The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • How hygienic is that meat?

    How hygienic is that meat?

    Buying and selling of meat in bits takes place mainly in the open market as not everybody has the financial means to buy a whole livestock to refrigerate. However, the issue of hygiene becomes a factor to consider when patronising meat sellers in the open markets.

    Experts and nutritionists say that if nutrients must be gotten from this produce, it is important that they are kept hygienic and healthy at every stage of processing, including having a clean environment where they are processed. Meat at every point should be suitable for human consumption.

    Most meat markets in Lagos can be considered neat as traders get rid of bones after their daily sales. Some choose to make their sale mobile by carrying it around within the market to save them the stress of cleaning after each day’s business. This neat attitude is not just because they are clean but because of government agencies that have made it a point of duty to close down meat markets that decide to make dirtiness their lifestyle.

    In a visit to the meat section of Ketu and Ikotun Market, The Nation Shopping gathered the diverse opinion of buyers on how hygienic they think the meat they buy is. Most buyers felt it was hygienic enough because it is well processed and preserved. A shopper in Ikotun Market, Mrs Romoke Adegbenga agreed that “I believe the meat we buy from these meat sellers are hygienic because of the way it is being processed and you can see that the water they use in washing before selling is clean compared to some other markets that use dirty water in washing theirs ”.

    Mrs Bukola Taiwo another buyer feels it is hygienic for consumption. “The meat is good and this is where I buy my meat right from time and it is good to me. I believe if the animal being slaughtered is healthy, then the meat should be alright.  And also, the environment looks neat for selling the meat and the sellers are being careful as to how they display their meat”, she said.

    Another meat buyer, Mrs. Taiwo Ojo, affirmed what the previous buyer said. “The meat I buy in this market is always neat and hygienic.   There are no foreign  bodies in it,    ” she said.

    However, there are some people who believe that the meat they buy from the sellers are not hygienic enough except for when they are cooked.

    Speaking with Mrs. Rasheedat Bayode in Ikotun market, she had a contrary view,  saying:  “If you look around, even if the place it is being processed is hygienic, the way it is been displayed is something that gives me a lot of concern. They don’t cover their meat with maybe nylon or have a shed where they sell.This makes the meat to  attract flies and they carry bacteria around which is very unhygienic and unsuitable for consumption. The only saving grace we are having is the fact that it is been boiled before eaten if not it would have  been  injurious  to our health.”

    Mr. Ayo Moses who buys meat in Ketu market also believes the meat sellers are not hygiene conscious. He said: “The meat is very unhygienic because there are flies around it. In fact, the abattoir is very dirty. It is even possible to contact diarrhoea and dysentery if you are not careful”.

    Also, Mrs. Florence Adeyemi feels same as she said, “I can’t say much about how hygienic the meat is because I have never witnessed them bringing in the meat to the market. I only see them displaying it on their tables. But displaying it in an open place like that where people move around and in the process raise dust is what I don’t like. Because of that, I feel it is not hygienic enough.”

  • The waning power of loyalty

    The waning power of loyalty

    Cheaper bargains, rather than product ‘loyalty’ is now the ‘in-thing’ for shoppers, who, are becoming more conscious of their spending powers, especially in the face of a harsh economy. Retailers, conscious of this development, are cashing in on the lure of sales promotions to attract and retain customers’ patronage, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN.

    For some common and popular commodity brands, these are not the best of times. With rising competition from other lesser brands- offering lesser cost, and competing for the same disposable income of the consumer, bigger and more popular brands are gradually losing their market dominance.   And with this comes the waning ideology of product or brand loyalty.

    Several housewives, obviously out to save cost on purchases, say they now look for alternatives that still offer the same quality on the popular brands they are used to. For instance, a housewife, Mrs. Adeola Tijani, revealed that owing to the high cost of buying a particularly popular dish washing liquid soap, she has found an alternative in an obscure but highly effectively alternative liquid soap to do her dishes. In the process, she said she has been able to save over N250 on the product. Similarly, another housewife, Hajia Adijat Kareem, explained that her choice for a particularly popular beverage has been jettisoned owing to its rising cost; she has since settled for a less popular brand of beverage, with she claims, offers the same taste and satisfaction for her at a cheaper price. The reality now staring both manufacturers and retailers in the face is that the era of product loyalty is long gone.

    Available data from a 2012 shoppers’ survey conducted by United Kingdom’s Kantar Worldpanel, testifies to this reality. According to the survey, about 50 per cent of a product’s ‘loyal’ users might dump the product for another brand following year. And the reasons for this trend though appear minute, yet very significant.

    The Worldpanel survey revealed that shoppers were no longer keen when it comes to product loyalty. Reason for this, the survey revealed, is that the market has been saturated with a retail environment increasingly driven by promotions. “Price promotions have always been an important part of retail and product loyalty, but have become more of a concern to retailers recently as the number of products sold on discounts continues to climb and retailers seem not to make much profit. Generally, promotions now account for 40 per cent of branded product sales, which has to be influencing the way people shop,” the Worldpanel survey revealed.

    Another survey also shows that over 5,500 shoppers bought more than 450 brands online and offline across 17 categories in the past quarter of the year. Observations across the Lagos metropolis also show that an average of 42 per cent of consumers have a particular product in mind before they go shopping, leading to consumers buying at least two different products in the majority of categories. Experts believe that the high level of transparency among major grocers and the fact that consumers can easily compare prices when products are on the shelf led to more price-matching, which has had a major effect on the promotional landscape, thereby resulting to product disloyalty amongst consumers.

    Now, realising the effect of promotions, retailers now strive to outdo one another on promotional strategies in certain highly promoted categories that can mean a continuing increase in their level of promotions to encourage product loyalty. If one retailer introduces a promotional package, others copy it and even add a new idea. For instance, the food category is a sector where purchase behaviour is influenced by what is on offer as at the time of purchase. According to findings within Lagos, only 21 per cent of shoppers plan which type of consumable they are going to buy prior to going shopping. Some shoppers cannot afford to be loyal to a particular product as they are always happy to buy across price tiers. So, the same shopper who will buy a product ‘A’ today, for instance, is the same that will buy a product ‘B’ tomorrow, depending on what is on offer/discount.

    A manufacturer of a cosmetic product in Lagos said his brand is highly promoted, but that the majority of sales he makes are from the promotions he offers from time to time. The manufacturer, who declined to be mentioned, said he finds relatively little loyalty, as consumers choose what is on offer before their favourite item. This behaviour is reinforced by the layout of products in store with both brands stocked on the same shelf and in similar packaging, blurring the lines between the different price tiers.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shoprite, Whitney Bassey noted: “Before now, marketers always asked if I introduced promotional offers. What does it do for my business in the long-term? But now it’s more about how much profit and how much a promotion can deliver in the short-term.” He said it’s more tactical in nature rather than a strategic long-term view. He added that manufacturers are investing more in building their businesses and creating excitement for the shop where they have their products displayed.

    Even in categories where shoppers are found to be more loyal and the overall number of products purchased small, David Botha, a Manager at ‘Mr. Price’ says there is still need for a high level of promotion. Citing example with beverage, he said 51 per cent of shoppers pre-plan which brand they are going to buy prior to setting foot in a shop, while 30 per cent change their mind while in the shop and an average shopper buys the cheapest items on the shelf.

    However, experts have advised that retailers should pay close attention to the types of deal they offer because a higher level of discount does not mean higher return on investment. They should also consider whether they discount their ‘hero’ product, the one that performs best in terms of keeping loyal customers regardless of promotions or support a weaker performing product with the hope of increasing sales. Sometimes, during a one week-long promotion it will be possible for the hero product to perform more than three times better than the smaller product.

    Shoppers have different views on how loyal they are to their brands. For instance, Matthew Smith, a retailer thinks consumers have become more ruthless in their hunt for value. “Consumers are being much savvier in their shopping habits, they rather do one big shopping from a large retailer; they shop across the discounters and premium retailers. This trend will only continue,” he said. Omoba Adeyinka said he likes trying out new products. “My old products are common and I like to explore new things,” he said.

    However, Kaymu Public Relations Officer, Tomiwa Oladele, said she likes to remain loyal to her favourite product especially online. Same for Mrs. Aderinola Abiola, a legal practitioner, who said she prefers staying glued to her favourite brand. She said her favourite brands are trustworthy and have never failed her. “I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be loyal to my brands. As the saying goes, the devil you know is better than the angel you just met,” she said.

    A brand analyst, Mr. Ayodeji Ayopo, agrees with her. He said he remains a brand loyalist and does not switch brands. His words: “I don’t switch brands easily. I am a brand loyalist. I remain committed to my brands even to tea, toothpaste and toiletries. I don’t switch.”

  • Kaymu assures on online security for shoppers

    Kaymu assures on online security for shoppers

    Kaymu, at her Entrepreneurs’ club seminar which took place at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference and Exhibition Centre in Lagos, has assured shoppers of protection against online fraudsters and hackers in the process of carrying out trading activities on its website. The Managing Director of Kaymu, Mr. Sefik Bagdadioglu, made this known in a chat with The Nation Shopping.

    “We take fraud very seriously at Kaymu. What we did is that we have created processes with checkpoints. For instance, when someone wants to sell an item on Kaymu, one of the things we offer is escrow services. So the seller sells it and buyers transfer money to an escrow account and we keep that money till the good is actually delivered to the buyer and the buyer is happy with it. Only then do we release the money,” he explained.

    The seminar with the theme:  ‘Empowering the New Generation of SME’, was organised for prospective owners and existing owners of micro, small and medium enterprises to encourage and train them on how to take their businesses to the next level through online platforms.

    Most of the participants of the seminar rated the event as “brilliant and benefitting”, claiming it impacted them with the right knowledge they needed for improving on their businesses like in areas of funding and all other areas. A prospective business owner, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Tonia, said, “Even though I just want to start my business and I am yet to make use of any online platform, the event so far has being interesting and worth trying”.

    Similarly, Mr. Okechuckwu Benjamin, a staff at Mintent Group of Companies, an online based business, said the event has proven to be an eye opener for him as it has added to his knowledge. To ensure that these entrepreneurs remain constant and improve in their service quality, they were urged to join various business associations like Chambers of Commerce, Bilateral Chambers of commerce and other trade associations, where opportunities that would be good for business would be made available and to improve networking with people already in the business.

    One of the facilitators at the event, Mr. Dele Alimi, advised interested entrepreneurs to be active and not dormant. “It is not just about joining as you must be active by attending meetings, seminars, workshops. You do not just pay your dues and sit in your office. You must also be proactive,” he urged.

    The event featured three sessions spread across equipping participants with the desired knowledge in sales, finance, management, marketing, customer service and telecom. Other facilitators at the training include Mr. Femi Akinrinade, Mr. Muyiwa Afolabi, Mr. Ibikunle Bolorunduro, Mr. Olufunbi Falayi, Mr. Abiola Fabio, Mr. Ademola Adewusi and Mrs. Chioma Agha.

  • Readers’ reactions

    This is a column that seeks to mould, shape societal values and to protect the interests of consumers, citizens and touch other broader relevant topics under the column: TRUE VALUE 360. It is an interactive column as suggestions, complaints; daily experiences are welcome.

    This week is dedicated to  readers’ reactions to past aditions.

    We promised to make this column interactive, so this week the space is dedicated to our regular readers and reactions to various past topics are published below.

     

    Re: The Unemployable Graduate

    I read with rapt attention and deep sigh your article, the unemployable graduate. It was soul piercing and well articulated. The definition you gave highlighted the pitiable and sorry state of the Nigerian graduate. How did the Nigerian graduate get to this level of apathy? It is quite sad and terrible, seeing supposedly valuable assets roaming the streets of our major cities. They wander aimlessly, looking for invisible jobs with little or no adequate preparation for the level they have found themselves in. It’s terrible, really terrible. Until purpose is discovered, existence has no meaning for purpose is the very source of every fulfillment. When purpose is not known, unveiled or unraveled, abuse is inevitable. The educational system has been designed in such a way to defeat the student from the outset. It’s like taking a journey on a road that leads to nowhere. It requires a total over haul.

    The paradigm of our educational system is tailored in such a certain way to only read and pass examinations. But this should not be so. There is much than this obsolete routine. The student, to start with, does not have an identity. This lack of identity is because of the structure he found himself in. This structure functions within the ambit of an environment, which ought to have prepared him for an enviable career professionally. The school in this case, is an environment like every other where people converge for a common cause.

    An environment is much more than a location, place or vicinity. It is the summation of the values, belief systems and the characters of people in a given area and this governs their personalities. The purpose of school is to awaken the minds of every student to relevant and required knowledge needed for an exceptional career. In the same vein, the responsibility of every teacher goes beyond preparing lesson notes, carrying chalk or marker and teaching.

    The primary aim of a teacher is to awaken the minds of students as they teach. As they do, the students would in turn begin to perceive things differently. They must move beyond just teaching to inspiring these young minds for a bright future. This is the first step to curing the unemployable graduate.

    In a fast and changing world we live in, there should be some element of flexibility in our educational system.

    The need to inculcate entrepreneurship fully into our curriculum vitae should be fully embraced, especially in the teen’s age. In so doing, these kids are adequately prepared for a future that lies ahead in spite of any challenge that awaits them.

    On a final submission, like the saying goes, charity begins at home. Parents are the first motivators of their wards and they should engage their wards regularly and task their brains to prepare them for the future. Keep up with the good work.

    Kevin Fortune, Enigma Conzultz, enigmaconzultz@yahoo.com

     

    Re: Abuse of office

    Hey, I just read your column for today on the above topic. Honestly, I also do not regard any man who uses sexual harassment as a weapon to help or assist a woman. But on the flip side and equally guilty are those women who deliberately harass, entice and snare men into having dalliance with them in other to get favors. Am sure you are aware of numerous women who have slept their way to the top in their different places of work and businesses.

    That also is condemnable and as bad as those Daudas (men who cannot control themselves) without shame and discipline. Thanks.

    Olukayode  Olomo.

     

    Re: Consumer Exploitation

    Hello, I started my mobile phone life with MTN. I also have a Glo line 08057701512, which has become a source of financial leakage to me. I am on Glo infinito plan, which charges 20kobo per second (N12 per minute) to all networks in Nigeria, but unfortunately Glo have decided to single my line out for N24 per minute and I have complained to them via their customer’s care several times but the fleecing continues.

    I have contemplated dropping the number, but again, I think of the people who have use this mnumber to call me. At present, I use only MTN number to make calls and, in fact, I have acquired more MTN lines. Please help me?

    1. O. Izibili

    Minna, Niger State, vicose2013@yahoo.com

     

    Hi, True Value,

    I write to protest that we no longer get power supply in Mission Road, Ilorin, Kwara State.

     

  • Back-to-school shopping gets bigger

    Back-to-school shopping gets bigger

    Back-to-school, the second largest seasonal shopping period after Christmas, usually opens up opportunities for retailers to make brisk business. It is a period when more shoppers, particularly women, troop to both the virtual and physical stores to buy school items for their wards, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports

    Back-to-school shopping is the second largest seasonal shopping period of the year in terms of consumer spending. It represents an even greater challenge to retailers and manufactures because of its nature.

    However, retailers have been meeting shoppers’ numerous demands as they kick-started promotional offers early in May. They are expectant of bumper sales as back-to-school shopping is in full swing in major markets, stores and online.

    Online retailers are not left out, as findings have it that they have invested plenty of money into selling supplies to schools, other businesses and directly to shoppers.

    Over time, back-to-school shopping has become, perhaps, the most prolonged shopping period of the year, with sales starting two months before school vacates and one month after classes resume.

    However, when it comes to back-to-school sales, retailers and shoppers might not be on the same page all the time as some shoppers still believe that the best sales are in September after school begins because the rush would have subsided and items cheaper. More than a quarter of parents The Nation Shopping spoke to, said they plan to finish their shopping after the start of the new session, some for economic reasons, while others because they dread the rush in the market presently.

    To some shoppers, when retailers hold special sales months before the start of a new school session, it doesn’t guarantee the best bargain. Some say they are more comfortable waiting till the last minute, because retailers are constantly adding new sales.

    This belief however hasn’t stopped retailers from stocking up items for the season, neither has it stopped some of them from putting up promotions. One thing is sure—prices of these items will become fairer when to the retailer, it will seem the season for the items is rounding up.

    A retailer in Aswani Market, Dumebi Akonuwa, said she had introduced ridiculous discounts on all back-to-school items and that made parents and their wards  respond in an impressive manner.

    Visits to some shopping places in Lagos where mainly back-to-school items are displayed reveal that retailers are giving away cheap prices on back-to-school items. They are also giving out price-matching guarantees to customers in an effort to stay relevant and competitive.

    Some retailers are offering two times less the original prices of items such as under wares, stationeries, school uniforms, school shoes, etc. There are some other retailers who are known for their sharp back-to-school promo, they attested to the fact that they have obviously started selling early and would make sure they stay relevant throughout the season.

    Also, owners of bookshops in Mushin, Lagos and its environs said they are responding to competition so they don’t lose out on sales. They are happy parents and guardians. They believe this is the time when a retailer needs to attract shoppers with something other than product. It is important to use price and time.

    Retailers are busy serving the needs of millions of shoppers who seem to hold all the cards when it comes to getting cheap merchandise. These retailers prefer to mark down items (place items on discounts) to help them clear their stock. And they’re doing it out of a need to keep shoppers with hundreds of other options interested, especially during crucial buying seasons such as back-to-school.

    On the other hand, while sales remain unstable, school sales have helped push online retail revenue up slightly. Secondary school pupils in particular are very savvy when it comes to shopping via the web. It seems they were born with computers in their hands; they know how to use the internet to their advantage, so they’re surfing the web with a view to getting the best prices and the best deals.

  • Innjoo launches two new smartphones

    Innjoo, the fastest, growing smartphone brand in Middle East and Africa has launched two large battery Smartphone halo and fire plus. 5.0 inch halo comes with a 3,200mah battery while 5.5-inch fire plus is equipped with 3,600 mAh battery and enables fast charge. Both Smartphone are customized for Nigerian with longer battery usage.

    Speaking at the launch, the firm’s Managing Director, Robert Liang said: “To provide the most competitive product with considering the market requirement in the best time is the core of our strategy to establish leadership in a market.” With only 40percent of the Nigerian population connected to the energy grid, the challenge to constantly recharge phones has caused troubles to the Smartphone user and has influenced the decision to introduce these phones. Innjoo halo is equipped by 3,200mah long-lasting battery and powered by high energy density technology. It can keep the Smartphone under one-day full operation, 15 hours phone call, even for 300 hours stand-by time. The 5 inch HD IPS display, plus a 5mp rear and 2 mp front camera, it ensures a stunning display and bowsing effect as well as clear angle for capturing.

    Halo is equipped with a built-in 1GB RAM and internal storage of 8GB which can be further expanded to 32GB via microSD card. The built-in InnUI runs under the 1.2GHz Quad-core Processor, also ensures longer usage with its power saving settings, which allow users the comfort to enjoy browsing the Internet, playing games watching videos, listening to music and talking on the phone for longer periods.

    Another new model from Fire series, the 5.5inch 5.7mm thickness Fire Plus is coming soon with the large battery. The 3,600mAh battery ensures more than 24 hours of music playing, 22 hours phone call, 10 hours video playback and 330 hours stand-by, which is pretty average and lasts more than a day for moderate users. With the fast charge technology, it can be breezily feed up in just 2 hours.

    Liang said: “People are making the switch from feature phones to Smartphones while they now have to charge their phones once or twice a day, instead of once a week.

    “But InnJoo Halo and Fire Plus will give it a change.”

  • Okene traders decry low sales

    Okene traders decry low sales

    Traders  at the Variki Market in Okene in Kogi State are not happy. They are experien-cing low patronage.

    They said the market used to be very busy. But the reverse is the case now as their trade can no longer earn them a living.

    The market leader, Oniayi Omeneke, said:  “Though the market is always full, not all of the people are buying; some have only come to window shop. Business is not moving like it used to; traders are not happy at all.”

    Other traders in the  market said their daily sales are below N5000 unlike before when they were making  N20, 000.

    “Some of us come to the market, and at the end of the day, we don’t sell up to N20,000 compared to when business was flourishing,” she said.

    Mrs. Omayoza Haruna sells rice at the market, she said the countries economy is not encouraging her business. I think money is not going round; most of our customers are government workers and are facing financial difficulty,” she said.

    A local government worker, Mr Augustine Kayode, said the poor economic situation is bad that he doesn’t get full salary and sometimes doesn’t get paid at all.

    “After paying my children’s school fees and meeting other immediate needs, I barely have enough money to buy foodstuffs and resort to buying on credit from these traders to pay later. Some traders have stopped selling to some of us because it is posing a lot of threat to their business,” he added.

  • Intercontinental Distillers celebrates distributors  

    Intercontinental Distillers celebrates distributors  

     Intercontinental Distillers Limited (IDL), producers and marketers of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, has celebrated distributors of its quality products in Lagos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt with cash and gift items, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

    To appreciate hard work and productivity, IDL, producers and marketers of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, has celebrated its distributors in major parts of the country as a way of encouraging them to do more.

    In Lagos, the event was one trending with faces lit up in smiles as people went home with mouthwatering gifts which evolved around Awards, cash rewards worth N258 million and gift items such as washing machine, plasma television, generators and other household items worth over N55 million.

    Aside the awards given to distributors, other good will services rendered to various communities include donation of block of five classrooms and two offices to a secondary school in Ilogbo-Asowo in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State in May, the organisation of Bull Fuji Talent Hunt Season 3 which took place in Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, Oshogbo, Akure and Ilorin within the span of three months.

    A few of the strides it made in the last business year are the new bottles of Chelsea Dry Gin, Squadron Dark Rum and Veleta fruit drink which were unveiled and fully integrated into the market with the decision bringing great dividends in the areas of sales and reduction in the risk of counterfeiting Intercontinental Distillers Limited products.

    Its Managing Director, Patrick Anegbe, said Lagos has particularly been a fertile ground for the company’s harvests, adding that the firm is proud of its network of highly mobile salesmen and executives based at its various depots at Mushin, Oke-Arin, Ikeja, Ikorodu and Apapa and other places.

    He said: “Other brands like DeRok and Action Bitters have also undergone repackaging and we are pleased to announce to you that all our changes have been accepted in the market.”

    He added that all its brands in the last year have enjoyed robust above-the-line and below-the-line adverts and marketing campaigns. This is a proof of our commitment to continue and remain the top choice quality drinks.”

    He encouraged distributors to boost their sales for better award next year. “It is our expectation therefore, that today’s award will encourage you to invest more in your business and rekindle your drive to grow your business by improving on current performance so you will continue to benefit from our generous yearly rewards for our distributors” he said.

    Awards given to distributors were based on the volume of sales they made the previous year. Mrs. Dorothy Anegbe of Ogbohu Enterprise from Lagos zone emerged winner with top Prize winning a Platinum Award of N9.25 million and a 4.5 tonne truck. Others are; Ollytex Nig Ltd  20, who went home with a KVA Mikano Generator and N6.8 million. Third place was Emmaogbata & sons with 6.0 17 million and a 20KVA Mikano Generator. Other prizes include 15KVA Generator, wireless theatre system, lasma Television set and Washing machine.

    In her moment of joy, Mrs. Anegbe expressed her gratitude to the firm. She said: “I want to say a very big thank you to IDL for this award and on behalf of the other distributors, I say a very big thank you for the cash gifts they have given to us and by the grace of God, we would try to work harder to gain more awards. We are also praying for them that they would grow from strength to strength and would continue to be the number one distillery in Nigeria.”

    Mrs. Olatunji Yemisi, a Lagos zone distributor in Ikota said: “I am very happy and grateful to IDL because they have been wonderful people so far and by God’s grace, next year, I would try to perform better so I can be able to collect more awards. I like to advise them to continue this way and try to make us happy and God would continue to make them happy also.”

    Another distributor, Alhaji Taofeek Aremujeni in Lagos Island south from Oke-Arin market said: “I advise the company to keep it up because they are inspiring and motivating us to be more productive in the sales of the goods”.

    With the company’s relentless effort to reward its productive customers, the regional award ceremony was taken to Ibadan and Port Harcourt.

    The awards held in Port Harcourt was the last in the series of awards for the 2014 Business year held specifically for the company’s Eastern & Central regions. Comrade Joseph Ogoamaka Ugwoegbu of Merdian Marketing emerged the company’s No 1 Customer. He was rewarded with a cash sum of N11.4million and a 4.5 tonne truck. The region also produced 1 gold winner, 10 silver winners and many bronze winners.

    The company believes that rewarding customers plays a vital role within its sustainable development agenda and, as such, has over the years, been working with the community to highlight key areas of intervention.

    Speaking on the challenges in the industry, Anegbe said: “Our industry has not been without its challenges as the power situation in our country, continues to affect production costs among other issues.

    It is our prayer that the Government finds a permanent solution to this problem.  Also, the instability of the Naira against the Dollar is another factor affecting manufacturing companies in Nigeria especially in the area of equipment procurement.  The manufacturing sector lost millions of dollars to devaluation of the naira. The devaluation and resultant increase in the cost of foreign exchange should directly mean increase in prices of goods but there is a limit to the extent that price increase can be absorbed by the trade.

  • Why we prefer some malls to others, by youths

    Shopping malls have become the most visited places by persons of various ages.

    They have various stores, such as Shoprite, Silverbird Cinema, KFC, Lounge, and Mr Price.

    People visit malls to either window-shop, lounge, see movies, party, eat and carry out other activities.

    The Nation Shopping spoke with some youths on their favourite store and their reasons.

    Roseline Aghian, a frequent shopper, said: “Mr Price is actually my favourite spot in the mall because I love shopping cloths and fashion and I think their prices there are moderate so I come here a lot. Also, the discount I enjoy from them when they slash their prices almost by half encourages me to come here and their cloths are of quality.  I can say that it is one place I love coming to.”

    Mrs. Joann Peters, who was visiting the mall for the first time, said his favourite spot is Shoprite because of the things they have and their prices which is affordable.

    “I love the mall in all because the other stores around have good things and the neatness of the mall,” he said.

    Another young man, who identified himself as MC Genesis, said: “I prefer KFC because of their ice cream and other products which are packaged maturely. Also, the discounts I get when I buy in large quantities not only here but in their other branches has encouraged me to patronise them more often.”

    An American, J. R. Teddies, said: “Shoprite is my favourite store in the mall because it is massive.”

    An anonymous person said: “I have no favourite store in the mall but I just enjoy shopping most especially with my kids.”

    Yet another youth, who identified himself as Jersey Lawrence, said: “I love coming to the Spar, KFC and I watch movies most times. I have no favourite spot in the mall as I basically enjoy shopping in the mall for anything. To me, it’s just a regular trip to the mall.”

    They also told The Nation Shopping about their views on the services of their favourite stores in the malls and made some suggestions.

    Aghain said she would like Mr Price to increase its closing time because some people who come between 8 and 8.30pm have to rush to leave the store.

    “Also, some of their cloths are mostly for teens, they should try and get more cloths for the working class because most of the cloths available are crop tops and high waist,” she said.

    “The customer service of Shoprite is poor and I would like if they can improve on it,” said Teddies. MC Genesis  said KFC’s services are very okay and of standard but I would like them to increase the number of their workers because in places such as this people come in their large number, more people should be hired to attend to people.

    Jersey Lawrence said: “For the Spar, they take time to attend to a customer and they should improve on that. The mall, on the other hand, should employ more workers,”

    Miss Ella Okechukwu Chioma said: “Everything about the mall is okay but I still believe they need to improve in all areas.”

    For Mrs Modupe Lawrence, Shoprite’s services are okay; the mall is also okay but when you want to compare it to international standards, I would rate them 40 per cent because in developed countries, people don’t pay for parking space, she said.

    “They also don’t have varieties of things inside where you can do a lot of things such as shopping for all categories of people; they don’t have much of it as you can just lay your hand on few things.

    ‘’I feel bad about being short-changed by Shoprite but at the same time, I look at the things they need to put together, such as electricity, workers and all that. The fact that the genuineness of what you are buying is guaranteed as you are sure that what you are getting here is not fake or adulterated is a reason I patronise them.”

  • Fear of massive discounts

    Everyone likes a discount. That is why stores sell more products through promotions. This makes the shopper to spend more and come back more often. Discounts are good but no matter how big the discount is, stores almost never sell at a loss, TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

    Knowing that stores keep reeling out discounts and promos daily to attract buyers, a shopper, Augustine buys items he doesn’t really need simply because they are discounted, he is an impulse buyer just like many others.

    He has failed to realize that retailers sell the same product to the customer, but raise the price and even put a discount on it, so the shopper is happy with the discount, while he is actually paying more.

    It is funny what luxury retailers do to get the attention of shoppers some times. Augustine knows an Italian shoes store that is has the ‘buy two get one free’ promo ongoing. Excited he ran off to go get the awoof, only to discover that the price of the two items could fetch him four of the same quality stuff from another shop in the same neighbourhood. He left the place having realised that he would have played the mugu if he had not known the other store.

    But one thing was certain. The offer made people rush to that store and they did make great profit for the retailer.

    The scenario is similar to when global system for mobile communication (GSM) technology was first introduced into the country. The telecommunication companies, in collaboration with handset companies ran similar promos. The level of sales today explains how huge the profit they made at the time.

    Retail experts have said it is important for stores to offer good services, thereby endearing customers to always come back. Former Broll Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Erejuwa Gbadebo once said: “When it comes to sales and discounts, shoppers want to see all products offered and prices available on daily basis, most importantly, they like to see excellent customer service that they will receive which of course, they are entitled to. It is almost a sure bet that everyone will be coming back over and over whether there is a sale or not.”

    She added that friendliness and good service is better. “I have been to many shops where all they are concerned about is for you to buy something. All they want to do is make sales. If a shopper finds himself in such shop and is not sure of what to buy, he would either be thrown into confusion or end up buying the wrong item.

    That’s why it is always advisable to go to a reputable shop where one can ask questions and receive good answers concerning purchases. Such shops would care about maintaining their name and reputation, so they would most likely give a good service.”