he can decide to put some things on discount and end up making close to 10 million to meet his immediate needs.

    Speaking on the benefits of placing items on discounts, retailers say that it is certain that the retailer gets back his money on time because what ordinarily he should sell for N2, 000, he will sell for 1,000 and make immediate profit even if it’s little, but getting ones money back is sure. The retailer will surely benefit in the form of customers’ loyalty, as customers will want to come back because of what they are getting.

    Some shoppers, who have benefited from discounts sales, said they got items at reduced rates, particularly luxury items, which ordinarily they wouldn’t have been able to afford.

    Femi Babalola said: “People are ordinarily attracted to cheap items whether the economy is good or bad, even the rich doesn’t want to spend too much when he goes shopping.

    What this means, according to analysts, is that all parties stand to benefit from discount sales, including manufacturers, sellers, and buyers, and it should be encouraged. Though might not be easy for manufactures and sellers right now.

  • Shoprite opens in Onitsha; runs free cancer screening 

    Shoprite opens in Onitsha; runs free cancer screening 

    Shoprite demonstrated its commitment to growing Nigeria with the opening of its Onitsha Mall.

    Eager shoppers enjoyed a vibrant programme of music and dance before flocking to the store to take advantage of the great opening specials and deals. The opening proved to be an overwhelming sales day for the store, with satisfied shoppers all-round.

    Located in the state’s first modern shopping mall, the store is set to bring consumers the same low prices and convenience it is known for. As the flagship brand in the mall, the store will cater for customers’ daily, weekly and monthly food and household requirements. Over and above a wide range of food and non-food lines, it features various service departments including a Meat Market, Bakery, Deli, and a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable department. 15-till points have been set up to deal with high volumes of shoppers. All of this in a world-class shopping experience.

    Executive Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano who was accompanied by his wife and other government dignitaries officiated at the opening of the store and mall, remarking that the occasion was a milestone in his administration’s efforts to make the state the centrepiece for commercial activities.

    Through the store opening, Shoprite, in partnership with the management of Onitsha mall, is doing its part by creating over 1,000 job opportunities for locals. The Onitsha store marks Shoprite’s 18th store opening in the country since it first began operations in 2005. Shoprite employs over 2500 people in Nigeria and is committed to supporting local enterprises. The Group has built relationships with over 400 leading Nigerian suppliers, small businesses and farmers, securing a wide assortment of local brands.

    Additionally, as part of the brand’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the Shoprite Community Network hosted a two-day free breast cancer screening for women in Onitsha, in conjunction with Run For A Cure Africa (RFCA), a national NGO specializing in breast cancer awareness work. Speaking during the event where over 250 women were screened, Founder of RFCA, Ebele Mbanugo said “It has been a rewarding experience partnering with Shoprite to offer free breast cancer screening to the women of Onitsha because a lot of people go about their daily routine without taking the time out to examine their body. This contributes to the increasing rate of breast cancer deaths. I wish more organizations would take a leaf from Shoprite and their continuous push to create awareness about the dangers of breast cancer “.

    Speaking on behalf of Shoprite Nigeria, Executive Director Adeola Kagho said that she was excited about the warm reception that the store was receiving from the people of the state. “We look forward to opening more stores and playing our part to impact more communities. The free breast cancer screening is just one of the many CSR projects we intend to embark upon in the state and I am happy to witness the high turnout of women taking part in the screening exercise”

     

  • Online searches rise by 43% as more businesses go online

    At a time when the economic realities are forcing companies in Africa to fold up because of increasing overhead operational cost, Nigerian retail business owners are finding new ways to reduce the cost of running a business. One of such ways is taking the business online by subscribing to online market hubs and e commerce websites.

    Internet penetration, increase in mobile phone usage, ability to source for items online, store-to-door delivery and online marketing platforms are some of the factors keeping most Nigerian retail businesses afloat.

    A research by Western Mall, the country’s first auction platform, showed that more people listed products for sale on its website this first quarter, compared to last year. Dealers in electronics, mobile phones, computers, home appliances and fashion listings on the website have also increased by 35 percent.

    The research also revealed that more shop owners, particularly the typical offline market or store, now use free marketing channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, Nairaland, Pinterets and others to showcase and market their goods and services as against seeking highly populated areas.

    Attesting to the fact that the online market place is gaining more recognition in this part of the world, marketing activities on online market hubs and forum in the country shows a 22 percent increase this first quarter and at least 36percent of online shoppers completing purchase transactions.

    Dealers in items sourced from other countries have also started the trend of ordering goods from abroad online, thereby  cutting off the need to travel to buy and the space where such items would be stored.

    One of the dealers using the Western Mall website said he has been getting more inquiries and making more sales since subscribing to the online platform. He also said that his overhead is now lower since he works from his home and does not need to rent a shop or a warehouse.

    Experts, therefore, suggest that more businesses can benefit from adopting the online market trend in Nigeria now. They say not only will it ensure that cost of operation is reduced, it will make commercial real estate more affordable as the need to rent shops will ultimately reduce.

  • Adiba.com opens store in Lekki, 3 more stores in Lagos

    Adiba.com opens store in Lekki, 3 more stores in Lagos

    Sequel to the growing population of online shoppers across the country, a top player in the e-commerce industry, Chris Udeji, Chief Executive Officer of adiba.com has disclosed that only 9per cent of the shopping class in Nigeria does it online.

    Access to internet on mobile has created massive awareness and players have taken advantage of this platform to launch out several platforms to sell to Nigerians and other shoppers.

    Udeji, who spoke to the media at the launch of Adiba.com offline store in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos said despite the fact that the future of shopping is online, most Nigerians still prefer to touch and feel their goods before the purchase them. Adding that “this is the reason we are setting up physical stores to create convenience for our customers.”

    Online is well defined, said the Adiba.com boss. “We found out that a lot of people have no facility to shop online. Only 9per cent of Nigerians are really shopping online. As a result, you cannot rule out the traditional shoppers and that is why we are giving our online shopping customers the opportunity to interface and know where Adiba.com comes from.”

    Since online really do not address the issue of customer complaints, Adiba.com has provided a channel. Customers of the ecommerce platform can now lodge their complaints of what ever form at the physical stores, which would set up in Ikorodu, Ikeja, and Ikota to complement the Lekki’s pilot store.

    According to him “If a customer shop at our platform online and he or she is dissatisfied, such customer con visit any of our stores and complaints and his or her challenge will be addressed appropriately.

    He said that the offline stores will be used as collection centres for the customers in those locations where stores will be located.  For instance a customer who lives in Ikorodu but works on the island does not need to shop on the island. “a customer can play order in any of stores then indicates the store of collection. It is simple, ease and convenience,” he said.

    On further expansion on both online and offline, the eCommerce expert explained that the business particularly would looking to expand out of Lagos since the online is global. He said as the revitalization is going online, the offline platform would equally experience the same structure.

    “It has becomes very certain that we will expand. We will be looking to expand out of Lagos to other states as the request is made. The customers are the king here.

  • No pricing correlation between pasta and rice

    Insinuations that consumer demand would have moved from rice to pasta because of the persistent increase in the price of the staple item is not true.

    Traders in the pasta market – noodle, macaroni and spaghetti – said just like rice was facing the challenge of hike in prices, so also are pasta which have been affected by the high dollar to naira exchange rate, the embargo on some items and the 70 percent tariff on rice.

    According to the traders, there is no cheap food item in the market any longer as all staple items have gone up astronomically with their quantities reduced. Food stuffs, they say, can no longer be substituted.   They gave prices of items as; N3, 200 for a pack of Spaghetti as against its former N2,500. In the noodles category, Indomie seems to have increased more from N1,200 to N1, 450. Indomie Super pack has increased by N200 from N2,200 to N2, 400 per carton. Honeywell noodles goes for N1,150 instead of N1,050, while Minimee noodles which used to sell for N1,150 per carton has increased by N50, and Chiki noodles which was N1,550 before now cost N1,700.

    The Nation Shopping visited Daleko rice market where sellers of all kinds of grains and pastries are mostly found. Ayobami Ayokunle sells pastries and buys directly from dealers who complain that materials used in making these pastries are imported, reason for high cost of the item.

    Another trader, Mrs. Elizabeth Adeyemo, said since the government banned imported rice in the country and increased tariff, few dealers who are able to pay the tariff increase the prices of rice as they know that rice will not be coming in illegally, especially from Cotonou.

    Mr Fatai Kabiru, a rice seller, said bags of rice sold presently are from the old stock traders had before the hike. According to him, they cannot afford to buy new stock as its price ranges from N13,500 to N14, 700 and above.

    However, shops at major markets such as Mile 12, Mushin and others from observation,have few of these items in their stores, hoping the price will come down since 2016  budget has now been signed into law.

  • Rosabon celebrates 23 years, empowers women

      As part of programmes to mark its 23rd anniversary, Nigeria’s award winning non-banking finance institution, Rosabon Financial Services has entered into a strategic partnership with a non government organisation, NGO Mamamoni, to empower 23 women with soft grants and capacity building.

    This is part of Rosabon’s efforts at encouraging women empowerment and promoting indigenous production. The women who are involved in various crafts including farming, fashion designing, soap making, fish farming and other chemical productions got the grant to further expand their businesses.

    Rosabon has consistently played a critical role at driving SME growth in Nigeria, a trend that has attracted it an international recognition recently where it won an award as Nigeria’s ‘Best SME Financial Advisory 2015’ from CFI.co.

    The training and provision of grant to the selected women is part of Rosabon’s commitment at supporting local business to boost local production and grow the economy.

    At the cheque presentation at Satellite Town, Lagos on Monday, the 23 women expressed gratitude and satisfaction for the support received from Rosabon.

    Speaking on the empowerment initiative and partnership with Mamamoni, Rosabon’s CEO, Chukwuma Ochonogor said they were inspired by Rosabon’s passion for deepening access to financial services, especially as a means to tackling the menace of poverty among the unbanked.

    He noted that the company has championed financial inclusion in Nigeria through its several innovative products targeted at the non-banking population, adding that the partnership with Mamamoni is to continue its drive at deepening financial inclusion in the country.

    According to Ochongor, “Women are becoming great players in the economy, so it is very important that they get the right empowerment. At Rosabon, we have a societal outlook and recognize the importance of working together for the greater good. We are fully committed to this project and will keep it on for as long as possible.”

    He added: “This anniversary celebration is more about reflecting on our past and realizing what the future has in store for our great company while making our communities better places, hence the need for this project.”

    Also speaking, Founder, Mamamoni, Nkem Okocha said: “We are very delighted that Rosabon Financial Services chose to give 23 of our women business grant to grow their businesses. With this money, they can buy raw materials in large quantity to increase their supply and this will increase their livelihood income. My prayer is that Rosabon will continue to partner with us, so we can reach more women and help them break the cycle of poverty.”

     

  • How online store merchants woo customers

    How online store merchants woo customers

    Online store merchants, like other conventional traders in fast moving consumer goods and allied products, in their quest to grow their businesses have come up with ingenious ways of rewarding customers’ loyalty,  reports TONIA ‘DIYAN

    Online shopping portals across the country are not leaving anything to chance to grow their customers’ base. And like their counterparts in real time sales, they know too well that the strategy to retain customers and get prospective ones, gives birth to improved sales. They, therefore, would not want to be left out of this, as they are spreading their tentacles to consistently indulge in purchase-driven loyalty promotions, knowing the benefits involved.

    Little wonder, former Broll Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Gbadebo Erejuwa, once said just as savvy retailers are defining innovative ways to achieve the benefits, most importantly, their customers’ loyalty, online merchants are also in the race.

    “While the concept of loyalty is nothing new, we are also seeing a significant surge in retailers investing in loyalty programmes that give them valuable insight into how to better meet their customers’ needs,” she said.

    According to her, online stores  have also caught the bug, imbibed the trend and have kept it going in few years of their existence. “They are aware that if they reward their customers, they will want to visit again and again,” she added.

    Since online shopping gained a foothold in this part of the world four years ago, it has continued to thrive to satisfy shoppers, particularly, the doubtful ones, who do not believe that something as good as buying and paying for items in the convenience of the home is possible in Nigeria. But like the shopping malls, online stores appreciate their customers in diverse ways apart from the usual  discount offers, price slash and other seasonal offers they give to shoppers, who buy from their website.

    A retailer, who wants to connect with his customers, does things beyond the usual care he offers at the sales-point. Those retailers, who do not sell online, have over the years resolved to consistent provision of purchase-driven loyalty promotions in form of monetary or material rewards, giving out shopping vouchers to their loyal customers for their steady patronage over a period of time. This, they say, helps them to keep their old customers, meet prospective ones apart from enjoying improved sales.

    The online stores are confident that they have outgrown their teething problems and have proven themselves worthy. They said they now have prospect for further growth as they have become fully acceptable in the delivery business.

    For operators, the number of people, who now patronise them across the country and beyond is continually on the increase as they enjoy convenience, transparency in service delivery, availability and affordability of their choice items, among other benefits, which includes the reward programme.

    Aware that loyalty programme is one of the many ways of boosting sales and as a matter of fact, the strongest, former head of Public Relations and Marketing, Kaymu.com.ng, Tomiwa Oladele,  said: “As the year unfolds, we have more exciting campaigns, promotions, and giveaways in store for our customers to express our appreciation for their patronage. We are aware that our customer is king and as a result, customer service efforts at Kaymu.com are optimised to ensure that they are satisfied with our services and those of our sellers whom we connect them with, an online market place, we bring buyers and sellers together under one roof.”

    Oladele added that as a brand, her firm extends the customer experience beyond customer service to reward systems that ensure customers feel appreciated.

    Corroborating Oladele, Head, Offline Marketing, Yudala.com, Afam Anyika, threw more light on the reward programme when he said: “The priceless value of our customers to our business cannot be overemphasised. Our promise has always been to consistently provide them with convenience, professional service, and an excellent shopping experience.”

    The essence of reward programmes, Anyika said, “ultimately reaches down to providing customers with a delightful shopping experience that is hinged on great deals and best prices or incredible discounts on quality products. We have in few years of our existence provided various initiatives that have been carefully tailored to reward our customers.

    “For instance, our Customer Appreciation Day is an annual event where we thank our customers celebrating a great year together and a time when we not only continue to build e-commerce in Nigeria, but also a day we provide them with exclusive massive discounts on selected premium products across all categories in our store,” he said.

    Citing such promos, Anyika said this is one of many such initiatives carried all year round. During our Black Friday sales, we would sell what we name ‘Awoof Vouchers’ pre-sale’, where customers who buy vouchers up to N 20,000 can have value doubled.

    “Ultimately, we are a very innovative company with a world class experience in retail; seeing the value we place in our customers, we strive every day to put  smiles on their faces and ensure we remain the online shop Nigerians continue to trust across every level of our operations,” he said.