Category: Shopping

The Commercial Director of Gemona West Interior Designs, Naomi Smith, has said  the firm is determined to revolutionise the interior designs industry by offering groundbreaking designs to consumers.

She spoke at the just-concluded “Made by Design” Exhibition held at the Balmoral Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Smith said: “For the first time we are showcasing our designs at a major exhibition and we are excited about the responses we are getting from guests. We are here to demonstrate that the design industry is improving and to show that consumers can trust us to deliver the best designs comparable to any company in the world.”

To give shoppers   various quality and unique designs, the firm partnered other leading vendors and manufacturers, such as Woodstyles, JCI, ProBlind, Evi Vernice Paints and Coating Solutions, Jobaco and Brecolights.

Smith noted that the decision to collaborate was a reflection of the evolution in the industry as more consumers are demanding a one stop solution from design firms instead of silo offering which is often cumbersome.

“To be very honest, the industry is changing. Our customers are appreciating what value the interior designers, woodwork engineers, lighting engineers, interior decorators, paint specialist, kitchen equipment and fabric consultants are bringing to the table, it was time for the different professionals within the industry to come together and collaborate with the aim of servicing the same clients to deliver architectural and design perfection both interior and exterior.’’

The three-day exhibition attracted visitors from various works of life. They included wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, who were thrilled by the transformation and sophistication in the designed industry as demonstrated by the various exhibitors.

No fewer than 3, 000 exhibitors will convege on the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos for the 33rd Lagos International Trade Fair, which begins today. But, with the continued closure of the country’s land borders to goods, will the yearly fair be devoid of the attendant flamboyance, high-level business networking, marketing deals, including various brand invasion, that have become its trade mark? JANE CHIJIOKE writes.

Over the years, the Lagos International Trade Fair has remained a veritable platform to expand business.

Businesses across the globe have been able to find a common ground to project their products and services to distributors, retailers and visitors beyond their countries.

For Lagos, the host community, it has attracted investment opportunities, partnerships, employment, boosted Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), among others.

With the cosmopolitan nature of the state and its estimated 20 million population, Lagos remains a viable environment for businesses to thrive.  This emphasises the large number of local and foreign exhibitors who, yearly, throng the event, scrambling to corner a market share from the multitude of shoppers and business concerns that flock into the venue.

Since the Lagos Chamber of Commerce took over the organisation of the fair in 1986, it has continued to record increase in participation of foreign exhibitors from China,  Japan, Belgium, Sweden, India, Portugal, Indonesia, Ghana, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey, Cameroun  Kenyan, Singapore, Jamaica, Republic of Benin, South Africa among others, thereby becoming one of the leading fora for trade and business promotion in the country.

For instance,  last year, 2,000 exhibitors, including 200 foreign exhibitors and about 5, 000 visitors attended the fair.This year, about 3,000 exhibitors, including 300 foreign exhibitors, are being expected.

Also, between 500,000 and 600,000 visitors are being expected.

Despite these figures, stakeholders and business entrepreneurs are worried that the closure of the country land borders, which has lasted for over two months, may take its toll on the fair.

But others have dismissed such fears.

The LCCI Director-General, Muda Yusuf, fears that exhibitors from West Africa may be restricted from participating in the fair due to the border closure, as many of them have to move their goods and other items to display at the fair through the border.

He is sad that the dialogue between the Chamber and the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to allow exhibitors attend the fair with their consignments has not yielded any fruit.

“Quite a number of our exhibitors are still stocked at the border, waiting for the opening or some sort of waiver to allow them  come in with their consignment for the fair. Some of them have been there for the past six days with their luggage and products they want to display. So far, there has been no luck,” he said.

He, however, said the exhibitors had shown keen interest in the fair as they had not opted out and were hopeful that something would be done. He said the exhibitors were prepared for the fair, and that backing out might not be on their cards as many have already paid for the spaces in the hall dedicated for exhibitors from the African sub-regions.

Yusuf worries   that the closure  might  affect the smooth   business relationship tthe country has with these sub-regions as most  of their  legitimate inter-trade businesses have been hampered.

“These exhibitors have made so much investment in preparation  for the fair. it is ideal for them to have returns of their investment.  This could affect the business relationship they have with Lagos and the country as a whole.  .these  subregions might retaliate. Normally, a situation like this affects  mutual trade relationship. in the sub-region. About 90 per cent of trade between Nigeria and other West African countries takes place by road.  So, when the border is closed, that means those trading are cut off.”

“The closure is affecting us because we have reserved a hall for those coming from African countries and over 60 per cent of the fo exhibitors are coming from Africa. So, it is greatly affecting us. besides, we have expended so much on this fair. There is need for quick intervention from the government,” he said.

with the theme:”Connecting business, creating value”,he said this year edition is focused on ecouraging Intra-African trade and positioning Africa as the next emerging economic powerhouse among continents.

He remarked that the fair would  facilitate buisness networking and provide opportunity for  visitors to shop varities of  items of their  choice.

Beyond the fair,  yusuf  who commented on the  impact of the border closure on businesses in the country explained that  though the closure had recorded some benefits in terms of reduction in smuggled rice, poultry products, sugar and petroleum products, it has greatly accounted for loss on trade.

He advised that as the nation celebrates the benefits of  the closure, it should also note the jobs that have been lost, increase in price of goods, legitimate export of goods to sub-regions have been halted, intermediate products for some manufacturers have been cut off, multinational companies de-linked from their sister companies in the sub region.

Noting that the country export agricultural and manufactured products, such as detergents, toothpastes, plastic products, steel products, kitchen utensils, grains, ginger, and onions, he said these losses run into billions of naira.

“Most often we do not count the cost of government policy on the citizen and businesses. We should not underestimate the contribution of trade and commerce to the economy of the country. Distributive trade sector accounts for about 15 percent of the nations GDP), which is estimated at N20trillion naira.

“Traders play a major role in the value chain of the real sector activities in the economy.  The trade sector is perhaps the largest employer in the economy,” he said.

But all appears not to be bleak for the fair. The Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, LCCI, Gabriel Idahosa, said that the same measures that were granted to exhibitors from outside the country that participated at the recently-concluded Abuja Trade Fair, would be granted to those coming to Lagos.

“In fact, some of these exhibitors are here with us today, and we are still expecting more before the close of the fair. The border closure will not affect this fair,” Idahosa said.

An African financial technology firm, Cellulant, has announced the re-launch of its payment, agent and mobile banking app, Tingg, to an all-in-one, multi-functional consumer super app.

The new Tingg is set to include a wide array of payment, commerce, and financial services in a single platform that will change the way customers interact with digital payment on the continent.

Tingg is Cellulant’s solution to the fragmentation in the African digital payments space, particularly in cross-border payments. As a platform that supports payments, financial services and commerce at a local level, Tingg seeks to eliminate boundaries across channels and geographies. The all-in-one app offers an integrated and efficient user experience, making it easier for customers and businesses to access digital financial services send and accept payments conveniently.

Its Chief Marketing Officer,  Lanre Adelanwa  said: “It has always been part of our vision to unite Africa through payment, and we are excited as we start this new journey. Our experience with driving financial inclusion in the rural has equipped us to scale our proposition of taking not just financial services but commerce as well to everyone across the country through a single platform.”

Cellulant co-founder, Bolaji Akinboro, said globally, the firm’s digital payment infrastructure connects consumers and businesses to over 120 banks, 40 mobile networks in one comprehensive network, which allows for interoperability to provide digital financial solutions to customers.

“Africa moves more money on mobile phones than any other economy in the world and has a growing interest in digital financial solutions. Our team believes that this gives our region the unique opportunity to lead the way in developing robust financial platforms that can be customised to the needs in each country or locality while infusing cutting-edge technologies such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, and Augmented Reality,” he added.

International Breweries (IB) Plc has reiterated its determination to serve Nigerians quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages from its four plants in Ilesha, Osun State, Gateway in Ogun State, Port Harcourt, in Rivers State and Onitsha, in Anambra State.

Its Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, Michael Daramola, gave this assurance while on a tour of its Gateway Brewery.

Daramola was accompanied  by officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), reporters, representatives of the Ogun State government and the Nigerian Climate Innovation Centre.

According to Daramola, the tour was part of the activities to mark the first anniversary of the inauguration of the brewery. It was an opportunity to showcase its quality assurance processes, which ensures the quality of products and the safety of its employees, contractors, partners and its host communities.

He said the Gateway factory was built with environmental protection in mind in line with the requirements of its Group 2025 Sustainability Goals, which focuse on climates actions, circular packaging, water stewardship and smart agriculture.

“We remain committed to adhering to the highest quality assurance processes to ensure we consistently produce international standard products. We continue to invest heavily in our people and we have some of the best and committed talents to drive these processes. The Gateway Brewery is built on sustainability practices in order to minimise negative impact on the environment. These actions help the plant to contribute to a better world by significantly reducing its carbon emissions, other greenhouse gasses and air pollutants and NOX.”

Globally, brands thrive on trust built over time. But, going by a research by Edelman Trust Barometer, a global communications firm with headquarters in Chicago, United States of America, there is a shift in this once-upon-a–time position. The research, which shows that only 34 per cent of consumers trust the brands they patronise, is a testimony to the waning confidence in brands. What does this portend for the market? JANE CHIJIOKE asks

It was perhaps his most-treasured shirt; hence, he took extra care to keep it in tip-top condition. It was, therefore, understandable when Tunde Oluwaseyi, a young but trendy teenager, lost his temper over an oil stain inflicted on his Hawes and Curtis brand of shirt by a truck pusher.

Oluwaseyi’s frustrations grew further when efforts to remove the stain were ineffective, despite the various assurances of its removal he got from friends’ testimonies on the efficacy of a certain detergent to eliminate such stains. Besides, the various stain removal detergents he had seen on television adverts were unhelpful. Disappointed, he had to condemn his prized shirt.

Chika Chizobam, a subscriber on a particular telecommunications network, was full of joy at the commencement of the GSM Portability regime. Reason? She had had to contend with  poor service delivery on her preferred network. The portability regime presented her the opportunity to change her network provider, having experienced failure on the platform of the former provider. For her, it was a betrayal of trust which she couldn’t comprehend. “The poor quality of their service was a contradiction of the broad coverage the network provider promised us at inception. So, they betrayed the trust I had in them and I had to change,” she explained.

Also, Timothy Edwards, who had been disappointed by products he purchased in the past, is not pleased that some brands do not address the needs of consumers which they claim to solve.

“Most products always claim to solve a problem or the other. But, in reality, they do little or nothing.  It is more like assaulting the senses of their consumers, who are willing to pay for the value the product claims to offer. This is wrong. If a product claims to solve a need, let consumers be able to see such value in the product because their business is at stake. When a consumer loses trust on a brand, he will never want to try that product anymore and that is loss to the brand,” he said.

Indeed, the growing trend is a reflection of consumers’ waning trust in brands. Daily, consumers seem to lose trust in brands hitherto held in high esteem. Some of the consumers The Nation spoke to argued that most brands did not understand consumers’ needs as they were only business minded.

According to the consumers, a brand’s ability to invest in satisfying the consumer is compromised with the huge profit margin that it has set out to achieve.  As a result, consumers’ trust in such brands keeps diminishing, thereby leading to a downturn in investment which could lead to their extinction in the market.

Another savvy consumer, Blessing Chizobam, said when buying a product, she was not familiar with, she would rather trust recommendations from a friend or family member than rely on what the product says it offers. In fact, for her, the use of celebrities to endorse brands is a turnoff, as she sees such as a mere marketing ploy to sell the brand.

Also another shopper, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Boma, said that there are some products she no longer buys because she does not get  good value from them. She explained that many products to get a good market share use cheap prices, not considering whether consumers are satisfied with what the product offers. She remarked that consumers have become more aware as they  are more exposed to information. This implies that for brands to gain their trust, a conscientious effort to listen and reason like their consumers is very critical.

According to Edelman Trust Barometer, in its report titled: “In Brands We Trust”, trust is a strong purchase consideration for consumers because of their growing concerns about product experience.  About 81per cent of consumers say it is a deciding factor to purchase a product.

According to Edelman Chief Executive Officer, Richard Edelman, “Trust has always played an important role in brand purchase. But consumers have larger expectations of brands, and their trust is predicated on how well it can pass through the three gates of trust—product, customer experience and impact on society.”

A breakdown in the report’s findings revealed that 53 per cent of consumers who trust a brand are more likely to be the first to buy the brand’s new products. This ratio is more likely to stay loyal to a brand even in the face of disruption, such as a trendy or innovative competitor. They are also likely to advocate a brand they trust.

To strengthen trust, Elderman Global Brand Chair, Amanda Glasgow, noted that consumers also expect brand to not only be business minded but also get involved in societal issues within its environs.

“Consumers are wary that brands are ‘trust-washing’ and being less than truthful about their commitment to society. Talking about an issue in an advert is not enough. Brands need to go further to impact real change. This could be anything from advocacy to financial support to internal reforms.

“It’s time for brands to take the next giant step. You can’t buy trust, you have to earn it.  Brands must accept the responsibility consumers have given them to effect change and welcome greater accountability and measurement of their impact,” she said.

Experts in marketing, research and development (R&D) said manufacturers must have elements of trust and make consumers part of their brand story to build a successful brand.

They argued that building a trusted brand goes beyond the quality of the product, stating that consumers are not only interested in a brand’s vision, but also in the purpose and what the brand represent.

Kantar Millward Brown Nigeria, Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Ugo Geri-Robert explained that trust could only be established when brands exhibit competence and integrity, adding that a brand must be aspirational, emotional, motivational and functional.

Noting that trust is a continuous effort by brands to identify with their consumers, she said: “Trust is a journey with knowledge at different levels. One level of trust graduates to another, until you arrive at that the level of trust you desire.”

 

Technology has become a veritable tool for tackling challenges. LUCAS AJANAKU writes on how digital solutions are helping to tackle hunger.

One of the biggest challenges facing the world is hunger. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) backs this up when it said:”From Africa and Asia to Latin America and the Near East, there are 821 million people in the world who do not get enough food to lead a normal, active life.”

In fact, a report by the WFP confirms a rise in world hunger for the third year. “There were 821 million chronically undernourished people in the world last year, up from 811 the previous year. One in nine  people in the world now faces hunger.

“Africa is the region with the greatest prevalence of hunger in the world – the figure changes to one in five people hungry in Africa. Hunger is also on the rise in Western Asia,” WFP said.

Hunger is dire in Africa and these numbers keep rising daily. Though hunger is a global problem, it is worth tackling.

This is perhaps why the WFP tagged this year’s celebrations of #WorldFoodDay “Our Actions Are Our Future. Healthy Diets for A #ZeroHunger World”.

In Africa however,  the continent’s leading eCommerce platform, Jumia, is leveraging digital solutions to tackle hunger.

Through its food marketplace, Jumia Food connects millions across the continent to healthy and delicious meals that are sold at affordable prices.

The food marketplace is in 11 countries: Ivory Coast, Algeria, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. And in each of these countries, it has become the go-to platform to order food.

In the past, ordering food online was literally non-existent. However, with the digital revolution and the painstaking efforts of Jumia, it is now possible for everyone with a mobile phone and internet to order food on the internet.

Jumia Food riders are familiar sights in Kigali, Lagos, Kampala, Tunis and Nairobi, among other cities; delivering food requests of millions of customers at their doorsteps and offices. Of course, what is unique here is that the foods are well packaged and are healthy.

This, in no small measures, can help contribute to the reduction of hunger in Africa.

It may interest you to know that the process for signing up restaurants on Jumia Food is thorough and exhaustive. Also, discounts on some of the foods have further made meals affordable to many Africans in general and Nigerians in particular.

As the world celebrates World Food Day, the Managing Director of Jumia Food, Guy Futi said all hands must be on deck to tackle global hunger adding that “Jumia Food is playing its part in combating hunger by connecting Nigerians to healthy and affordable foods which are delivered at the quickest possible time.”

Hunger is a global problem and every small action aimed at tackling it will go a long way. Jumia is taking action through its food marketplace to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and accessible to everyone.

ONGA, from the stables of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, has treated its social media advocates, fun seekers and upcoming chefs to food recipes at the fourth  ONGA Foodies Hangout in Abuja.

This came after the Lagos Jollof Showdown and the Jollof Challenge in Ghana, where the winner of the Lagos contest, who represented the country, emerged as the first runner–up.

Brand Manager ONGA, Ms. Sophiat Bello said the firm is geared towards promoting  food prepared with the finest local ingredients.

She said the initiative, which made debuted in Lagos last year, was also aimed at bringing consumers of the brand together to be enlightened on recipes of local and popular delicacies, and how to use the firm’s products in preparing them.

“It is also a time to entertain ONGA consumers, educate and let them have pleasurable moments on what the brand offers,” Bello said.

The audience was treated to various games, music and delicacies served with the ONGA brand.

It saw four seasoned chefs locked in the cooking competition with seasoned chefs outwitting the other with skills to clinch the winning prize.

A chef, Mrs. Idowu Owoyemi, won the ONGA Jollof cooking contest. She received a refrigerator and other gifts.

The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) has appointed Agharese (Arese) Lucia Onaghise its executive secretary.

The alliance has as its goal the building of a sustainable recycling economy for food and beverage packaging waste in Nigeria.

She is to oversee the campaigns and initiatives of FBRA as a producer responsibility organisation (PRO).

The appointment will further strengthen the recovery of food and beverage packaging waste, which is in compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy of the Federal Government.

The group’s Vice Chairman, Adekunle Olusuyi, said the appointment would intensify efforts on community campaigns on waste management, which involves proper waste disposal and separation, recycling initiatives, environmental conservation and collaboration with various state governments on cleaner and litre free environment.