The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Ladies to undergo ‘Ignite Spark’ test by Lux tomorrow

    One of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, Coco Chanel, once said “A woman should wear perfume wherever she wants to be kissed”.

    Translation – smell irresistible! This is what Lux will be working with tomorrow in Lagos where it will teach young ladies how to ignite the love between them and their spouse by using the Lux range of products. The fragrance of this product they say is exhilarating and very inviting, as such will tighten the bond between them and their spouse.

    Lux beauty soap thinks it is time for ladies to ignite the spark between them and their spouse as many marriages and relationships suffer because of lack of romance, love and care. According to Lux, with the passage of time, things are bound to get comfortable, fraternal even with the consistent use of the Lux kit. The firm said the purpose of this event is to enlighten ladies by letting them know that no matter how much in love they remain, their relationship needs a little freshening up from time to time, as well as a reboot. Producers of this product say with the soap, ladies will experience that elating feeling of being closer than close to their man and they will see his eyes reflect that passionate fire in theirs.

    The global brand developed by Unilever has thus, decided to put ladies in the Lagos metropolis through some love test. At the event, ladies would be asked to think back to the first few weeks of meeting their spouse. They will be asked to remember the giddy feeling whenever they thought of their spouses when they just met him. They will be asked to recall those heady days when the flame of love was burning bright. Those endless hours spent in passionate embrace. And finally, they will be asked to compare their relationship now to what it used to be.

    The teachings will include having favorite fragrance on one’s skin to boost self-confidence miles high, wearing a sassy outfit, stylishly-coiffed hair and perhaps a beloved accessory or two create the perfect equation for igniting the spark

    Others are: how to increase chances of time together with that special one, how to have a long soaking bath to soften and elegantly scents the ladies skin, therefore, transforming ladies into the right kind of magnet to their man.

    They will also be taught to cultivate the simple habit of leaving out one evening just for  her and her spouse, void of distractions, these among others, they promise would revive the spark between spouses.

  • Online retailers recount Mothers’ Day sales

    Online retailers recount Mothers’ Day sales

    As the world advances, Nigeria continues to get involved in everything that the western world does. From the ‘Black Friday’ Syndrome to the ‘Buy Nothing Day’ bug, and now the ‘Mothers’ Day’ Crazy Sales, like the online retailers would call it.

    On the Konga.com site, the hike in sales around Mother’s Day gets bigger with each passing year. This is probably because, for special days and seasons, customers are increasingly identifying with Konga as the ‘perfect gifting solution’ for their loved ones.

    For this year’s Mother’s Day, Konga created a special catalogue on the perfect gifts to delight and appreciate mothers. The Konga catalogue made it easy for customers to find the right gifts for their mothers. With Konga’s standard offer of nationwide delivery, this meant that people could show love to their mothers even when they did not have the opportunity to be there with them.

    Its Public Relations Manager, Olatomiwa Akande said: “At konga.com, we were honoured to serve as a bridge to deliver joy to amazing mothers across Nigeria during this year’s Mothers’ Day.’’

    Supermart.ng, anchored by Raphael Afaedor and Gbolahan Fagbure saw a trend of sales spikes around the special days. According to the store management, this Mother’s Day (and the recent women’s day) was no different, as the store witnessed alot of purchases of perfumes, jewelry (swarovksi crystals) and watches.

    Chief Executive Officer, Supermart Store, Raphael Afaedor, said: “We saw quite a significant number of people do big grocery shopping and had them delivered to their parents’ addresses. With over 50,000 products in store, Supermart.ng is Nigeria’s largest online supermarket and delivery service. We deliver within three hours across Lagos and that’s probably what explains why we are seeing the trends we are experiencing.”

    Carmudi Nigeria, an online car dealer, thinks otherwise, its Public Relations Officer, Vivian Chidinma said: “At Carmudi, we have only noticed an increase in the amount of app used to access the Carmudi website over the past weeks, but we can’t attribute this to the anticipation of Mothers’ Day at the weekend.’’

    She said the firm saw no increase in the amount of page visits or requests for dealer’s information during the Mothers’ Day, but that it had 65,067 page views last week, which was not significantly higher than the previous week.

    For Offline Manager, Jumia.com.ng, “Mothers Day sales on Jumia.com saw a double digit growth when compared to sales event last year. What we also saw is Nigerians adopted even further this global event; we saw many early shoppers who, obviously, were looking to have their gifts shipped to their mothers, wives or otherwise in time for Mothers’ Day.’’

    Jumia also celebrated Mothers’ day with CSR initiative ‘1 Child 1 Book’, where staff of the firm visited kids of Maryland Primary School for an exercise that had them surprising their mothers with gifts.

  • Firm develops app for church mgt

    Complustech Nigeria Limited has unveiled an application, Church+ v2, for churches to overcome administrative and management challenges.

    Speaking to reporters at the  Co-Creation Hub, Lagos, venue of the  launch, its Chief Executive Officer,  Peter Ihesie, described the product as dream come true, which is aimed at helping churches build better relationship with members, manage full administrative operations, improve communications and connections and measure performance at any time.

    He disclosed that, due to Church+’s flexible, seamless and user-friendly interface, they were upbeat to reach at least 10,000 churches across the country within the next six  months.

    According to him, Church+ v2 apart from being amazing, simple and effective software for church management and administration, it offers users Better Membership Management; Performance Analysis; Accounting; Improves SMS and Email communication

    Today, in Nigeria, Church+ remains the right solution, with cutting-edge advantages, offering automated birthday and anniversary email and SMS messages to members on special days; this improves the member to church relationships, thereby reducing outflow. It offers effective church performance management and helps the churches measure progress better. Church+ even provides many analytical tools best suited for churches to achieve this!

    “By using the double entry and fund accounting methodology, church+ provides churches with flexible, simple and proper accounting system for better church financial recording and reporting. Also, with a scheduled church service email and sms reminder, church+ automatically notifies members of activity date and time when due, thereby improving overall attendance. Aside that, Church+ uses the modern cloud based technology, such that, pastors and administrators can access the solution via mobile and web, from anywhere with internet access”.

    The CEO, Complustech Nigeria Limited, added that with “People Management” feature, Churches can, “Easily manage the information of members of the church, new converts and first timers. The Solution has powerful search functionality with quick email and SMS that makes the feature quite special”, while ‘Special First-timer Management’ feature makes it the “Most Complete First timer management and follow up system that aids churches, Fellowships and ministries with the needed tools to effectively follow-up your first timers automatically and measure your retention rate”.

    He explained that with a token subscription fee, Church+ vs can be deployed to churches, fellowships, missions or ministries, mobile, desktop, Private Single Branch Cloud Online Deployment Model or Private Multi-Branch Cloud Online Deployment and these do not require special training for usage and adoption.

    On the Church Mobile App, he said the mobile will enable churches to engage with members on the go. given the large adoption of mobile devices by members, church+ mobile app will allow them share testimonies, send prayer request and access audio and media contents, it also comes with a seamless online giving and donation feature.

    Ihesie also hinted about the E-Collection and Online capability of the platform for churches enabling easy integration and setup of collections of both local and international donation. “This app is in line with our vision which is to build a world class system that will enable a seamless information integration aimed at increasing productivity and efficiency amongst different sectors; this time around, helping churches meet up with their administrative and management systems.

     

  • Carmudi’s mobile apps take Nigeria by storm

    Carmudi’s mobile apps take Nigeria by storm

    Christian Kellera, a motivational speaker, talks about the impact of Carmudi’s mobile app during the Social Media Week in Lagos, TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

    Mobile Apps are booming in Nigeria. Studies see a yearly increase of over 30 per cent in the use of apps in the country, both for local and global apps. Carmudi.com.ng, Nigeria´s number one car site, recently launched its local mobile app.

    During the Social Media Week (SMW), Christian Keller, the Managing Director, Carmudi Nigeria, explained  why the Carmudi app is crucial to the company’s success and how it has changed the way Carmudi is able to connect with its customers – buyers and sellers of cars.

    In the second half of last year, Carmudi Nigeria launched a mobile app. What first started as a side project quickly became its biggest growth driver. “We see extremely strong growth rates on our mobile app usage”, says Keller, during the Social Media Week panel discussion recently.

    To understand why mobile apps play a special role in African countries, Keller said:  “Africa is a Mobile First continent. People immediately adopted phones without making the detour through desktop Personal Computers (PCs) or laptops. That is why mobile is even more important to Africa. Studies have shown that by 2017, 334 million Africans will be connected to the internet via smartphones – the majority of them without having seen the internet on a desktop before.”

    Explaining the rationale for businesses to create an app, he said:  “Customers on mobile apps are more loyal than website users. They return more often to the service and it is easier to keep in touch with them over notifications – much of which cannot be achieved with a mobile website alone. In the case of Carmudi, he explained  that  the firm’s mission is to make car buying and selling as easy as shopping for daily groceries.

    “People need to gain access to the entire available market anywhere and anytime to arrive at an informed decision. The Carmudi app allows customers search for the right car on the go or upload a car in less than  two minutes.”

    The Carmudi app allows people to find their next car at the convenience of their mobile devices. Just like the website, it features 30,000 verified cars which are available for sale in Nigeria, but makes it more convenient to use. Users can directly call a seller from their phone or upload their cars with the phone´s camera. Interested sellers can send their notifications directly to their app and searches can be saved.

    The week is one of the events, which has branched out from the mobile phone market in Africa, and has become one of Africa’s leading mobile industry events. With various industries on the mobile market, Carmudi Nigeria, the leading online car site, was at the SMW to share its story in the African mobile market.

    Carmudi, founded in 2013, is available in 20 countries. The vehicle marketplace offers buyers, sellers and car dealers the ideal platform to find cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles online.

  • Elpis Megalio opens in Lagos

    Elpis Megalio opens in Lagos

    Elpis Megalio Store has  opened in Lekki, Lagos.

    It is a brand that is aware that the country has become a fashion hub with people wanting to have the latest fashion design, art items and accessories. It’s also aware that the trade Iis booming in this part of the world.

    As consumers strive to get quality items and better services, the store has promised to engage the best of materials in  its manufacturing. This store has brought the best of quality materials together to manufacture mind-blowing designs, its owner, Ms Olufunke Afolabi, said.

    Afolabi, a lawyer turned designer, observed how the world operates in this line of business abroad, and brought back home, the expertise and the best of colourful fabrics.

    Sh said the store is a reflection of  her world, travels and personality. It makes her a classic young woman, who is bringing two worlds together – art and fashion – to create greatness and offer something different to a new generation.

    It is also a fashion house with a history of art behind it, as fashion is art and not just an average store, she added.

    The fashion house consists of an in-house beauty and cosmetics studio -Yanga beauty studio, offering make-up consultancy by a talented make-up artist, Jennifer L. Uloko.

    Afolabi told The Nation Shopping that the store also has other lines, such as the art section, where she created all the designs; the Shoe/Bag Section,  managed by her sister, who also produces them with the help of three staff.

    The Underwear Section, which was born out of the concern that women face to get quality undies in the country and the Make-up/Perfume Unit, which focuses on providing original designer perfumes for customers.

    She said her vision is to create a one-stop shop where people could get dressed and head for an occasion immediately.

    Elpis Megalio caters for a new-generation of trendy forward individuals on an affordable budget, carrying a range of ready to wear and extravagant bespoke pieces and furniture. It also has a lingerie concession (Olannaz World), owned by Yedunde Adegbite, who stocks various sizes selling at affordable prices.

    She said a fitting service would soon be available by a trained lingerie stylist.

    The store is stocking a sister brand, Kieva Desuwa, by Temi Afolabi, who specialises in handmade Ankara and leather accessories, and will be available for sale from the ready to wear collection or bespoke, designed to fit specific occasions.

    Temi Afolabi, the owner of the shoe line, said her business would grow. “Every service rendered in this store complements one another; it is a store where one can walk in and get dressed for an occasion; and few years from now, I see more people wanting to wear my brand of shoes. I also see myself going international to meet people’s demand for quality, good shoes. I can help people find those comfortable shoes that won’t scare them away from heels,” she said.

    Like every other business, there are challenges. The major one is the poor power supply the country is experiencing. But for Olufunke, the results she gets from manufacturing these items herself has made it worthwhile.

    “A major challenge in this line of business is the epileptic power supply in the country; generator has been my source of power. I spend N10,000 in two days to buy diesel.

    To stand out and remain in the market, she said, her business would provide quality service; the brand will be working with people’s body-sizes to make dresses and shoes to suit them.

    “I won’t be doing what every other person is doing. I will be doing something unique with my own designs. I think this market is growing and working hand-in-hand with the international market because we have a lot of talented designers that are also exposed, Nigeria is getting there,” she stressed.

  • Polo Avenue hosts Genevieve Magazine online launch

    Polo Avenue hosts Genevieve Magazine online launch

    Nigeria’s leading luxury boutique, Polo Avenue, has opened its doors to prominent fashion designers and lifestyle enthusiasts in Lagos, with the hosting of the online media launch for women’s lifestyle magazine, Genevieve.

    The boutique, which is reverred for its innovative approach in representing women’s fashion within the growing luxury market, hosted the event to celebrate the contribution of Genevieve Magazine to the advancement of fashion, lifestyle and the Nigerian-woman in all spheres of life.

    The launch was full of glitz and glamour and graced by renowned fashion designers, such as Mai Atafo, and Lanre Da Silva Ajayi.

    Executive Director, Polo Luxury Group, Jennifer Obayuwana, said that Polo Avenue decided to identify with Genevieve’s laudable  achievements in amplifying the voices and successes of women.

    Ms. Obayuwana added: “Women have a mandate to consistently utilise their platforms in illuminating and honouring the achievements of Nigerian women and their legacies.’’

    The Editor-in-Chief, Genevieve Magazine, Mrs Betty Irabor, thanked the Polo Avenue boutique for hosting the soiree. She expressed gratitude to the brand for associating with the positive activities of women, adding that together they would boost the representation of  women in Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world.

    Mrs. Irabor added that the new online platform is distinctive and that it will highlight and celebrate the achievements of  women.

  • OMO tests children’s imagination

    OMO tests children’s imagination

    In its renewed effort to pull its weight behind developing kids ambition through creative art & writing in Nigeria, Unilever Nigeria, manufacturers of OMO have launched OMO Imagine & Achieve, a Creative Art Competition initiative, tagged Unleash Your Potential  which would be targeted at helping school Children across Nigeria develop their innate art skills.

    According to the Brand Manager OMO, Sarah Adoki, during the official launch of the initiative at Carol Nursery and Primary School, Ikeja, she said “we decided to embark on this initiative because we feel it is highly important we develop our children, thereby helping them realize their dreams.”

    Adoki said investing in children’s future is key to ensuring a better society for the good of all, saying that is why OMO is emphasizing that all hands be on deck, especially the parents/guardians, as they are integral to the growth of the Nigerian child.

    ”In supporting their growth, we on our part decided to help children across the country unleash that hidden potential inherent in them through a Creative Art and Essay Competition which will see them express that which even their parents never knew they had in them.”

    As for the Creative Art Competition, school children, would be required to creatively produce an art work, showing their future career beautified with empty sachets of OMO Fast Action. After this is done, OMO’s brand Ambassadors would collect all artwork from schools following which the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd positions in each school will be rewarded individually. Eventual winners from each school would compete with other schools culminating in the emergence of State winners. These state champions will then be invited with a parent/guardian to Lagos where they will compete nationally at the grand finale where an one student will be named the overall champion.

    She further noted that prizes to be won in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd category are laptops, for the Essay are;   Laptop, N30,000 bursary, and N20,000 bursary while the Grand Finale will see the winners in the first second and third category go home with N1 million bursary, N500,000; and N200,000 respectively.

    Those who emerge winners in the states will also smile home with the sum of N50,000 each

    Adoki continued: “In the case of the Essay Competition, participants would be required to write a short essay based on the theme: ‘How Mum has helped me achieve success by washing my clothes with OMO fast action detergent’. They would be required to submit the essay with empty OMO packs, a minimum of 30 sachets of 30g, 5 sachets of 250g or 2 sachets of 1Kg to qualify, multiple weekly entries would be allowed per student, following which instant prizes will be won weekly by the first 50 children to submit.

    “Participants would also be expected to write their name, class, age, school, address, parents’, phone numbers and include their mother’s signature. Schools with the highest entries will have their school signboard branded, and will earn sponsorship support of sports activities, etc. consolation prizes will also be given.”

  • Ikeja City Mall fetes couples

    Ikeja City Mall fetes couples

    Ikeja City Mall, a choice destination for leisure, shopping and entertainment, recently treated ten couples who emerged winners from the recently concluded ‘Valendine promo’ to a wonderful dinner right inside the mall premises.

    Each winner accompanied by their spouse had the opportunity to wine, dine and enjoy a romantic rendezvou in one of the tenant stores (Rhapsody’s). The Rhapsody’s team created a tantalizing 3-course menu which featured specials such as mini Baguettes and Butter for starters, tender deboned chicken thighs, skewered with Spicy Jalapeno, basted with a sweet chilli sauce and drizzled with Garlic Butter. Prime beef set on a skewer, including a choice of red, white or rose wine. Also included was the famous fish and chips combination; fillet of fish, deep-fried in a homemade batter, served with chips and tartar sauce.

    Bee Jay Sax’s crew set the perfect mood for a romantic evening of dinner surprises and romance with love tunes as the couples stepped in.

    Oscar “big hommie” Oyinsan from City 1051FM took charge of proceedings as he teased and entertained the couples. He spearheaded the raffle in which two couples were selected to spend a night at Protea Hotel Select Ikeja with all the frills.

    Gucci, one of the supporters of the Valendine Dinner was ably represented by Vien Odofin who took the audience through the concept of the creation of Gucci Guilty Diamond. Gucci had a live experience setup with all Gucci fragrances available including the latest fragrance by the Luxury brand; Gucci Guilty Diamonds. Each couple received a Valendine Love bag with the Guilty Diamonds fragrance and other Gucci fashion accessories for him and her.

    Other prizes were Mifi from Smile Broadband with 10GB worth of free data which will be redeemable before the end of the month.

    The ten winners were selected from a raffle draw based on shoppers that submitted their single purchase receipts of N10,000 or more after purchasing items in any of the stores in the mall  in the designated boxes stationed at the three entrances to the mall.

  • Carmudi’s mobile apps take Nigeria by storm

    Carmudi’s mobile apps take Nigeria by storm

    Firm’s MD talks about the impact of Carmudi’s mobile app during the Social Media Week in Lagos, TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

    Mobile Apps are booming in Nigeria. Studies see an annual increase of over 30 per cent in the use of apps in Nigeria, both for local and global apps. Carmudi.com.ng, Nigeria´s number one car site, recently launched its local mobile app. During the Social Media Week (SMW), Christian Keller, the Managing Director of Carmudi Nigeria exlaind  why the Carmudi app was crucial to the company’s success and how it has changed the way Carmudi is able to connect with its customers – buyers and sellers of cars.

    In the second half of 2014, Carmudi Nigeria launched a mobile app. What first started as a side project quickly became its biggest growth driver. “We see extremely strong growth rates on our mobile app usage”, says Keller, during the Social Media Week panel discussion, recently.

    To understand why mobile apps play a special role in African countries, Keller pointed out that  “Africa is a Mobile First continent. People immediately adopted phones without making the detour through desktop Personal Computers (PCs) or laptops. That is why mobile is even more important to Africa. Studies have shown that by 2017, 334 million Africans will be connected to the internet via smartphones – the majority of them without having seen the internet on a desktop before.”

    Explaining the rational for businesses to create an app, he said,  “Customers on mobile apps are more loyal than website users. They return more often to the service and it is easier to keep in touch with them over notifications – much of which cannot be achieved with a mobile website alone. In the case of Carmudi, he explained  that  the firm’s mission is to make car buying and selling as easy as shopping for daily groceries. “People need to gain access to the entire available market anywhere and anytime to arrive at an informed decision. The Carmudi app allows customers search for the right car on the go or upload a car in less than  two minutes.”

    The Carmudi app allows people to find their next car at the convenience of their mobile devices. Just like the website, it features 30,000 verified cars which are available for sale in Nigeria, but makes it more convenient to use. Users can directly call a seller from their phone or upload their cars with the phone´s camera. Interested sellers can send their notifications directly to their app and searches can be saved.

    The SMW is one of the events which has branched out from the mobile phone market in Africa, and has become one of Africa’s leading mobile industry events. With various industries present on the mobile market, Carmudi Nigeria, which is Nigeria’s leading online car site, was present at the SMW event to share its story in the African mobile market.

    Carmudi, which was founded in 2013 is currently available in 20 countries around the world. The vehicle marketplace offers buyers, sellers and car dealers the ideal platform to find cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles online.

     

  • CPC supports Alomo Bitters’ new look

    CPC supports Alomo Bitters’ new look

    Last week, at the launch of the hologram of the popular Alomo Bitters drink in Lagos, the Consumer Protection Council head Lagos Office; Mr. Tam Tamunokombia commended the producers of Alomo Bitters for rising up to the challenge of protecting consumers. He said CPC is charged by the federal government with the responsibility of attending to consumers complaints, protecting them from activities of importers and manufacturers of substandard products, as well as counterfeiters of existing ones.

    He added that consumers have a right to basic satisfaction and if this is not achieved, they have a right to complain. “At CPC, it is not only about fighting counterfeit products, we are more particular about those items consumers take into their body system.”

    At the launch, producers of the alcoholic bitters assured consumers that this bold step of protecting the authenticity of the product will not increase the price of the drink in any way.

    Expressing confidence in the  Halogram , the Marketing Manager, Kasapreko Company Nigeria Limited, producers of Alomo Bitters, Mr. Peter Adegor said, if in any case, counterfeit occurs, the company will stay ahead of the game and beat the counterfeiters to it. “We are the only one who has the authority of this hologram, others do not have it. We are here to protect our consumers who are our source of business and that is why we have come up with this security features, the ‘Halogram’. We are confident that ours is the most secured Hologram in the world,” he said.

    The introduction of the hologram seal on the caps is one of the initiatives by the company to checkmate criminal faking of Alomo Bitters by unscrupulous profiteers and to protect consumers against the consumption of substandard bitters products which endanger human life.

    Managing Director, Kasapreko Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kojo Nunoo said: “This initiative is a security standard for global brands, and essentially it is meant to ensure clear brand differentiation and to highlight the unique features that distinguish ‘Alomo Bitters’ from the imitated version and other substandard bitters products in the market,”.

    He added that criminal faking of the original Alomo Bitters has been a major challenge the brand is facing in the country. And as a company that places priority on the wellbeing of consumers, this bothers the producers a lot. Hence the launch of the new hologram is aimed at helping the consumers identify the authentic drink when making purchases.’’

    The brand, which happens to be a generic name for bitters generally, is 100per cent herbal from plant extract. According to the producers, it will be produced in non-alcoholic form next year.

    For marketing professionals, the drink is said to have become a case study.

    Special Adviser (Commerce and Industry) to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Seye Oladejo, commended Kasapreko, for taking another bold step in consumer protection. He stated that the dangers of consuming counterfeit and substandard products were numerous among which were ill health and loss of life.

    He said: “Since Alomo Bitters has a big market share in Nigeria, it is important to also start manufacturing the brand here. The Lagos State Government is developing large Agro–Industrial Parks in Imota Ikorodu and Ilara, Igbo-nla Epe to provide the much needed support for companies like Kasapreko to manufacture here in Lagos.