The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Startimes to reward customers

    Startimes Nigeria has concluded arrangements to celebrate its fifth year in the country with ‘Win a Trip’ promo where 10 lucky customers will travel to Germany to watch German league matches, as the grand prize winners.

    Subsequently, the pay TV station, to further provide contents to their viewers, has signed a five-year deal for the exclusive right to air German Bundesliga matches in Nigeria for the next five seasons.

    The public relations and communication manager, Startimes, Mr Isreal Bolaji disclosed this at a press parley where he said “overall, 360 winners across the country would be picked and rewarded at the raffle draws”.

    Bolaji said the promo is a way to reward their customers for their loyalty to the brand and would start on July 18 through to September 30 as there would be four draws during the duration of the promo.

    “StarTimes is not just satisfying and bringing affordable digital entertainment to every household in Nigeria, but also ensuring they get rewarded for their patronage over the years”, he said.

    To qualify for the raffle draws, the Marketing Manager, Mr Habeed Somoye said “all our customers need do is to recharge for two months on any bouquet they are and the interesting thing is that all customers will get 50 per cent discount on the second month’s recharge, thereby all customers are winners”.

    Explaining the process, Somoye said “for a customer on basic bouquet which is N1, 200, two months subscription should be N2, 400, but it will be N1,800 as the 50 per cent discount on the second month has been effected”.

    He said customers on all the four plans are eligible to participate in the promo as the minimum recharge of N1,800 qualifies any subscriber into the draws.

    He said customers on Nova bouquet which is N600, can also participate as the minimum recharge of N1,800,which should be three months on the bouquet and that will last for four months, allowing them to benefit from the promo.

    “Inevitably, not only the 360 lucky customers are winners but all our customers are, as each subscriber gets something in return upon recharging”, he added.

    Somoye said “350 customers will get consolation prizes, 100 will go home with 2.5 kva generators,200 will win Startimes Solar phones and 50 others will get Startimes 40 inches LED TV, making it 360 major winners in total”.

    The content Manager, Mr Ayokunle Idowu said more sports channels will be added to the existing ones in lieu of the partnership with the German league to satisfy their customers.

    On the issue of poor quality in terms of service delivery, Idowu said “external cables are now included in any purchase with the internal cable that was formerly included stopped, as research reveals that some customers do not explain how they want to setup to get advice on the modalities involved so that viewers on either DTT or DSH can get value for their money”.

  • CHI, Tetra collaborate on child malnutrition

    CHI, Tetra collaborate on child malnutrition

    CHI Limited, one Nigeria’s leading producer of high quality fruit juice, dairy and snacks products, will join hands with Tetra Pak, a global leading food processing and packaging solutions’ company, to explore opportunities for feasible food & beverage solutions in an effort to fight malnutrition amongst children in Nigeria.

    CHI is one of the largest partners of Tetra Pak in Africa employing many of its packaging solutions to serve safe, innovative and environmentally friendly products to her customers across the country.

    As part of efforts to alleviate malnutrition among the country’s children, the joint initiative between CHI Limited & Tetra Pak will develop feasible solutions for providing healthy nourishment for Nigerian children. To achieve this, the companies will undertake an in-depth assessment of the ground realities of the nutritional requirements and the need gaps specific to children in Nigeria. This partnership will provide a platform for the involvement of relevant major stakeholders, institutes, governmental and non-governmental organizations for the delivery of nutrition solutions to the Nigerian children.

    Chairman of Chi Limited (the flagship company of the TGI Group), Mr. C G Vink, noted that “Child nutrition is important to our country’s future and being a proudly Nigerian company, we are committed to putting in our best to the building and shaping a healthy and brighter Nigeria.”

    Mr Dennis Jönsson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tetra Pak, said “Tetra Pak has partnered with governments, customers and other public and private partners to support school feeding programmes around the world for more than 50 years, promoting children’s right to nutrition, health and education as well as helping to build the demand for locally produced and processed products.  We are happy to have formed a strong partnership with Chi in Nigeria.”

    According to the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, up to 80 percent of Nigerian children suffer from nutrition deficiencies, particularly from Iron, Zinc and vitamins. This leads to slower brain development, concentration issues, a weak immune system and underdevelopment of memory, vision and hearing. Investments in education are significantly undermined if children are not nourished properly. According to the same survey, over one third of Nigerian children are malnourished to the extent that their physical growth is measurably reduced compared to children in peer countries. A case in reference, according to various available statistics from UNESCO, EU, FAO etc, as many as 11 million children in Nigeria are suffering from stunted growth occasioned by chronic malnutrition.

  • Why traders hold exhibition

    Why traders hold exhibition

    Traders have taken it upon themselves to hold exhibitions quarterly or half yearly in order to enhance and promote sales. Their reasons are based on the believe that when exhibitions are held, there is an opportunity for them to experience more training apart from the fact they would be together under one roof to enhance cordial relationship amongst themselves.

    They also believed that exhibition can be likened to a bridge between the petty traders and the international ones, creating a symbiotic business relationship. Trader’s locations will easily be known to buyers, bringing them closer to traders to create more awareness on product.

    The Nation Shopping met with a mattress retailer, Mr. Rotimi Akinshola in an exhibition in Lagos. He thinks exhibition helps the traders to elevate their businesses. “Exhibitions are held to make more customers, create a buyer and seller relationship as well as bring customers close to the product for further enlightenment.

    He added: “I have been invited to different exhibitions and found the experience profitable and enjoyable. The good thing about exhibition is that some customers come to know your product and through it we meet different people selling other things. We also get new connections and friends. And the reason why some traders don’t see it as being important and necessary is because of the way the organizers present it to them. I think organizers of exhibitions should give orientation to sellers on how important exhibitions are to their products and the market. Most businesses look at the money involved in the process as a reason for not wanting to take part in an exhibition”.

  • Food vendors:‘our ordeal during the ramadan fast’

    Food vendors:‘our ordeal during the ramadan fast’

    As Ramadan fast ends, the experiences of  food vendors over the last one  month has been bad. According to them, there haven’t been sales since  Ramadan fast began. Ramadan which is a blessed month for the Muslims to fast and get closer to their God, by abstaining from food, drinks and some other activities, happened to be of disadvantage to food vendors across the Lagos metropolis.

    For Mrs Merian Biodun who owns a restaurant at Makinde Bus stop in Ayobo area of Lagos, she doesn’t make sales whenever Muslims were fasting “I do not sell much when Ramadan is on. I prepare half of what I used to prepare on a normal day and when it was time to break their fast, some of them wouldn’t come around instead they prefered to go home to break their fast with their families “.

    Mrs Muniratu Olushola, another restaurant owner at Idera, in Ipaja said sales are always low during Ramadan. “It is not that we did not make sales at all, but if we used to have twenty people buying from us on a normal day, during fasting period,  we have less than twelve. And the painful thing is that, this would go on for a whole month. It was indeed a great loss to us. If I should prepare the amount of food I normally use to prepare more than half will waste”.

    For Madam Joy of God’s Glorious restaurant, her major patronage comes from Okada riders who are mainly Muslims and have their park in front of her restaurant.  “My main customers are Muslim okada riders and they eat a lot. But while they fast, I cook my food in small quantity so that it doesn’t waste. Some of them patronise me when they break their  fast in the evenings, but they bought little quantity of food”.

    The story is same with Mrs Fatimat Adebola. “Ramadan period is not always a profitable period for my business because most of my customers are Muslims just like i am. Sometimes I won’t bother  to open my restaurant at all for a day or two because after waking up very early in the morning to cook for my family, I would go back to bed.  Business was dull throughout the fast period and it is a major challenge we have always had  to cope with when the fasting period comes.” she said.

  • Three years on: Online trading changes face of shopping

    Three years on: Online trading changes face of shopping

    The acceptance of E-commerce can be closely tied to the emergence and growth of online stores, especially in the last three years. Now, as online stores celebrate three years of existence in the Nigerian market, online retail business has continued to thrive, warming its way deeper into the hearts of more discerning shoppers, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

    NOT many gave it a chance in the ever competitive Nigerian market. This is not just because of the fact that several products jostle for the consumers’ pockets, but it was a completely new way of shopping unknown to Nigerians at that time. Such fears or suspicions bothered on credibility issues. For instance, it was common to think of  scams when approached for patronage. And so, for online operators, it has been three years of hurdles and having to face series of litmus tests.  But now, three years on, the perception has changed.

    Today, It has been three years since Nigerians started shopping online. Three years of contemplating whether to buy online or not, three years of disbelieve, distrust and criticism.

    Few years ago, the Nigerian internet space had little or no commercial viability. This was because internet usage was still developing and provided limited network opportunities for people. Then, an explosion in the number of people that have access to the internet with its unlimited opportunities among which is online shopping which has completely changed the face of retail business in Nigeria.

    Yes, Nigerian’s have actually embraced e-commerce quite a lot. Back in 2010/2011 when e-commerce started on a large scale, the conversation was really about educating people that Nigeria was ready for e-commerce. People needed to be educated about how to shop online. Also, most platforms had to do pay on delivery as a way of reassuring the customers that they will get the right product of the right quality. Customers also worried then that their payment details will be compromised if they shop online, so they preferred cash on delivery.

    Today, these same customers are now so accustomed to shopping online that they depend on it as part of their lifestyle. According to Raphael Afaedor, Chief Executive Officer of supermart.ng, a grocery online store, ”customers buy their entire grocery needs for the week at one address and get it delivered straight to their doorstep. Lots of these customers have cut down their visits to the local supermarket significantly thereby saving themselves some quality time.

    Adding that the quality of the service offering is important for customers to fully embrace the office, Afaedor said,there is an understanding that customers spend too much time grocery shopping; easily over 3 hours per week, between going to multiple stores, then a visit to the local market just to get the products they want to buy.  Because Supermart.ng aggregates the entire available inventory both from the local market and supermarkets at one address customers are able to fulfill their entire basket which also ensures suppliers make money.

    For Evangeline Wiles, the Managing Director of Kaymu.com, in the past three years, online shopping has revolutionized consumers buying habits. More and more Nigerians are embracing e-commerce and the lease of life it provides. Online shopping places the consumer’s purchasing power at the click of a button and he is not limited by time and place as with retail shopping. It’s easy, fast and convenient.

    This is partly because of the introduction of cheap Smartphone and cheaper data plans. Also most ecommerce businesses have been able to build up the trust factor allowing people start their search of a product or service online without fear of been scammed.

    They say online shopping is widely accepted particularly because of the introduction of cheap Smartphone and cheaper data plans. Also most ecommerce businesses have been able to build up the trust factor allowing people start their search of a product or service online without fear of been scammed.

    Using Carmudi as a case study, the Public relation officer of the firm said the firm has seen a very significant increase in its page visits since its existence and can only attribute this to the fact that online shopping has become a convenience and also because people have come to view carmudi as a trusted platform. “We also noted that the millennial (between 18-34 years old) are more active in the ecommerce space. 35% of searches on the carmudi website come from this age bracket. This group is the first to be born straight into the digital generation. The internet is not a thing to Millennia; it is just the norm so it is only normal for that online shopping will continue to increase.”

    Konga started by selling beauty, personal and baby care products to online shoppers in Lagos. The company grew quickly with the rapid expansion of product categories and geographic reach. Today Konga delivers products to every state in Nigeria and now has a massive array of over 200,000 products listed for sale on its site. Public Realtion Officer, Tomiwa Akande said, “We have a strong social media followership of close to 2 million people”. Since the opening of the Konga Marketplace to small and medium size businesses through its SellerHQ Marketplace in 2014, over 20,000 traders have registered on the site. Konga.com, whose revenue grew 450% from 2013 to 2014.”

    She added that the information above is a reflection of how E-commerce has gained more acceptances by Nigerians since inception. it is after all the acceptance that has in turn made Konga grow so fast in the last 3 years. The speed of the growth is so astronomical that it is evident E-Commerce is the future. It is here to stay and more Nigerians are harnessing it to make shopping cheaper and more convenient for them and also making money while trading on Konga. With Konga building a thriving e-commerce ecosystem, it is soon to be the next goldmine in Nigeria.

    People have gradually migrated to buying items more online with the introduced ‘pay on delivery method’(see and touch what you are paying for) which is introduce to convince the average  Nigerian man that nobody intends to steal from him. This method of operation gradually built trust in the minds of many who now shop for items online.

    Likely growth, predicted three years ago is becoming a reality as online shopping by urban consumers is more than double; this is according to demographics from these platforms. Explaining reason as; digital influence is rapidly expanding to small urban towns and rural areas, thereby, increasing the number of mobile users in country.

    According to the demography, discounts will not be the only driving force for people to switch to online shopping, as was previously thought, but factors like convenience and access to wider assortment has also largely influenced shopping decisions.  To put it in numerical context, Euromonitor recently estimated that clothing and footwear will be a $1 billion naira per year market online along in 2019; that sounds like a big number but that is just 1% of today’s total wholesale and retail.  Now 65% of Nigerians are under 24 and tech savvy with Facebook & Twitter accounts. There is still a long way to go even though the adoption so far has been very impressive.

  • Welcome on board

    This is a column that promises to discuss, mold and shape societal values, seeks to protect the interests of consumers, citizens and other broader relevant topics such as decadence of educational systems, unemployable job seekers, trading ethics et al under the column, ‘TRUE VALUE 360’. It is an interactive column as suggestions, complaints; day to day experiences are welcome.

    This first edition, we are going inwards to pinch ourselves by treating the topic:

    ‘The Unemployable Graduate’

    The unemployable graduate is that job applicant who is academically and professionally qualified for a position but unemployable because he or she cannot defend the certificates presented.

    This topic is heartrending to me as one of my core calling is Recruitment. In the last decade, I have seen a lot in the selection process. Several times, we had wondered if the applicants knew they were coming to be interviewed. To get 10 employees for a client, one may need to talk to over 60 seemingly qualified candidates which is tasking and cumbersome.

    The orientation and level of preparedness is usually zero except for very few; to cap it all, they all want to earn the same figure intellectuals earn; and when this class are given a lower position cum salary, they feel victimized. Meanwhile they are actually unemployable. I may prefer to refer them to set up Recharge card shops as their brain may not be able to process more than that.

    Most fresh graduates cannot write impressive application letters, not to talk of writing letter of introduction on behalf of his / her company; to do a proposal definitely becomes a tall order.

    A WASC/NECO holder of 2 to 3 decades ago will clearly win a Graduate of today’s age hands down in productivity and intelligence.

    Now, where did we go wrong? Why do we have 70% unemployable graduates?

    We all are guilty. Yes every one of us. Why? How?

    •The lecturer who lures female students to sleep for marks.

    •The male hooligans who will rather pay or blackmail to get high grades

    •The parents who will buy questions and results or even bribe lecturers

    •The Runs girls (now the boys have invented their runs too) who are not ready to learn in school but to be the hottest chick on the campus

    •The Sugar Daddies who will sleep with girls of their children’s age with no intention of marrying them and vice versa.

    •The last but definitely one of the most important factor is BREAKDOWN IN EDUCATIONAL INFASTRUCTURE.

    So how can we solve this problem of The Unemployable Graduate? It is almost too late for these set unless they are ready to go for special training on Work Expectation and Ethics, if they are humble enough to admit to themselves.

    For the upcoming graduates, it begins with all of us: the government and appropriate budget for education, the students, parents, lecturers’ et al, a total re-orientation and re-alignment of values. No one says students should not enjoy student life or have fun; after all, work, work and no play surely makes Jack & Jill dull. It is better to give Caesar what is his.

  • Books for Ramadan

    Ramadan period is a special season for the Muslims all over the world. During this period, Muslims can while away time; keep themselves busy and holy by reading Islamic books.

    During Ramadan, one of the activities that the Muslims normally engage in is supplication and reading of the Glorious Book (the Qur’an). Apart from these, there are some other things that can be added like reading other Islamic books for male, female and children.

    These books are sold online and offline, they are; Usool at-Tafseer by Bilal Philips, it cost N4,000, Tafsir Bin Kathir (vol 1-10) cost N15,000, Charity even with a trifle sells for N700, cleanliness of faith is N850, key to the treasures of jannah is N1,000, Ramadan made simple is N1,400, Kitabu-us-Salat: Muslim prayer book, N600,  A glimpse at the beauty of Islam, N950, Basic essentials for Muslims cost N850, Allah commands us to make du’aa sells for N750, Da’wah according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah is N2,500, Dajjal the final deception by Aftab Shahrya cost N1,300, Life is a fading shadow is N900 and The ultimate guide to Umrah which sells for N2,500.

    For the women, Don’t be Sad can be bought for N1,500, You can be the most happiest woman in the world cost N850, Selected fatawah for women is N1,200,  Laws regarding to purity of women is N750.

    Others are ; The Ideal Muslimah by Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi, Islamic Dress Code for Women, Questions about the Mothers of the Believers, The Pious Woman, Who are the sinful women according to the Qur’an and Hadith, women in Islamic Shari ‘a Sahih Muslim by Imam Muslim (vol 1-4), The Collection of An-Nawawi (40 Hadith), Etiquette of A Muslim on Two Eids, A summary of Islamic Jurisprudence (vol 1-2) by Saleh Al-Fawzan, , Compilation of the Hadith (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).

    These books are available in all Islamic stores in various neighbouhood and they vary in prices depending on the area one is buying from.

  • Apapa amusement park re-opens on Sallah Day

    The famous Apapa Amusement Park, Lagos, which was not only known for its being a fun centre for children but also a recreational centre as well as venue for promotion and exhibitions has been closed since 2012. The place is undergoing renovations and necessary arrangements are made to re-open on Sallah Day.

    Head of the construction team, Mr Hussein Jamal who works with Crystal Cubes Company, the construction company handling the renovation, told The Nation: “The park will re-open soon, most certainly on Eid-Fitri Day, but not fully, because we are still working on some part, and there is plenty of work yet to be done to make the place better than what it used to be.”

    Mr Kelvin Gordon, the security officer attached to the park, said: “So far, plenty of work has been done in a short while beyond human imagination. The hotel is almost ready, the playing ground also, which is now stocked with new and improved playing equipments, blocks of shops and a supper market have also been completed for business purposes. There is a party hall for occasions and events.”

    Comparing the park with what it used to be before the renovation, he said: “Amusement park is better and would be busier than what it used to be. As big as this place is, I don’t think it will accommodate the number of people that will be visiting on a daily basis. All the equipments are new and modernised to entice more people than before.”

  • New online platform berths

    An online social enterprise that provides various products for people for free has berthed in Lagos. It is called lofelofe.com.

    From a fairly used sewing machine that will help an amateur seamstress hone skills and make a living to giving interview candidates outfits that will give them the look and confidence to get that new job, lofelofe.com is said to be the place to channel items that people no longer need to those who need them.

    It said in a statement that it was driven by the famous saying ‘the thing you take for granted, someone else is praying for’.

    Its founder, Funmi Odushola said:  “The goal for lofelofe.com is not to offer handouts but give a hand to the needy, things that encourage people have better their lifestyle and inspire them to work harder.”

    She said in this part of the world, it is important to form initiatives that values humanity and preserves our innate community spirit, adding that the reason is that there are not enough support systems in these parts and the government cannot solve every problem. “Think of the 81.5 per cent of Africans who are considered working poor; these are hard working individuals who work yet struggle to make ends meet. Think of over 90 million Nigerians, families who live on N300 per day or less. With the economic downturn, it seems more people are getting into poverty than getting out and this is evident in our various neighborhood. As such, citizen-led initiatives like this can help ease the difficulty and foster a safer environment than any government can. A helping hand can be the difference from a street child being a robber and a respectable citizen,” she said.

    The platform works with partners tagged ‘Givers’ and ‘Receivers’. Each has a significant role to play and are equally important and interchangeable.

    Lofelofe is said to have been derived from ‘lofe’ which means “free”. The organisation is encouraging everyone to give for free and receive for free.

    “Every year, many families in Nigeria perform their benevolence “duty” by giving away various items at Christmas, Ramadan, Easter. Lofelofe.com will like to make this happen everyday as the lives of people in need cannot wait until these festivities.

    “There is a void between people who receive benevolence and the people who need them. We have found orphanages that have excess clothes but what they needed is books, shoes and medical supplies. We take the excess and balance the need; society can continue to give whatever they have to give but we will make sure that it reaches the right people,” Odushola said.

    lofelofe.com is unique from the usual NGOs or nonprofit in that, it partners with existing NGOs and social organisation and does not depend on donations to continue its operations in the long term.  It promotes its partners and works with them in their niche areas to have an even bigger impact. By 2017, the platform hopes to have reached 200+ million disadvantaged Africans mostly achieved by physical presence on ground in the grassroots and through partnerships since the online space has its limitations. In addition to this, lofelofe.com runs an annual food kitchen event targeted specifically towards the destitute and people on the streets.

    The organisation is planning a food kitchen event in August 29 where communities will be given free medical screening, hot meals, drinks and love to about 3000 people in need, particularly people from the Alimosho – Agege – Ikeja axis.

    The food kitchen event inspired by similar programmes in other parts of the world brings people from different spectrum to one location. It is laudable and beautiful to see Nigerians come together like this.

    Everything for the event has been put together by benevolent citizens; from the event location (given by the Ministry of Youth & Sports) to the food, drinks and medical supplies. In addition, all the medical team, caterers, entertainers are all volunteering to give a helping hand.  Organisations will be giving their products and services for free, WeClean, a cleaning company will  clean the location at no charge. While Halogen securities will give its professional services in crowd control and event securities, SixthLab will donate medical test kits.

  • Valmont water enters market

    Giant Beverages Limited has introduced Valmont, a super-premium water brand, unique in both content and packaging into the Nigerian market. The new product is coming with a new trailblazing Sport cap offering which is the first of its kind in the industry. With this unique offering, the company, a wholly owned Nigerian company is bent on ensuring Nigerian brands join the league of internationally renowned brands.

    Its General Manager, Mr. Ayo Afolabi, said the introduction of the product into the market is to ensure that this mark of quality – which comes in a blazing red colour -is stamped on the product from the onset to differentiate it from the pack and ensure it sets the pace in quality and packaging. “What we are doing is making a statement that Nigerians can produce quality product with packaging that can conform to the highest international standards. This is why our Sportcap will make the difference.”

    To this end, the new product, Valmont is positioned as a super-premium water produced to the best of international standards. “The water goes through our ultra-purification processes without being exposed to air until it enters our unique bottles, thus preserving its freshness and purity. It is called ‘Valmont’ for its strong, rich, luxurious and sophisticated background.”

    He added that Valmont is natural and produced to accompany fine food and luxurious lifestyle. Its transparent and minimalistic labeling further gives it an extra touch of class which is expected to appeal to discerning consumers who will stop at nothing to enjoy the best that life offers.

    In order to make maximum market impact to meet consumers’ varying needs, the product comes in, 600ml, 750ml (Sportcap) and 1.5L 100 per cent recyclable plastic bottles. At a later point, it will also be available in 750ml glass bottles sold only through high-end restaurants, hotels, international airlines and event outfits

    Giving additional information on the brand, Marketing Manager, Mrs. Bose Ogunyemi reinforced the earlier statement that Valmont’s Sportcap (750ml)

    “Valmont is a lifestyle brand that delivers much more than hydration to the consumer. Valmont has the red cap which signifies prestige in Nigeria; it also makes the brand striking and outstanding. That is the fundamental reason the brand promises prestigious quality and purity.”With the tagline “Live Pure,” the brand, which is bottled to the highest standards, provides the refreshing essence that matches discerning consumers’ lifestyle wherever they are found.

    Giant Beverages Limited was set-up to focus primarily on the manufacturing of quality healthy alternatives to the traditional sugar sweetened carbonated beverages. With this mandate, it will fill a huge gap in the beverage sector, a gap for healthy and natural beverages.