The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Food prices ease as supplies pick up after festivity

    Food prices ease as supplies pick up after festivity

    After the usual hike in the prices of staple food items during the Yuletide, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports that prices of food items have returned to normalcy. Some items sold in small quantities are now more, while others which were never available can now be bought. 

    It has become a tradition, especially in Lagos markets for prices of foodstuff and other commodities, to remain unstable or relatively high after festivities. But this year, the reverse is the case as major staple food items have either drop in price, become available or increased in quantity.

    Visits to some markets in Lagos and a survey on other major markets have shown that prices of commodities have dropped by more than 50 per cent having seen high level of irregularity since December last year, during the Christmas celebrations when some items were sold twice their usual prices. Ordinarily, prices should return to normal after festivities, but the reverse is the case with staple items, particularly in Lagos.

    Prices of pepper, tomatoes, onions and beans amongst other staple food items have dropped in most Lagos markets due to the dry season.

    At Mile 12 market in Lagos, The Nation Shopping observed that pepper and tomatoes are no longer as expensive as before. A tomatoes seller, simply known as Madam Ramota, confirmed that the price of the produce have reduced due to the season. “Before now, we sold a basket of tomatoes for N18, 000 and N25, 000, particularly at Christmas. It is cheaper now because it is the season for plenty of pepper and tomatoes, we sell for N3, 500 and N4000.

    At Mushin market also in Lagos, Mrs Olowu, a tomatoes and pepper seller confirmed that tomato is in its season- the reason the produce is cheap. “We buy a basket of tomatoes for N3, 500 and N4, 000, last month; we bought the same basket of tomato N17, 000 per basket,’’ she said.

    A basket of tatashe (bell pepper) cost N3, 500 against its former N7, 000 per basket. Ata rodo (small round pepper) which used to sell for N18000 and N17,000 per basket sells for N5, 000. Earlier, housewives avoided cooking with fresh tomatoes because of its high cost; they rather went for alternatives like tomato paste and try grinded pepper. Now N150 worth of tomato and pepper can make a pot of soup. This reduction in price, it was learnt, would last till April, after which there would be scarcity because rain would not allow the produce to grow properly, therefore, the little available ones will become expensive.

    Also at the market, price of onions has reduced. A basket of onion which was formerly N30, 000 sells for N13, 000 and N15, 000 now.

    According to Mrs Awoyemi, an onion seller in the market, “Baskets of onion comes in large quantities and are less expensive compared to last month when the produce was scare, few quantity available and very expensive too.”

    She however explained that the low price rate is not going to last for than two months before it becomes expensive again.

    Secretary, Tomato dealers in Mile 12 market, Lawan Bilya Adam, said the arrival of fresh tomatoes was the major reason that forced the price to reduce.

    He said: “We thank God that the price has significantly reduced due to availability of new tomatoes in the market. Even though the prices vary but we hope that they will be stable and come down finally to a reasonable level so that people can buy the basket without problem. The new commodity is supplied to market on daily basis. To that effect the price will come down.”

    The price of fish has remained relatively expensive, according to traders who sell the item. A fish seller at Oyingbo market known as Mrs Rashida Onanuga said fish is expensive. According to her, she buys a cartoon of fish for N18, 000, the type she used to buy for N12, 000 few months ago.

    Also at the stock fish section of the market, Steven Aguwamba and his brother Bethel Nwachukwu own a shop where they sell stock fish in bulk to people who resell. They buy directly from the importers. Stock , they said, is imported from Iceland and they used to buy from the importers for N45,000 or N35,000, now they buy between N38,000 and N50,000 and sometimes, N100,000 because the amount paid on a 40-metre container is about N1. 4million. They, however, advised that the government should help with the dollar exchange issue and fish sellers to grow the cat fish business in Nigeria instead of concentrating solely on crude oil.

    At Daleko Market, the price of a 50-kilogramme bag of rice ranged from N7,300 to N9,500.

    Mrs Yinka Okunola, a rice seller at the market, said the prices of rice went down due to availability of local variety.

    “The locally produced rice has penetrated the market and is competing favourably with the imported rice and this has forced a reduction in the prices of rice.

    “The lowest we sold imported rice was N10,000, but now with N8,500, you can purchase some of the various brands,” said Okunola.

    However, the costs of cartons of frozen turkey and chicken had gone up slightly.

    A carton of turkey goes for N8,000 from N7, 700, while the chicken sells for N7,000 from N6,500.

    Mrs Adijat, a dealer in frozen foods, attributed the price change to increase in foreign exchange rate and epileptic power supply.

    At the Iddo market, a bag of beans sells for N16,300, from the N15,900 it sold last year.

    At the Whitesand Market at Oyingbo, a 25-litre keg of vegetable oil goes for N6,000, an increase of N200 from the N5,800 it sold previously.

    A 25-litre of palm oil goes for N6,850 from N6,600, the drum  costs N50,500, while the price of oil in bottle remained N250.

  • Benefits of window shopping

    Window shopping, whether traditional or virtual, has become popular. According to retail experts, the purpose of window shopping is not to spend money or acquire new items, but to learn more about oneself and one’s personal tastes. TONIA ‘DIYAN writes

    After the Christmas and New Year celebration, Kolawole Biyi regardless of her financial status went on a window shopping expedition. She is aware that the modern mall is designed to lure people into window shopping where they are sure to likely catch irresistible items that would ensnare them to shop on impulse.

    On the other hand, she knows also that the activity is generally considered to be safer as it allows people on limited budgets much less likely to make impulse buys if they remain outside the store.

    She went ahead browsing shops with no intent to purchase, possibly just to pass the time between other activities, or to plan a later purchase.

    Walking through the Palms mall, Lekki- Lagos, she continuously looked at the window displays for each retail store. Aside passing time, Biyi was able to get ideas for displays that she could use at home and the inspiration for future gift giving.

    “After all, this wouldn’t cost me a kobo” she said to herself! Not in a hurry to receive the full benefit of window shopping, she did it at a leisurely pace. As a typical window shopper she is less concerned with how many window displays are observed or how much time is spent enjoying each of the displays, she focused more on enjoying the wares displayed in the windows, as well as taking note of the way each shop owner choose to display all the items included in the presentation, not forgetting to compare prices to ascertain the most beneficial purchase.

    Because of the flexibility that is part of the pastime, it is possible to work in a little window shopping at just about any time. Biyi often enjoys this type of shopping during a lunch hour, while waiting for relatives or friends to arrive at the site, or as a way to kill time before the start of a movie at the cinema.

    Apart from being an ideal way to kill time without spending money, to Biyi, window shopping can also serve as inspiration for other tasks. ”Spending time looking at window displays may trigger creative ideas that can be used at home”, she whispered to herself. “For example, a window display containing a dining room table and chairs may provide inspiration for table settings, centerpieces, or other ideas that can be used to dress up the dining room.” she said

    While traditional window shopping takes place at a brick and mortar location, the concept of virtual window shopping has become very popular. By viewing items on display at online stores, shoppers can enjoy the benefits of passing time, getting ideas that can be used for different purposes and also find inspiration for gifts and other purchases scheduled for a later date. One advantage of virtual window shopping is that interesting web pages can be bookmarked for a return visit at a later date.

    Some popular malls and busy places such as  Allen Avenue and Opebi Road in Ikeja have attracted a great number of window shoppers as they are characterised by a host of displays.

    Some people told The Nation Shopping why they go window shopping. Some said the act will make them remain up-to-date, others said it is their favourite pastime activity. While some others said it’s a form of exercise, others said the act is alluring.

    For Rita Nselu, who is a frequent visitor to The Palms mall in Lekki, she window shops to find out the new trends in fashion, so as to remain up-to-date as a university student. On the other hand, Funmi Aiyetoro, a student of the University of  Lagos window shops because it is her favourite pastime activity.

    Her words: “It is just alluring the way retailers display those items. Besides, it is very convenient for one to look around even when you do not have money. What I actually do is stroll to the mall with my friends, look around, compare prices and return when I am buoyant to purchase.

    Her friend, Elizabeth Kaine simply affirmed. “I think it’s fun, I just love the act at my leisure.”

    Femi Aruna thinks window shopping is an important aspect of shopping and does it weekly.

    His words: “These malls are designed in such a way that you just need to move around to be able to make good choices. If you do not move around to see the items on display, how would you know the right thing to buy? If you are a real shopper, you have to know how to window shop.

    However some retail experts have said those who understand the art of window shopping and truly enjoy it have some guidelines to bear in mind. Such people should be able to think about the purpose of their trip to the mall, store or market.

    Owner of Deligtsome Gifts Concept situated in Gbagada,  Lagos, Modupe Shopeju said: “Whether a person is scouting for a new fashion trends, he /she is trying to make a mental shopping list, plan on returning later to make purchases or simply looking for a good way to spend a few hours, window shopping is one good way to achieve that.”

    She added that the location is also important, “Window shopping is best enjoyed with friends and the ideal location for window shopping is a mall (indoor or outdoor) with a variety of different stores. When you are out, look for places with impressive window displays,” she said

    She concluded that it is wise to prepare the night before taking the window shopping trip “Prepare a day before. You won’t need much money, you are not buying anything, remember? Bring whatever else you would normally take on a shopping trip, but leave the credit cards at home in case you get too tempted. Don’t forget to dress comfortably and casually making sure you wear comfy shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking,” she said.

    Shopeju taking people through the process said: “Arrive at your location early, start at one end and gradually work your way over to the other. Walk slowly; take in the sights, there is no need to rush. Stop and carefully observe the first window display that you see. Take notes or mark down the store name, if necessary, but do not go into the store. Continue on, viewing other displays at your discretion. Try to identify trends and patterns in the displays. Do not be afraid to stop; you could sit for a while if you get tired. Take notes as needed, particular styles you like, popular items, preferred items to be purchased when you returned. Window shopping does not need to be a task.  It is worth relaxing and enjoying.”

  • Cussons ‘Grow & Shine’ contest produces N1m education grant winner

    Cussons ‘Grow & Shine’ contest produces N1m education grant winner

    A Four-year- old Imisi Subomi Smile Oladapo from Chrisland School, Victoria Garden City (VGC) has emerged the winner of the 2015 Cussons Baby toddler competition tagged “Grow and Shine’.The lucky girl  carted  away N1 million education grant grand prize and products from the Cussons Baby range of products.

    Smile, whose chorographic performance received standing ovation from judges, parents and other contestants, smiled home with the competition’s educational grant of N1million at the competition grand finale held at Planet One, Maryland, Lagos, last week.

    Meanwhile, Ehiarekhian Peter Hayble, four, a pianist and Amarachi Akujobi, five, a dancer came second and third respectively to win N250,000 and N150,000 education grant .  Other 17 kids  went home with product gift, N20, 000 and N10, 000 shopping voucher each.

    The elated winner’s mother, Mrs. Ireti Oladapo, writer/publicist, who expressed her fears after seeing some talented kids on display prior to her baby’s performance confessed that at some point her faith began to shake.

    “There were so many talented children at the competition and at a point, my faith began to shake but I told her that if she has to win she has to do better than others,” Mrs Oladapo disclosed.

    Addressing the transparency of the competition, PZ Cussons’ Regional Marketing Head of Africa,Charles Nnochiri, stated that the judges were objective in their assessment and the event turned out the way’’ we expected it to be’’.

    “What this tells me is that the event was as transparent as we expected it to be. The judges were objective as they could have been because the winner is someone who sang a lot of songs that edified our country Nigeria through choreography which is a lot talent from a four- year- old.”

    The judges for the inaugural competitions were Jude Abaga popularly known as MI, Waje Iruobe and Chidinma Ekile, all musicians.

    Reinforcing the brand belief in its core audience, Cussons Baby Senior Brand Manager Family Care, Oluwaseun Ayeni said the brand believes that all babies are uniquely gifted and that is the reason the Cussons Baby added to the earlier platform- Cussons Baby Moments Competition, to give toddlers between  ages two and five years the opportunity to share their amazing talents.

    She, however, thanked Cussons Baby for believing in the Nigerian child and not only providing them with world class baby lotion, soaps, oil and powder but  giving them the opportunity to express themselves through dancing, singing, choreographing and other talents.

  • Shoprite Nigeria procures 76% of products sold locally

    Shoprite Nigeria procures 76% of products sold locally

    It’s been a little more than 10 years since Shoprite was launched in Nigeria with the opening of its first store in Lagos in December 2005. Today 99.5percent of the supermarket chain’s 2230 employees are Nigerians and 76 percent of all products sold are procured locally.

    Shoprite’s commitment to support local enterprise means the supermarket chain has developed relationships with approximately 300 leading Nigerian suppliers and small businesses.

    “It is one thing to farm vegetables, but having the right channels in place to reach consumers is equally important,” commented Dr Folashade Disu, CEO of Batfol Farms in Lagos. “This is where Shoprite plays a major role. As the supermarket chain has been increasing its footprint in Nigeria, so too Batfol Farms have been growing its capacity in order to continue meeting the demand for our produce.”

    Mr Samuel Adedeji, Supervisor for feed millsat Fresh Country Chicken in Kwara, echoes these sentiments. “Thanks to unprecedented growth levels since becoming a Shoprite supplier, Fresh Country Chicken started an outgrower programme. Local community farmers are supplied with seed, maize fertilisers and herbicides, Fresh Country Chicken then buys back the maize at market rates after input deductions.”

    Shoprite Nigeria introduced the country to a world class shopping experience through its core business promise of lower prices. Having recently opened its 16th Shoprite store in Nigeria, the supermarket chain remains firmly committed to supporting local farmers through mutually beneficial business relationships.

  • Why back-to-school sales are low

    Traders at the Mushin Ojuwoye market in Lagos  have decried the low demand for  Back-to-School items.

    They said items, such as stationery, backpacks, school shoes/sandals , socks, etc have not been in demand since school resumed last week unlike in the past when sales would start topping demand two weeks to resumption.

    The traders told The Nation Shopping that sales were usually in September when the children were starting a new session. According to them, there is  high turnover for them during the period because parents will need to get new books, sandals, shoes, socks, uniforms, backpack, and other  items to replace the old ones.

    Manufacturers, they said, produce more in September than in other months.

    A trader at the market, Mr Uche Ndubuisi,who sells school bags, complained of low sales, saying the items are expensive from the manufacturers, leaving him with nothing to take home after selling.

    “I’ve not sold anything today because customers are refusing to buy. They walk away when the prices of items does not favour them. I cannot wait for September  when i make huge sales daily,” he said.

    Perhaps because of high prices, Mrs. Folashade Adebowale  could not buy a lunch bag and backpack. Instead, she bought one. According to her, she would buy the other next term.

    Owner of Emmy Bookshop Mushin, Mr.Emmanuel Umechukwu said the only Back-to-School items that are in high demand now are stationery, adding that they do not yield much income.

    He said textbooks are expensive directly from the manufacturers. “A textbook that we used to buy at the rate of N650 is now N730, meaning we would not be making profit, not even the N30 gain  we used to make.

    Madam Kofowola, who  sells wholesale school rubber sandals at the market, said: “We have not sold much this year, maybe because it is the beginning of a new year and most people are not back from their hometowns.”

    She added: “However, we sell more of our goods in June and in September when there is downpour and parents  would try to manage resources.”

    Optimistic that sales would pick soon, she said:  “I believe that by the end of this month when rain would have started, things would go back to normal as parents would opt for alternatives for their wards’ leather shoes.”

  • Issues that’ll shape retail business in 2016

    Issues that’ll shape retail business in 2016

    Last year, the retail industry witnessed massive growth. It was driven largely by innovation and the entry of world-class shopping centres, which not only attracted shoppers, but also enhanced their experiences. TONIA ‘DIYAN looks at some of the innovations that made Nigeria a haven for retail business and how they hold promises of redefining the industry in the year.

    Last year was an eventful year for the  retail industry. It witnessed substantial growth, made possible by customer-centric innovations by an avalanche of big retail shops that entered the country.

    Some of the big retail shops that threw their hats in the ring, attracting shoppers and redefining shopping experiences were Shoprite, Spar, Mr Price, Truworth, Mango, PEP, and Casabella, among others.

    With their entry, shoppers became aware of the benefits of shopping in a more conducive atmosphere. Retailers and owners of malls in the Lagos metropolis introduced various innovations that focused on improving  the environment  for  shoppers. Some  expanded their businesses, while others partnered big players  to enhance the experience of their customers.

    For instance, a big players , Mr Price, opened more stores and created a befitting website where its customers linked with it real time. The clothing store focused more on improving its supply chain processes by providing better value for money. The retailer’s fashion items catered for all age groups and sizes. It had something for everyone within the store. The innovations worked immediate wonders, growing the Mr Price brand equity.

    Shoprite, acknowledged as Africa’s leading retailer, also made significant inroad into the country’s retail industry. Same for Surulere, Lagos-based retail outlet, Leisure Mall. The upscale retail outlet, on account of its innovation, was the destination of choice for families in 2015.

    As sign of its growing popularity and growing clientele, Leisure Mall was able to achieve 100 per cent occupancy before the end of the first quarter. The retail outlet was able to create lots of awareness on its activities and was able to link with Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall, its neighbour. The first of its kind, the move gave shoppers opportunity for variety in tenant mix, as more brands came in.

    Similarly, Ikeja City Mall and UAC Restaurants sought to give other operators a run for their investments in the retail business. While UAC Restaurants focused more on operations, training, franchisee support and human capital development, which directly affected the quality of service delivery to customers, Ikeja City Mall opted for the strategy of give-away events that offered shoppers quality products and services at the right prices. The mall came up with product choices and innovations to better serve shoppers.

    Yudala also created brand awareness. In five months, the firm impressively made its way into the consciousness of consumers. The online store is in 10 cities and in all these cities, the Yudala billboards will be the first to greet visitors as they make their way through the city.

    From inception, Yudala has been a highly socially responsible brand with the first of its kind social initiative in retailing in Nigeria, Gyming with the Stars, an initiative that promotes wellness, fitness and entrepreneurship amongst Nigerians from different demographics.

    The initiative featured A-list celebrities. After three successful editions in Ikeja, FESTAC and Surulere last year, the online store has promised more editions in the year.

    The firm has experienced a rapid increase in its fan and customer base with respect to social media, newsletter subscription as well as its online platform, www.yudala.com. It has 15 physical stores across Nigeria with four in Lagos (Lekki, Gbagada, Ikeja and Victoria Island); two in Abuja and eight others in Kano, Uyo, Owerri, Ibadan, Asaba, Enugu, Warri and Port Hacourt. It has received three awards from international brands as ‘Online Retailer Store of the Year 2015’, ‘Best Computing 2015′ on two  brands.

    Yudala dictated the trends last year with the first ever drone delivery technology in Nigeria. To empower Nigerians, Yudala launched a unique sale scheme called the YUBOSS, where an average Nigerian can sell from the Yudala inventory to earn decent commissions at the end of the month.

    With zero capital and an investment, a YUBOSS agent can make up to N1 million  in a month. Powered by Yudala, YUBOSS is supported by Airtel and Access Bank.

    The store also partner renowned insurers, Sovereign Trust Insurance (STI) Plc. to provide all risks cover (except theft) on all devices bought from any of its platforms, whether online or from any of its retail outlets nationwide.

    Last October, retailers expanded from merely meeting customers’ purchasing needs to becoming one-stop-shops, which combined the convenience and unique experience of retail, leisure, entertainment, movies, games and health. The year also saw electronic and household retailers review their flexible payment options for shoppers who love to buy and pay later or at instalments.

    Dealers and distributors of electronics, who took the lead in flexible payment options, saw it as a welcome development in retail business. To them, beyond the need to satisfy customers and make life comfortable for them, the flexible payment option is one of their many strategies to push sales, create space for new stock and encourage shoppers to patronise a particular brand or shop.

    The following month, November, more supermarkets were opened. Clothing lines sprung up among which are Florian London showcased by Polo Avenue in Lagos.

     

    Game-changing innovations

    Before last year, e-payments made slow, steady acceptance by shops. But when they saw the need for a world beyond cash where cashless transaction assisted in growing their businesses, improving the lives of their customers and removing risks associated with carrying, using and handling cash, many retail owners embraced e-payment.

    At the end of last year, retailers who werer pessimistic about the idea of a cashless economy were the same people who encouraged their customers to pay using the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and the Point of sales (PoS) machines for payment.

    Checks by The Nation Shopping in 2014 showed that about 70 per cent of retail shops in the Lagos metropolis owned a PoS machine. On the other hand, few still had ample reasons to hold on to their conventional ways, not because the policy is not good, but because they gave room for doubts on its workability for their kind of business or location.

    Most shoppers avoided carrying cash last year. Thanks to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that had been doing a lot in terms of awareness for a cashless society. The Nigerian retail industry last year witnessed a huge uptake of e-payment solutions to enable people keep within the CBN daily cash limits, thereby saving money instead of spending cash uncontrollably.

     

    Online shopping took centre stage

    In 2015, most online retail shops offered mouth-watering offers to attract buyers to their platform. Among the platforms that offered so much promise was Jumia, arguably Nigeria’s largest online retail outlet. It offered up to 50 per cent slash on all its products as a gift to buyers who wanted to enjoy the Black Friday.

    With the promise of about 90 percent slash in prices, Nigerians had, before the date, compiled a list of products to buy, even as the online shop sustained the media blitz, declaring that the market would open midnight of Thursday, to end in the early hours of Saturday.

    However, many shoppers, who thought they could make some purchases, were disappointed as none of the shops offered up to the 90 per cent slash on any product on offer on their platforms.

    Yudala launched the first  offline Black Friday Sale in Nigeria, which had a huge turnout.

    On Carmudi.com.ng, vehicle ownership increased with the availability of locally manufactured cars, increase in the availability and sale of Nigerian used cars and access to car loans. Use of personal cars also increased.

     

    Why Nigeria is investors’ bride

    The boom in the retail industry last year, according to experts, could be attributed to rapid economic development, as well as favourable economic policies. The population of Nigeria’s working class also increased. And the fact that they are not only desirous of convenience, but also have the purchasing power, contributed to the growth of the retail sector.

    In fact, the potential buying power of Nigerians is recognized all over the world. Foreign and local investors also see huge and enticing opportunities and prospect for bountiful investments.

     

    There are challenges

    Although, Nigeria has become the irresistible bride for investors, given her large population estimated at 170 million, as well as her huge market, Africa’s largest economy is still contending with challenges. For instance, despite a large market to support more malls, lack of infrastructure particularly electricity remains a big challenge.

    Other challenges that have continued to hold down the growth of the economy especially operators in the retail segment, include hash business environment, lack of access to the right land in the right location, insecurity, multiple taxation, and bad roads among others.

    There is also the challenge of capital. Not a few investors in the retail space lament the high project cost, including the limited local expertise. Experts estimate the cost of completing a project in Nigeria at 2.5 times higher than that of South Africa, for instance.

     

    Looking forward

    “As services are steadily experiencing growth in many economies, the retail service is a new frontier that needs to be better tapped for economic growth,” says Head of Retail Leasing at Broll Nigeria, Mrs Gbadebo Erejuwa. According to her, Nigeria has the favourable economic conditions for a retail industry to thrive.

    Mrs. Erejuwa added that with a growing middle class with disposable income, many people are now able to afford some of the brands they hitherto patronise outside the country. “People always want to shop in a modern environment,” she said, adding that retail shops are springing up all over the place.

    “I think a lot of people are interested in malls and shops. A place where you can go in and get everything is more inviting than going to a market where everything is open and it is crowded and crazy,” she said.

    Mrs. Erejuwa noted that the regime of shopping malls development in Nigeria is an icing on the cake of what the future holds for shopping and sight-seeing experience in the country.

     

     

     

  • Dubai shopping festival begins

    THE Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), which kicks off every January, is a retail celebration that is a shoppers’ delight and renowned for its amazing deals and promotions.

    It is one of the well-known shopping fiestas in the world. The month-long festival, which begins today, will be concluded next month. It begins with an amazing display of fireworks, jaw dropping discounts and freebees, which attract numerous tourists. Thereafter, there would be in-mall fashion shows, street performers, musicians, jugglers, as well as other entertainers.

    The festival, which started since February, 1996, has become a great tourist attraction for visitors from around the world. Beside discounted items that sometimes are up to 75percent, there are other activities such as raffle draws, music concerts, fashion shows, children’s events and more.

    Long before big shopping malls rose from the sand and big brands landed in the city, the emirate’s trading industry was already bustling. It was a haven for traders, mostly men, who would go to Dubai to do business, leave and then return to do business again. But one essential thing was lacking, the idea to launch DSF to attract tourists, mainly families from the world over. Then, came the Dubai Shopping Festival that aimed to improve business operating standards in country.

    Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), organisers of the festival have recounted  that in the past, Dubai was a trader’s destination, a businessman’s destination but families didn’t consider going to there there was nothing for families,”

    The shopping Festival according to organisers, is not just a shopping venue to purchase electronic products or others. It is entirely different from the common shopping festivals. At the festival, several travel agencies arrange holiday deals and help families, groups and individuals participate yearly.

    Having completed 20 editions, it is the longest running and most successful shopping festivals in the world.

    A major highlight of the event is a line-up of malls with branded jewellery, clothing, electronics, carpets, art and crafts, watches, perfumes from popular brands, such as Gucci, Prada, Versace , Armani at discounted prices.

    Another highlight is Tax-free shopping, a major attraction of the festival, where merchants are permitted to import products from other countries with little custom duties.

    Further, the event offers high-discounts as shopping malls and retailers give up to 75 percent discount on a range of items, including watches, jewellery, carpets, electronics, textiles, handicrafts of major brands. There are amazing number of discounts which would range from 25 to 50 percent on sunglasses and home décor to designer fashion. The purchases also come with free gifts and accessories. There are other promotions on the offer like fantastic holiday packages from five-star hotels and resorts. Some other things to consider purchasing from the Dubai shopping festival are; cars, electronic items, gold jewelry, clothes, almonds and dates, carpets, perfumes, cosmetics, watches, food, spices, and textiles.

    Some shopping malls and online retailers would offer attractive discounts on gadgets and electronic items like computer, laptop, cameras, tablets, smartphones, and more.  Dubai is an excellent shopping destination in the world for gold. Therefore, there will be heavy discount offers and best deals for gold, just as in the past years.

    Along with unbeatable deals, DSF is home to Guinness World Records, celebrity performances and plenty of amazing events to celebrate the emirate’s favorite pastime.

    The organisers of the festival have also said Nigeria is one of Dubai’s best-performing African markets, with over 300,000 visitors participating in the past.

    According to them, when it comes to shopping, nobody does it better than Nigerians and Dubai does shopping like no other city.

    This edition of the shopping extravaganza will see a line-up of over 150 events and activities that will be unfurled at various locations and times, offering visitors and shoppers extraordinary experiences, said the organisers.

    The focus on gold and jewellery during festival will see lots of international and regional celebrity visit and showcasing of international luxury jewellery brands. Damas, a jewelry merchant will also be holding its own activation for the public through a pop-up display that will show how diamond mining is carried out and as a way to display rare and antique jewellery.

    Various activities will be held to increase the visibility of the “100 Winners in 32 Days” promotion that is being run by Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group during DSF with the participation of several gold and jewellery retailers.

  • Shoprite opens in Jabi Lake, others

    Shoprite opens in Jabi Lake, others

    Shoprite has opened its 15th and 16th supermarkets  at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja and in Osapa District, off Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.

    Staff members, who have been working for the supermarket chain since its first set foot in the country in 2005,  unveiled the new Shoprite in the Circle Mall in Epe while that of Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja had Chidinma Ekile, MTN Project Fame ambassador joined in the grand opening celebrations.

    Shoprite Executive Director, Mrs Adeola Kagho, who joined Shoprite Nigeria as a Store Admin Manager, cut the opening cake.

    Other long-serving employees, who participated in the event, included Femi Oke (a former Creditors Manager, now the Regional Administrative Manager for the South region) and Julius Nwankwoala (a former Back Administartive Manager, now the Branch Manager for Shoprite, Apapa Mall).

    The new 3,500m2 store caters for all the food and household requirements of its customers. Over and above a wide range of food and non-food lines, it features various service departments, including a butchery, bakery, fish shop, delicatessen, a fresh fruit and vegetable department as well as a wide range of wine  and liquor.

    With 18 standard till points, six express tills and 379 parking bays, the Shoprite at Circle Mall, offers customers a convenient shopping experience. Branch manager Mr. Collins Amadi and his team invite the local community to visit their new store for an hassle-free shopping.

    The Jabi Lake store offers a wide range of food and non-food lines; it features various service departments, including a Meat Market, bakery, fish shop, hot and cold delicatessen, a sushi bar, bakery, fresh fruit and vegetable department and a Cheese world.

    With 17 standard till points and eight express tills, Shoprite Jabi Lake offers customers a convenient shopping experience.

    Branch Manager Godfrey Odamah, and his team of 130 employees have invited the local community to visit the new store for shopping.

  • Kaymu partners Interswitch for secure online payment

    Kaymu partners Interswitch for secure online payment

    Kaymu.com.ng Nigeria’s number one online marketplace has announced its partnership with Interswitch to provide innovative payment options for its customers.

    Through this deal, customers conducting business transactions via the Kaymu platform are provided with a reliable alternative pre-payment solution.

    Kaymu Head, Sefik Bagdadioglu, said: “Trust is a major issue in e-commerce and we take this very seriously at Kaymu. It is an essential component in every part of the transaction, from honest product descriptions right through to reliable payment options. This necessitated a partnership with Interswitch to promote a secure and enabling environment for people to make pre-payments for products purchased on Kaymu.”

    The pre-payment gateway promotes business transactions across the country via the Kaymu platform. Now, customers can make secure payments for products they desire from the comfort of their homes or offices irrespective of location and sellers encouraged to ship products outside of their states.

    According to Bagdadioglu, the primary focus of this collaboration is to bring even greater convenience to the customer. By partnering with Interswitch to create more accessible payment channels, Kaymu is further opening up the e-commerce space to all consumers.

    “By working with like minded partners, we are offering the Nigerian consumer easy, secure and most importantly free payment options with the aim to continue to pioneer the Nigerian online ecosystem through innovation,” Bagdadioglu added.

  • Our goal is to help businesses grow, says Slimtrader boss

    Our goal is to help businesses grow, says Slimtrader boss

    Femi Akinde is the Chief Executive Officer, Slimtrader, Africa’s leading turnkey ecommerce solution provider that gives businesses the opportunity to integrate within their premises and other platforms. In this interview with TONIA ‘DIYAN, Akinde speaks on the benefits of his business to the market.

    In what way has your company affected the economy positively?

    Slimtrader is one of the companies helping Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector grow faster. Since we launched our ecommerce solution, Slimtrader has helped hotels increase sales and aid expansion, which increases demand for labour. Looking outside the hotels, we have empowered SMEs as well with solution for small businesses, giving them direct access to their target audience.

    Working with all industries has given us the positive impact we have had on the economy. We have contributed directly to business sustainability and indirectly to job creation through vendors using Mobiashara.

    Our goal is to deliver convenience to the end-user, create more jobs with helping businesses expand and employ labor with our business expanding into different sectors.

    How is Mobiashara different from other platforms in the same business?

    Most platforms that exist in this market are marketplaces for retailers; Mobiashara – that means Mobusiness – gives sellers the tools they need to sell on their own platform and also integrating with other marketplaces. In Nigeria, there is no other platform offering hotel retailing with inventory management or in other industries.

     Why did you establish this company?

    This is indirectly linked to when I tried to buy a ticket to Accra in Ghana and I went through a very long process. It was then it dawned on me the Western countries have easier processes for this. I thought this could be implemented in this part of the world to make the process easier for users.

    At first, I came up with the idea to integrate through mobile phone because of the high mobile penetration in this market; this was to align businesses with multiple channels and access to more people. Overtime, we took it beyond mobile to a web-based platform. Also we did more research and realised that if big businesses like the airlines were having that kind of issue, there are more businesses that have the same problem in other sectors, so we decided to create the solution for other sectors.

    What is your major focus?

    Our area of focus is e-commerce solution for the travel and hospitality sector. In these sectors, hotels and airlines need to set up their platform to manage their inventory and also integrate to connect with third party sales channels such as hotelnownow.com, expedia and more.

    What informed this e-commerce solutions?

    I have always been a solutions provider. At first, we saw a lot of people retailing online and they were not tying it to what the businesses was not selling on premises (inventory management).  It had no connection directly to the seller, which led to fulfillment issues because inventory was not properly managed people were having problems with fulfillment. Due to the backend issues businesses were facing, we created Mobiashara to solve the problem.

    How long have you been in business and what are some of the challenges you have encountered?

    Slimtrader was launched in 2010 and we have presence in four African countries  – Nigeria, Mali, Senegal and  The Gambia. Running a business in any market  isn’t without challenges. Market acceptance (technology)… we found that to be a big problem in our sector. Overtime, it has improved from when we initially launched, if’s adaptation rate was more than 30 per cent across the country, a lot of companies in this sector will be doing better than this.

     How have you been able to deal with some of the challenges?

    First, we have had to build a good and strong relationship with our stakeholders in this market. We also had to spend a lot of money to encourage market acceptance, in terms of educating the people about what we do and the benefit to the sector as a whole. We recently looked into another way of getting across to other stakeholders and we launched the ‘MoRewardsclub program’ to help our clients manage acquire and retain consumers, which increases consumer spend or influence consumers to spend with our partners.

     What are your achievements so far?

    Mobiashara for hotels has been able to help over 22 per cent of hotels in Nigeria and other African countries, helping them to get closer to their target audience and manage their inventory effectively.

    We have recorded impressive number with Airlines. We have worked  over the years in Nigeria and other African countries with companies such as aero contractor, Arik, Rwanda Air and Asky Air among others.

    Mobiashara has also helped over 500,000 farmers to boost their business using e-voucher process for credit risk and visibility to access finances in Mali, Senegal and Gambia.

    We have helped client adaption in three sectors – hospitality, airlines and FMCGs. We have had 1000 per cent growth in hotels and travels launching Mobiashara the first of its kind for brands to integrate their activities offline and online directly synchronicing their inventory and giving them more visibility.

    Looking back, what would you do differently?

    Not sure there is much we’ll do differently. I will say I wish we launched Mobiashara in this market earlier to be able to penetrate the market faster, looking at the success rate we have had so far.

    We have seen businesses come and go in Nigeria. How long do you intend to stay?

    Slimtrader is an indigenous brand aimed at giving businesses visibility through our Mobiashara platform.

    We don’t intend to leave Nigeria but expand to other African countries, giving different businesses the opportunity to increase their business growth with Mobiashara. We recently raised $1 million through Interswitch’s e-payment growth fund to allow us expand and reach more businesses across Africa.

    What are your projections?

    In the coming years, Slimtrader will be present in all African countries. Our plan is to grow rapidly pan African with physical presence in five countries spread through to the East then central and southern Africa.

    Mobiashara for hotels will dominate Africa’s hospitality and tourism sector and this will increase job opportunities in the sector. In Nigeria, the sector has the potential to contribute up to 5.8 per cent to the economies’GDP and Mobiashara will contribute heavily to the success of the market.

    What is your contribution to the hospitality sector?

    Our biggest contribution to the hospitality sector is our Mobiashara for hotels platform, we are giving them a solution which over 99 per cent of them lack. With unlimited benefits such as Connecting and managing inventory, third party integration to platforms, such as hotelnownow.com (sales channels), have their own website for foreign booking and plugging into local booking sites/marketplaces, all in one solution.

    Apart from using Mobiashara to boost sales we have being able to impact the industry equipping Nigerian youths with necessary skills needed to get jobs in the industry. We noticed the loophole for talent in the industry while working closely with hotels and we are hoping technology with the right talent will take the industry to its future.

    How do you intend to remain in this market?

    Our main goal is to help businesses grow and integrate using Mobiashara. As long as we are solving key problems in this market, we intend to remain and expand to other markets. The key is to satisfy the interest of our stakeholders and we have been able to surpass their expectations with Mobiashara.

    What niche have you created for yourself?

    Turnkey ecommerce solution provider, there are very few players in the market offering businesses an integrated ecommerce solution like Mobiashara. To also note that we recently invested in a discount booking website called Hotelnownow.com that negotiates deep discounts with hotels across Africa powered through Mobiashara for hotels.

    This is an opportunity to deliver more success to the businesses Mobiashara has powered through hotelnownow.com being a sales channel partner, which connects hotels with their external target audience by driving sales for them and giving them more visibility.