The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Kaymu.com: Our milestone in two years

    Leading online marketplace, Kaymu.com.ng which provides independent sellers or small to medium scale business owners a platform to market to a large homogeneous client base, while providing buyers with a central location to purchase a wide verity of product at competitive prices, is two years old.

    Its Public Relations and Marketing Head, Tomiwa Oladele said: “It has been an amazing and remarkable two years with a small start. We have grown big and still standing, with more milestones to cover”.

    Kaymu made its debut in the country in January, and has in two years set up operations in 34 countries, 17 of which are African, including Angola, Ethopia, Tanzania, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, Ethopia, Ghana, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia, Mozambique, Zambia, Gabon, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Albania, Bulgeria, Belarus, Croatia, Slovakia.

    Since inception, Kaymu has imprinted its name in the mind of Nigerians as synonymous with a safe online platform to conduct business transactions due to the measures it has taken to ensure the smooth process of buying and selling. These measures include: dedicated customer service teams that validates orders and ensures deliveries are promptly made and a quality control team that ensures authenticity.

    The firm’s staff strength has grown from five at its inception to over 200 employees and it’s still growing constantly with Hubs in 6 geopolitical regions in Nigeria. There have been a series of seller focused workshops organised by the firm, where sellers are trained on how to leverage social media tools as well as embark on the (Do it yourself) DIY Public Relations activities for their online stores. Kaymu introduced an entrepreneurial shop where series of mobile workshops that educate entrepreneurs on how to sell online, manage an online store and create public relations /social media strategies for themselves as online marketplace sellers.

    Part of the firm’s initiatives is the kaymu future entrepreneurs and SME Saturdays: an interactive and educational training and practical session that enables primary and secondary school students work for half a day at the Kaymu office to drive their entrepreneurship spirit. Also, an online/offline integrated sales event where buyers and sellers get to conduct business transactions face-to-face.

    The firm’s Managing Director, Evangeline Wiles who spoke during the firm’s second anniversary in its former Ikoyi office, said: “Kaymu is the fastest growing online marketplace in the emerging market in Africa, Asia and most recently in Europe. Basically, it is an online shopping for both sellers and buyers which means, we provide a platform where buyers and sellers meet and make best sales for their goods and services. We will keep expanding till we are able to bring all merchants to the Kaymu platform.”

    January 2013, Kaymu.com launched with five workers, November the same year, it introduced the free commission month. January last year, the firm staff grew to 50, while in February, it made one million fan on Facebook. March 2014, it partnered with Kinabuti, in June, it partnered with Nigezie for world cup campaign.

    In July last year, Kaymu entered partnership with Cool FM for entrepreneurial workshop and launched its Abuja office in September. In October, it organised viral #IdreamOfANigeria independence campaign, also in October last year, it hit two million Facebook fans.

    In September last year, Kaymu won the online award off recommendation and still in same year, by

    In November precisely, it launched a mobile application which gave the opportunity to buy and sell. The firm also opened a branch in Portharcut and Ibadan after it had a success with the Abuja launching and in December, it opened shop in Warri and Benin and moved to Yaba with its sister companies.

    January this year, it secured a partnership with LCCI to host another entrepreneurial workshop for SME for people who want to get their businesses online and increase their sales.

  • Buy Now, Pay Later; First of its kind partnership with Jumia and FirstBank

    Those days of saving up all you had only to buy one single product are over. Jumia Nigeria in partnership with Nigeria’s best banking brand, First Bank of Nigeria Limited again brings more convenience to Nigerian shoppers with a first of its kind partnership in the history of e-commerce in Nigeria. Shopping online just got easier and faster with the new FirstBank Naira Credit Card which enables customers to simply buy their products of choice and pay later in installments.

    Customers need not go through the hassle of visiting the banking hall for a FirstBank Naira Card. Applying directly on the Jumia website while they place their order does the trick. Talk about convenience at its very peak! Once the order is placed, the Naira Credit Card is processed and the customers’ order confirmed within 72 hours. Shoppers can now enjoy longer payments lead times gaining up to 45 interest-free days with delivery between10-12 days.

    The leading online shop, Jumia Nigeria and the biggest player in the financial sector, First Bank of Nigeria Limited understand that e-commerce has become a strong factor for economic growth with persistent initiatives to empower Nigerians and Nigeria. Recognising the shift in the way customers think and what they want per time, the institutions have continually positioned to provide excellent services regardless of the situation.

    FirstBank’s partnership with Jumia Nigeria is in consonance with the Bank’s culture to put customers first and support leading business innovations which would provide convenience for the customer. According to Head, E-Business, FirstBank, Mr. Chuma Ezirim “At FirstBank, we are positioned to create value for our customers through strategic and innovative partnerships. This unique partnership with Jumia Nigeria will take customer experience to another level like we have never seen before in e-commerce. Apart from having a wide assortment of products and excellent services available to customers, the FirstBank Naira Credit Card also empowers them to purchase the items conveniently”.

    Jumia Nigeria, the online shop you can trust will continue to go the extra mile ahead of other online stores with careful attention to the needs of its customers ensuring they have the best shopping experience at all times. To get all those products of your dreams now, simply click http://www.jumia.com.ng/first-bank

  • Want a gift for Val? Branded Coke is it!

    Want a gift for Val? Branded Coke is it!

    Three weeks away from February 14, a date commemorated worldwide as Valentine Day otherwise known as lovers’ day, there is already a flurry of activities in major cities across the federation as shopping frenzy for gift items by all and sundry has started.

    Interestingly, one gift that seems to have stolen the heart of many is the new branded Coca Cola drink. The drink seems to be the shoppers’ choice.

    Shoppers, who were sighted buying the new coke at Shoprite, Ikeja, expressed satisfaction as they bought coke in large quantities with their name written on its acns and plastic.

    For Babajide Adebayo, the innovation should be replicated by other brands. “This is a laudable concept. I have always known Coca Cola to set the pace, while other follows. I am not surprised,” he said.

    Adebayo added that the innovation would help him spend less this Valentine.

    “I will spend less for Valentine this year. All I need do is to purchase a pack or half of the new branded Coca Cola with my girl’s name and I know she would love it. The brain behind this innovation must have had Valentine in mind when they inscribed ‘Share a Coke with Ibrahim’ on its bottle. It could be someone else’s name, he said.

    Ikechukwu Nworfor, another shopper who is excited about the  innovation said it gives him the opportunity to find affordable gift items for his loved ones. “The timing is right. These people surely know how to arrange things; this is a good gift concept any day, any time.”

    Besides serving as gift packs for Valentine, most people also consider them as souvenirs. Sharing his experience with The Nation Shopping, Fred Nwosisi said it is a special collectors’ item anytime, any day.

    Justifying the need for the products, a representative of the Coca Cola Company, who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the company, confided in The Nation Shopping that those customers who want branded bottles in large quantity will have to be referred to the company’s head office where the contractor and the producer will take such orders, according to him, this offer is available only to customers who want to purchase hundred cartons and more.

    “The unique thing about this whole thing is that the price remains the same despite all the interesting features in designs and labeling,” he said.

    The source advised that a customer who is not patient enough to look for a coke can or plastic branded in his name, can decide to pick for his/her spouse, family members or friends. This, he said, is   encouraging people to share and show love to others around them which is one of the essences of the idea aside to boosting sales and make profit.

    To help the search process easy for the shopper, the item is placed in batches with names from the western part of the country placed separately from those from the east and the north, and English names such as Henry and Ann were on display.

    The  idea of separating the name came up when shoppers’ complained of how difficult it was for them to identify their names or name of loved ones.

    Believe Odiase, a shopper said he gave up after searching for a can of coke with his name branded on it. “When I couldn’t continue with the search to buy a bottle of Coke, because I have other things to do in the mall, I gave up and picked a bottle for my daughter whose name is Cynthia. Perhaps, I will find time to come search for mine at weekend; it is worth the fun and sharing,” he said.

  • Job creation, others our focus, says Jumia

    Jumia recorded a tremendous growth in 2014 achieving major milestone and breaking new frontiers since inception.

    In 2015, the firm promises to further ensure quality retail and an even improved customer services for the Nigerian shopper.

    The firm promises to work harder to be the Amazon and Walmart of Africa making stronger their Human Capital Development with the aim to double the size of Jobs created in 2014 through expansion of various aspects of their business.

    The firm had 1,500 000 applicants in 2014, a whopping 83percent of the Nigerian graduates yearly. Also with the Jumia Academy, geared at building entrepreneurs out of every single ‘Jumian’, Offline Manager Jumia Nigeria, Afam Anyika said, “We will continue to discover and nurture such talent in growing the nation’s economy and eventually creating many more job opportunities for young Nigerians. As has been the case some employees who left Jumia through the years have moved on to start profitable businesses of their own backed with adequate knowledge transfer , best practice, innovation and technological knowhow where needed.”

    He added, “As it has always been our culture, in 2015, we will ensure an all-round satisfying customer experience further increasing the capacity of our delivery infrastructure for better and faster delivery services across all 36 states in the country including the FCT.”

    The Nation Shopping learnt that Jumia’s Market place has also become a force to reckon with in the retail industry as it provides a veritable platform where merchants can meet and interact with a nationwide audience, constantly empowering SMEs which is a significant driver of the nation’s economy.

    Having also given customers an even wider choice of assortment of premium products from both local and international brands alike to choose from, Jumia is saying, the year will be an experience that will further redefine retail shopping and consumer behaviour in Nigeria.

  • ‘Mobile vending taking firm root’

    Like any regular working class Nigerian, Samuel Roland dresses up and leaves his home in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, every morning for his business at Ogba. He returns to his family of five (a wife and four children) in the evening with his day’s earnings.

    Mr. Roland’s first three children are plying their ways through primary school. The last is the latest addition to the family with no burden, but worries the parents with increasing expenses. His wife does not work.

    He does not own a car, but he can afford transportation fare for himself and his family. He does not suffer lack of food, as he confirms that he and his family eat three square meals every day. He pays his utility bills diligently and wears the best of the outfits he can afford.

    Mr. Roland is a mobile vendor at the Ogba motor park where he advertises his goods by himself everyday from 8:00am till evening and sells as much as he can. His business thrives solely on his oratory power and his ability to convince passengers to patronize him. Another mobile vendor along Oshodi express way, Abdulazeez Adigun leaves home every morning, carrying his big bag of plantain chips to the road side, where he walks in the middle of the traffic, exchanging money for each pack of chips that leaves his hand.

    Gone are the days when one had to walk long distances or drive through traffic to get basic goods and services. From the guys carrying electronic materials and food items, including drinks, in traffic, to the lady that jumps into buses carrying a bag full of pharmaceutical products which she introduces to prospective customers in an attempt to encourage their patronage; including the yoghurt sellers wheeling their bicycles with an attached cooler of yoghurt.

    Mobile vending affords customers ease of access to materials they need to acquire on as short notice as possible and at the fastest pace. It is as easy as rolling down the windows of one’s vehicle on your way to work and you can get almost anything you want, or entering into a commercial bus and your needed product is in front of you and at cheaper rate sometimes.

    Mr. Roland, who sells herbal products at Ogba bus stop in Lagos, says the business is profitable. According to him, he makes about N15 000 at the end of every week. For him, graduate unemployment exists only in the imagination of people that are not creative or lazy.

    A Business Administration student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, he manages to cater for his family, including his education and that of his children. With his education and occupation, Roland also combines his music talent on which he dazzles his audience in churches as often as he is given the opportunity, with the stage name, Ojima.

    “Seeing people such as me shouting in the garage to attract patronage is very rewarding. You not only make profit, you also acquire very good oratory skills. It helps you to master the art of public speaking and you must convince your customers to buy the product. I can even talk to the president now, without fear,” Mr. Roland said.

    A plaguing challenge on the business, however, rests on the quality of products sold by mobile vendors. The products are not affiliated with a certified retailer and the sellers rarely maintain the same position for too long, hence the fear that the goods are substandard or out rightly fake. Counterfeiters do not make the case any easier with their dubious ways of selling fake items to unsuspecting customers.

    Angered and vengeful, Mrs Onwenu Chisom vowed never to patronise roadside vendors anymore since she was deceived into buying a phone that had no battery in traffic. Her tale recalls the verbiage, once bitten, twice shy, as she lamented, “I didn’t want to buy that phone that day, but I needed a small phone urgently and there was no time for me to visit any of the mobile phone dealers in the market, so I just risked buying from one of these boys running about in traffic, not knowing that I would regret it”.

    There is much happier news from Adewumi Adeleye, an engineering student of a prominent private university, who was wearing her sun shades proudly, recently purchased from a mobile vendor.

    Mr. Roland also confirmed that another setback for his business is the mentality of many Nigerians that cheap products mean fake products. According to him, all kinds of people, including millionaires buy his products and even make special orders from him, but it is only those who believe in the potency of herbs.

     

  • Want a gift for Val? Branded Coke is it!

    Want a gift for Val? Branded Coke is it!

    Three weeks away from February 14, a date commemorated worldwide as Valentine Day otherwise known as lovers’ day, there is already a flurry of activities in major cities across the federation as shopping frenzy for gift items by all and sundry has started.

    Interestingly, one gift that seems to have stolen the heart of many is the new branded Coca Cola drink. The drink seems to be the shoppers’ choice.

    Shoppers, who were sighted buying the new coke at Shoprite, Ikeja, expressed satisfaction as they bought coke in large quantities with their name written on its acns and plastic.

    For Babajide Adebayo, the innovation should be replicated by other brands. “This is a laudable concept. I have always known Coca Cola to set the pace, while other follows. I am not surprised,” he said.

    Adebayo added that the innovation would help him spend less this Valentine.

    “I will spend less for Valentine this year. All I need do is to purchase a pack or half of the new branded Coca Cola with my girl’s name and I know she would love it. The brain behind this innovation must have had Valentine in mind when they inscribed ‘Share a Coke with Ibrahim’ on its bottle. It could be someone else’s name, he said.

    Ikechukwu Nworfor, another shopper who is excited about the  innovation said it gives him the opportunity to find affordable gift items for his loved ones. “The timing is right. These people surely know how to arrange things; this is a good gift concept any day, any time.”

    Besides serving as gift packs for Valentine, most people also consider them as souvenirs. Sharing his experience with The Nation Shopping, Fred Nwosisi said it is a special collectors’ item anytime, any day.

    Justifying the need for the products, a representative of the Coca Cola Company, who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the company, confided in The Nation Shopping that those customers who want branded bottles in large quantity will have to be referred to the company’s head office where the contractor and the producer will take such orders, according to him, this offer is available only to customers who want to purchase hundred cartons and more.

    “The unique thing about this whole thing is that the price remains the same despite all the interesting features in designs and labeling,” he said.

    The source advised that a customer who is not patient enough to look for a coke can or plastic branded in his name, can decide to pick for his/her spouse, family members or friends. This, he said, is   encouraging people to share and show love to others around them which is one of the essences of the idea aside to boosting sales and make profit.

    To help the search process easy for the shopper, the item is placed in batches with names from the western part of the country placed separately from those from the east and the north, and English names such as Henry and Ann were on display.

    The  idea of separating the name came up when shoppers’ complained of how difficult it was for them to identify their names or name of loved ones.

    Believe Odiase, a shopper said he gave up after searching for a can of coke with his name branded on it. “When I couldn’t continue with the search to buy a bottle of Coke, because I have other things to do in the mall, I gave up and picked a bottle for my daughter whose name is Cynthia. Perhaps, I will find time to come search for mine at weekend; it is worth the fun and sharing,” he said.

  • Konga set for more African markets

    Having  closed  2014  with remarkable successes, Konga is looking to expand to other countries in Africa this year.

    According to its Head of Public Relations, Olatomiwa Akande, Konga started last year with a renewed focus on satisfying customers. A highly lauded feature by Konga was the launch of its own logistics unit called KExpress.

    Today, KExpress boasts a fleet of over 200 vehicles in less than five months that has greatly enhanced Konga’s order fulfillment to customers all across Nigeria; this is in addition to Konga’s partnerships with other third party courier companies across Nigeria.

    With the expansion of the website through its Marketplace platform, SellerHQ, Konga provided customers with a wider product offering and the added advantage of even more competitive pricing. With this, it now has over 150,000 products for its customers to choose from. Today, almost 10,000 sellers are registered and are actively advertising and trading on Konga.com.

    The highly talked about Yakata Sales in November delivered a record breaking N600 million in sales and closed at a 1,440 per cent sales increase compared to its 2013 edition. Konga sold 500 per cent more items in the two days of Yakata sales than it did in all of 2012.

    Over 40% of the people who shopped during Yakata had never made an online purchase before. With a significant part of Konga’s orders generated from mobile devices, this is a clear pointer that mobile is the way Nigerians will shop online in the future.

    The company now boasts of over 700 employees. It prides itself as an equal opportunity company with females making more than half of its staff population.

    Konga opened its engineering center with a mixed team of seasoned & young, passionate engineers. The company also launched hubs in South Africa and China.

    Konga also launched an Online Seller Academy for e-Commerce. With this novel initiative, Konga is committed to provide its online sellers’ community free self-service learning and training tips, allowing merchants achieve exceptional sales results through their online stores.

    Today the company has over 1.2 million fans on Facebook and more than seventy-five thousand followers on twitter.

    Konga received several prestigious awards and recognition in the course of the year. And in just two and half years, Konga appears to have run straight from the cradle, and is blazing the ecommerce trail in Nigeria today.

     

     

  • Apapa Mall: a tourists’ haven

    Apapa Mall: a tourists’ haven

    In less than a year, the Apapa Mall, one of Nigeria’s newest shopping malls in Lagos, has become a centre of attraction for shoppers. The mall is competing with the South African retail giant and the mall’s anchor tenant, Shoprite, reports TONIA ‘DIYAN. 

    A few years ago, shopping for grocery could only be done in the local markets, but the introduction of western styled shopping malls has redefined not just grocery shopping, but every other facet of shopping.

    With the addition of another mall  on Park Lane, Apapa, Lagos, tagged: Apapa Mall,  adjudged as one of the world’s largest shopping malls, shopping has bcome a serious aspect of human endeavours.

    Walking into Apapa mall premises,  you will easily notice  names of various international brands inscribed on the building housing the mall. The front, side and the top of the one-storey building are marked as car parks.

    Apapa mall boasts of bringing one of the world’s largest shopping stores to Nigeria with the main entrance heavily decorated with colourful lightings and the name of the mall boldly inscribed in block letters.

    The front view and the expansive car park boldly announce its various tenants. Some tenants pitched their tents on the walk way of the mall, displaying their products to willing consumers while others have their representatives distribute flyers to people as they walked into the mall.

    One of such is a liquid washing soap retailer, called Rita, who said the mall is a good channel for displaying her product  for all classes of people to see.

    According to her, the items needed to be displayed in a reputable place that would be conducive to buyers.

    On display on the first floor of the one-storey building are Lifemate (a furniture merchant); Beerhugz (a bar); film house (a cinema); Montaigne (seller of designers wrist watches); Twice as Nice (a clothing store) and  Samsung (stock all kinds of electronics) among others.

    In all, the mall houses 40 tenants with Shoprite, Filmhouse, Lifemate as anchor tenants. Others include Cash N carry (stocks household items); PEP and MRP (sell clothing); Daviva (sells colourful fabrics); Health Plus and Med Plus (attend to people’s health) and Essenza (stocks perfumes). Others are; Airtel, Kobis, Homely, Evoke, Image, souls and others.

    Shoppers were seen driving in and out, with some making purchases inside the store. It showed that the new mall, which opened in May last year, is gradually warming itself to the hearts of shoppers.

    Some of the customers, who spoke with The Nation Shopping, said they have tried Apapa mall and are ready to remain there. “The mall has just been opened. Yes! It has all I expected to see and for convenience, I love this concept,” said a young woman, Stella Okoro, who was loading the goods she purchased into her car. “It is a welcome development in this neighbouhood,” she added.

    Another shopper, Mr Akin Akinyemi, was seen buying apples from Shoprite. He said: “This is my first time of coming here. It looks good to me, and the prices are fair. I wish we could get more. If this kind of development is stretched to other strategic places within Lagos, it would be nice.”

    Speaking on the status of the mall, its Project Manager and Chairman, Top Services Limited, builders of the Apapa Mall, Chief Tokumbo Omisore said: “Apapa Mall is a one-stop-shopping mall, offering shoppers from Apapa and its immediate environs a unique opportunity to carry out all their shopping activities, relax and entertain themselves.

    “This ultra modern retail centre offers its tenants an ideal platform to showcase their products to shoppers, create awareness for their brands, and take advantage of the tenant mix to compete with international brands now settling in Nigeria markets.”

    Concerning tenant mix in the mall  Omisore said: “The idea behind the tenant mix is not only to offer quality, taste, and variety, but to give room for affordability within the same mall.”

    To achieve this, he said, all known local brands, having a successful experience in existing shopping malls in Nigeria, are allowed to cohabit with bigger brands of international standards within a reasonable let-table area.

    To realise the vision of combining shopping and leisure, the mall came with a restaurant where shoppers can also have good time after shopping, thus making the art of shopping more attractive and eventful.

    It is, therefore, not an accident that Apapa mall has continued to receive wide spread commendation and applause from Lagosians and Nigerians across social and religious divide. They have commended Omisore for his steadfastness and the architectural designs, as well as for his entrepreneurial drive.

    Also, the mall has become a Mecca of some sort to the high and mighty.

    It is against this background that many Lagosians applaud the mall for setting a new standard in the art of shopping and giving people a sense of leisure and shopping.

    Some shoppers, who spoke to The Nation Shopping, applauded the quality of products on offer, even as they lauded its security and serenity.

    Wale Ikuomola, a lawyer, said he bought most of his family needs from the mall because he believed in the quality of the products and for the inviting ambience the mall has.

    “I make it a point of duty to always buy from Apapa Mall on way home from the office because I trust the quality of their products and the inviting ambience here.

    “I also come here every weekend to stock my home with various products. I have been doing so in the last six months and all I get is quality and good customer service. Everybody at the mall is friendly. In fact, my week is not complete without shopping here,” Ikuomola said..

    For Linda Aguocha, a banker, Apapa Mall is more than just a shopping mall. It is a leisure destination that combines ambience, serenity with security.

    “Apapa Mall is more than just a shopping mall. It is a leisure destination, where you can shop under a secured and serene atmosphere and enjoy some level of comfort.  It is a place I go to shop and relax with my friends every weekend. I love the place, it is home away from home,” she affirmed.

    Linda’s friend, Helen, described the mall as a preferred shoppers’ destination. “Apapa mall is a place I always want to be again and again. I just cannot stop shopping at the mall. I like the quality of their products and the ambience of the place is alluring. I always want to be here every day and I do not get tired. Each shopping is an experience. It is my choice place for both shopping and leisure,” she said.

    The completion of the mall came in two folds: when it was inaugurated in June/July last year and when the Shoprite, its major tenant, started business. After these every other businesses started running.

    Beyond the products is the fact that the mall is replete with security gadgets of various specifications and standards, which make both doing business and leisure at the mall attractive.

    According to the mall management, the reason customers besiege the place is that apart from selling goods that meet the requirements of the Standard Organisation Of  Nigeria (SON), they also have taken  into cognisance the essence of security and convenience.

    Its management said apart from adequate security, one of the facilities that  has been put in place to ensure customer satisfaction is the multi–million naira parking lot, which has made shopping fun, unlike what is obtained in some shopping malls in the country.

    Apapa Mall is believed to have changed the face of shopping in Nigeria when it emerged on the scene last year, creating the shoppers’ destination in the country and setting new standards in shopping.

    It immediately caught the attraction  majority of Nigerians, who thronged the place day and night to buy from the best on offer.

    An Apapa resident, Emeka, who  had lived in the area since he was a child confessed that Apapa Mall is the ideal place for shoppers, particularly those who reside in Apapa and its environs. To his wife, Ann, an accountant, the mall is more of a tourist centre. “This is a beautiful tourists’ attraction and I give kudos to the Project Manager and Chairman, Top Services Limited, builders of the Apapa mall, Chief Tokunbo Omisore who thought of this,” she said.

    Both Emeka and Ann are right. Right from the three entrances of the straddling edifice, legs and cars competed for space. Strategically placed within the neat premises were trolleys waiting to be used to convey items to consumers’ cars.

    Besides security agents, managers of the commodious car park were on hand for serious business, as cars were parked without paying to anyone, unlike what obtains in other malls.

    From the exterior of the imposing emporium, various sizes of sign posts welcome prospective customers into both the building and its compartments.

    A stroll past the two main entrances leading into the structure and a stand-by parking kiosk brings a visitor to Shoprite, which directly faces the main entrance, there is the cinema and restaurant in the one-story structure’s belly.

    The electronic stair-cases conveying visitors to the upper chamber of the edifice was a spectacle to behold. As many mounted them for genuine shopping, some others stood transfixed to behold the delight.

    Parading neatly dressed, sprightly-looking attendants, all the tenant-companies transacting business there appeared to have keyed into the seemingly inviolate culture of cleanliness in the market.

    Shoppers need not burden themselves with loads of cash from their homes as Standard Chartered Bank and other banks have made available functional ATM services at some locations.

    While many window-shopped, others were busy with genuine transactions with  attention from the company’s polite sales persons.

    Also, an entertainment centre 

    what does the mall have to offer shoppers and its tenants?

    Apapa Mall is one-stop shopping Mall, offering shoppers from Apapa and its immediate environs a unique opportunity to carry out all their shopping activities, relax and entertain themselves. This ultra modern retail center offers its tenants an ideal platform to showcase their products to shoppers, create awareness for their brands, and take advantage of the tenant mix to compete with international brands now settling in Nigeria Markets.

    How did you mix the tenants such that one compliments the other to benefit the shopper?

    The idea behind the tenant mix is to offer quality, taste, and variety, but to also give a room for affordability within the same Mall. To achieve this, we allowed known local brands having a successful experience in existing shopping Malls in Nigeria to cohabit with bigger brands of international standards within a reasonable lettable area.

    Why should an Apapa resident remain in the environment when he wants to shop?

    We believe the reason shoppers are going out is to provide for their basic or social needs or simply to entertain themselves. Apapa residents will have the opportunity to do just that with the new mall, where they can shop affordably for their groceries, pastries, drinks or household items, eat out with family and friends, make their hair at the Evoke salon, watch a movie or simply take a drink at the Bheerghugs VIP lounge.

     Does the mall have all the shoppers’ desires? 

    As far as food, health, entertainment, clothing and household items, internet and telecommunication are concerned the shoppers’ desires will be greatly met, with the variety of brands available on ground.

    Does the mall house international brands? Who are they?

    The Mall houses International brands i.e Shoprite, MRP (formerly known as Mr. Price), PEP, Cash N Carry, Samsung and Lifemate

    What does a shopper have to gain from these international brands?

    Quality for a good price, variety, creativity, fashion.

    What would be the shoppers experience when he visits Apapa mall?

    Good ambiance, fun, relaxation, good prices, good quality, multi choice, beautiful environment.

    What will the mall give back to the society in form of CSR?

    The Mall for now is giving free Car Park to the end users as its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    The Mall will promote entertainment events, almost quarterly, for Apapa residents and the immediate environs

    What is the mall’s statistics?

    Footfall during the week is on the average of 2,000 visitors/shoppers daily. Weekends increases for now to almost 3000 and more atimes when the month ends on a weekend. With the Cinema commencing operations this week more are expected from the coming week.

    Shops in operation 82%

    Total number of Shops is 93%

    How many tenant stores are in the mall and who are they?

    40 tenants are in the Mall:

    Anchor tenants (Shoprite, Filmhouse, Lifemate) other tenants (Cash N carry, PEP, MRP, Daviva, Health Plus, Med Plus, Montaigne, Essenza, Samsung, Airtel, Kobis, Homely, Twice as Nice, Evoke, Image & souls, etc).

    How secured is the mall? What are the security measures put in place ?

    The Mall is well secured with Police presence; Professional and trained security guards with body scanners and vehicle scanners; CCTV .

  • 2014: Shoppers’ year of bumper harvest

    2014: Shoppers’ year of bumper harvest

    The outgoing year was a beehive of activities as trends and innovations made by different brands and manufacturers made 2014 very fulfilling for shoppers, reports TONIA ’DIYAN

    The outgoing year was ‘a promise-kept’ as advertisers would say. Reason: Top brands made inroads into the market just as consumers had a surfeit of choices to make in the long run.

    The past year, like every other year, saw more sophisticated platforms for conducting business on both  national and international scale through trade fairs and exhibitions organised at different times across the country. The experience was more than just a marketing tool, because each time these exhibitions were held, the entire market place was at the shopper’s fingertips and as a source of market information the shopper’s need was met in a centralised way.

     

    Attraction

    According to a centre manger in a Leisure Mall, Feyi Shoyinka, the attraction to shopping in the mall last year was the low pricing regime embraced by retail outlets in the mall. “Pricing is the main attraction here and I think the mall’s retailers or tenants have keyed into this,” he said, adding that retailers, especially the foreign ones, know the market and the right competitive price- a factor that ensured their continued survival in the market place.

    In 2014, the mall was able to prove that it has advantage over the open\ traditional market, stand alone and high street stores; hence, the volume of business transactions that go on there and the improved revenue enjoyed by the space owners in the malls.

    Providing excellent opportunity to assess opinions from clients and determine market potential, in 2014, trade fairs and exhibitions conducted research and evaluated competitions, they were able to develop commercial structures by identifying new agents and distributors, as well as initiate joint ventures and project partnerships. In all, they rendered world class shopping experiences to individuals and businesses.

    As the year wrapped up in November and the Christmas sale was ushered in, a new trade exhibition was introduced to shoppers in a big form. It was the Kubechi’s Closet Fair at the City Mall, Onikan Lagos. The fair was a networking platform and a miniature couture that attracted lots of ladies and young men at the same time offering rare collections together with amazing deals.

    In December, churches joined the shopping frenzy, particularly Christmas shopping. Some of them organised trade exhibitions using their premises and auditorium, and making huge sales. A good example is the Fountain of Life Bible Church.

    At Christmas, the church organised a fair tagged ‘The Annual Market Place and Family Fun Fair’, combining trade and fun. Its aim was to empower the church and the small businesses in its environs. It recorded attractive response as people turned out for the programme.

     

    Growth and achievements

    In August, the potentials and opportunities in the Nigerian business space attracted investments from all climes. Modernisation of business arena came; more businesses were conducted in very conducive atmosphere. Shopping malls also became big social network avenues going beyond being just a business complex. They become platforms for social networking, especially among the upwardly mobile and fun seeking youths.

    Shopping malls brought about more socialising or bringing people together to benefit from themselves and the stores. Besides, the ultra modern shopping facilities built with unique and distinctive features fitted with innovative benefits to shoppers. For the youth, the presence of top international brands, which took spaces at such malls, also contributed to the modernisation of the mall concept.

    The malls have been able to pass for a tourist attraction centres, boosting the country’s revenue generation, especially on the side of value added tax (VAT).

     

    Improving customer experience

    Retail shopping is about convenience, comfort, security and providing a delightful experience for shoppers. Shopping places generally said they were able to offer unique experiences in the sense that they were more like community centers with a large variety of business merchandise. From time to time, they looked at what they could improve on; what they should change or add. For instance, the management of the some of these places conducted surveys to sample the expectations of customers. The surveys covered areas such as the type of goods expected to be seen and their choice of products.

    According to operators, shopping places grew about 80 per cent last year. They say this is a good development. People stayed longer in these places, particularly the malls. More people visited these places on a daily basis, a lot more cars came in too. Retailers did better depending on how much marketing and advertising they could do for themselves.

    In August, Ladipo motor spare part market went online. The international motor spare parts market opened its online portal because of clients who are too busy to come to the market to purchase their genuine motor spare parts.

    Chairman, Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Center, Mr. Ajibade Olajoku said the activities of fraudulent middle men necessitated the new move. According to him,  www.youseeam.com will link prospective buyers with sellers in the market.

    Also in November, Infinix launched its zero smart phone devices and partnered Konga. Speaking on the smartphone, its Managing Director Mr Benjamin Jiang said  it is available and affordable in the market.

     

    Christmas sales made waves

    Majority of sales outlets across the cities gave all forms of bonanzas and freebies to woo prospective buyers. They however made brisk sales bringing forward their clearance sales.

    Last year, sale of Xmas decorations started making waves in markets and stores early around the first week of the festive month with prices varying according to designs.

    However, the year saw low sale of Xmas hampers as against the usual boom expected at such occasions.

     

    Innovations that gained a foothold

    At the first quarter of the year, e-payments made slow, steady acceptance by shops when they saw the need for a world beyond cash where cashless transaction assisted in growing their businesses, improving the lives of their customers and removing risks associated with carrying, using and handling cash.

    At the end of the year, pessimistic retailers about the whole idea of a cashless economy in the country were those who encouraged their customers to pay using the ATM cards and the point of sales (PoS) machine at the point of payment.

    Observations by The Nation Shopping in 2014 had it that 60 per cent of retail shops in the Lagos metropolis owned a PoS machine. On the other hand, few still had ample reasons to hold on to their conventional ways, not because the policy is not good, but because they gave room for doubts on its workability for their kind of business or location.

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

    In November, Nigerian’s foremost, indigenous quick service restaurant Mr Biggs birthed a new outlet at the E-wing of the departure lounge, close to the British Airways counter, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

    The all-new-look eatery was positioned to serve the increasing needs of international travelers at the MMIA availed travelers the opportunity to grab a fast meal before boarding their flights without hassles. The challenge of getting affordable hygienic meal to cater for the needs of travelers was taken care of by the entrant of Mr Biggs at the airport.

    Managing Executive for UAC Restaurants, Mr Derrick Van Houten, said “the beehive of activities at yuletide prompted this outlet in November 2014, in order to relieved travelers the stress of having to plan their meals before arriving at the airport.”

    The brand also went ahead to make available the Mr Biggs @ School Fest package where schools enjoyed the presence of the brand at their end of year parties with a token of N1000 per school. Also in 2014, the brand emerged the 2014 Most Trusted Brand in the quick service restaurant category; it was a brand health award.

    Also in November, Mr Chef gave out a Hyundai Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), N1.5 million cash, a LED television set and a double-door refrigerator. It was at its first lady reality show held at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre- Onikan, Lagos.

    According to the Executive Director of Bayswaters Industries Limited, makers of Mr Chef Products, Mr Piyush Nair, “last year, we were able to demonstrate our commitment to women empowerment, we contributed to the sustenance of a family-oriented society and the building of a strong Nigeria at large using our reality TV shows,” Nair said.

    The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) renewed its efforts to protect the Nigerian consumer from unwholesome practices of manufacturing concerns, both multi-nationals and locals, the council succeeded in putting various big companies in its watch list in 2014.

    For instance, it ordered the producers of the most consumed soft drinks in the world to subject their manufacturing processes to the council’s inspection for a period of 12 months to ensure compliance with laid down safety standards and regulations, having been found to have dropped the ball lately.

    Its  Director-General,  Mrs. Dupe Atoki, confirmed the development during a media briefing on the ‘Investigation into Violation of Product Quality Standards by the NBC and Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited’, in Lagos.

    In September, PZ offered 2,000 Ibadan traders free medical check-up to activate one of its premier products, Hot Robb, at the famous Gbagi Market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital where traders were massaged on the joints and other parts of the body with Robb, there was blood pressure (BP) check, free consultations and enlightenment on health-related issues .

     

    Online shopping

    In Febuary, Konga redefined e-commerce in Africa, a revolutionary offering which gave select Nigerian businesses the opportunity to make their products and businesses available online to millions of Nigerian shoppers

    In June, Jumia celebrated its best month of performance and highest sales since inception. This, according to the company, was the result of unrelenting hard work and dedication from the team.To compensate members of the team for their efforts, there was an award ceremony to recognize, motivate and empower team members. To continue the celebration of the team’s achievement, a team bonding event was also held to further enhance a team spirit within the Jumia sales force.

    Also in June, Hellofood.com gave Port Harcourt residentsthe opportunity to order food online from their favourite restaurants in Port Harcourt.

  • Clearance sales boost shopping at Yuletide

    Clearance sales boost shopping at Yuletide

    Determined to make brisk business during the yuletide, many malls and shops wooed prospective shoppers with bonanzas and other freebies, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

    Most yuletides are periods of bumper sales. This season was no exception as majority of sales outlets across the cities gave all forms of bonanzas and freebies to woo prospective buyers.

    A visit to a cross-section of malls and sales outlets within Lagos metropolis and its environs by The Nation Shopping showed that very many of them made brisk sales by daggling one of carrots or the other.

    Speaking with Sander Norman, a Briton, who is Centre Manager of Ikeja City Mall, he confided in The Nation Shopping that every year, his mall comes up with the different gimmicks ultimately to boost sales during the yuletide.

    Norman said: “At IKeja City Mall, we thought the Christmas period which signifies giving is a more appropriate time to give back to the society and what better way can we do this, if not to stretch a helping hand to the needy.”

    He added that it is the second time the mall will be celebrating with orphans and children generally at yuletide. “This year, the scope is broadened with the mall’s decision to affect more kids than last in 2013 and put smiles on their faces.

    “We hosted more than 30 orphans from 3 different orphanages and more than a hundred other kids to a fun fulfilled time of excitement.”

    Amongst the series of engagement for the kids included movie, face painting, games, music, dance competition, catwalk sessions, etc. The kids all went home with customised gifts to keep these memories lingering, he said.

    “We have been able to give these kids the experience of Christmas as enjoyed by their privileged counterparts. We did same last year for the first time and we don’t intend to stop the act. The event is a huge success for the management of this mall and we are happy that the kids had a jolly good time. They all parted with gifts, they will have good memories of this year’s Yuletide season.”

    Also sharing his experience, Mr. Eniola Ositelu, Marketing Manager, Ikeja City Mall, said sales at the mall during the Yuletide period was at 80 percent.

    “We are very pleased with the turnout of people who were here to push sales for us at Yuletide. Though, some came to window shop and sight see, particularly visitors to Lagos. But with the report and testimonies we gathered from our tenants stores, sales was pushed to 80/85 percent,” he said.

    Echoing similar sentiments, a sales person at the Daviva store, an upscale clothing store, who asked not to be named, told The Nation Shopping that most retailers had come up with one sales strategy or the other since the last quarter of last year to help make huge sales when Yuletide eventually comes.

    “Our promotional offers have been on since August 20 like every other store. We do this yearly so that we can have bountiful sales; we push out as many items as possible by slashing their prices into three, sometimes four just to lure customers.”

    Pressed further, the source said, “With this, we are able to do away with out old stock, old designs and then bring in new ones for the New Year.”

    David Botha, head, Mr Price, a South African clothing store with franchise in Nigeria, said his store recorded a 90 percentage increase sales since the Yuletide began.

    He said, the store hasn’t stopped restocking since then and that it has been crowded with shoppers and fashion lovers who want fashion items which are in vogue.

    Upbeat, Botha said: “At Mr Price, we have only experienced huge sales this season. We’re not surprise because we stock the best of clothing and fashion accessories and our items cut across all ages.

    “For instance, our coloured denim is a key fashion trend that is new in the fashion market and it is attracting customers. So far our revenue figure has risen double what our store management expected and the company has boosted its first-quarter earnings outlook.

    “Our sales are rated at 90 percent in all our stores in their various locations in Nigeria. This is the first time we will experience such since we came to Nigeria. At intervals, we will have to shut our doors so we can manage the crowd we already have inside the store at a time.

    “Apart from the huge sales recorded by some businesses, gift-giving and fun treat, mainly centre on children, was an important part of the celebration particularly at shopping malls and the online stores.”

    Last minute shopping for the New Year at Lagos shopping malls started at about the early hours of the New Year eve with shoppers waiting for malls and store doors to be opened for business with the parking lot of these malls full beyond their capacities.

    The National Retail Federation predicts that shoppers would have spent close to N50 million last Wednesday alone for ‘Last minute shopping’ into the new year, stating that such estimate makes the first day of the year  the number one sales day on a yearly basis, though  observations have it that few crowded stores were filled with undecided shoppers and procrastinators.

    Corroborating the foregoing, Oyingbo market leader, Alhaja Shittu Basirat, in a chat with The Nation Shopping said yuletide sales can be rated at 80 per cent, which she attributed to sales discounts to prospective buyers.

    “The huge sales we recorded was made possible by the several meetings held prior to the celebration where we pleaded with traders to avoid adding extra cost to staple items like rice, chicken, tomatoes, pepper and groundnut oil so as to encourage buyers.”

    “The fact that there is no money in circulation, Oyingbo market experienced huge sales this yuletide.”

    Unlike traders at Oyingbo market, their counterparts at Mushin didn’t have it so good.

    Speaking with the leader of the fish section at Mushin market, Alhaja Morenikeji Ali, she noted that her section recorded a 25 percent decreased sale. This she attributed to the high cost at which people buy fish these days.

    “A carton of croaker now cost N16,000, Shawa N9000 and because of this, people now prefer to buy live chicken instead of one fish for N800 or more, we didn’t make much sales this yuletide,” she said.

    Alhaji Rasaki, who is the General Leader of the Mushin market, is also on the same page with Alhaja Ali.

    Sales at the Mushin market, this yuletide, he said was anything but encouraging. Yuletide sales dropped by 40 percent compare to the previous 80 percent it was at the last yuletide.

    At Oshodi market, the leader of the tomato and paper section, Mrs. Ayomide Romoke said traders at her section recorded up to 75 percent, thereby boosting sales for this year’s yuletide.

    For Alhaji Bello, market leader of Ketu plank market, sales this yuletide was a lot better compared to last year’s.

    According to him, sales at the market went up by 40 percent compared to last year.

    For Iyana Ipaja market leader, Mrs Balogun yuletide sale dropped from 90 percent to 30 percent this yuletide.

    Investigation by The Nation Shopping revealed that only a handful of chains representing roughly 10 percent of the Nigerian retail industry report monthly sales when it is not festivity period.

    Major chains that didn’t report include Woolworth and Truworth and that was why they left the country, it was learnt.

    Majority of the players in the shopping industry say the festive season which for them began since the first week in September last year being the last quarter of the year saw great response from shoppers and brought about huge sales.

    They say they are pleased with the sales they made at the yuletide.

    Observations have it that stores that stock children gift items and those who use one fun item or the other to entice and entertain kids had started to advertise Christmas shopping since the beginning of November before the holidays began.

    According to the management of these malls, giving back to the society is one assignment they must accomplish.

    At leisure mall in Surulere, the story is not different as there were thrilling performances by children, and then came the icing on the cake, visit to Santa Claus grotto to get Christmas gifts.

    Both malls Centre Managers said they are committed to giving back to the community thus, have decided to fete children specially this Christmas than they have done before.

    Feyi Shoyinka, Leisure Mall Centre Manager said: “Management of this mall have organised the Christmas party for children residing in Surulere and its environment. Last year’s Christmas party was also fun-packed.”

    For Precious Eweka, The Palms, Public Relations Officer, besides making brisk sales the yuletide season offers an opportunity to give back to the society, which is why his organisation doesn’t hesitate to explore such opportunities.

    “Our aim is to fete shoppers for Christmas particular our younger shoppers, I mean children and judging by the testimonies of our tenants stocking items for children, sale increase for them particularly at Christmas.  They have really pushed up sales for us this year,” she said.

    However, with the lure of big bargains at these malls, shoppers are still packing the malls and stores even at the first day of the year, while grabbing more deals for themselves.

    “This will be the single busiest shopping day of the year,” said Debola Majekodunmi, a mall consultant in Lagos.

    “Yuletide, back-to-school, coupled with some newness in stores, is leading to a nice advantage heading into the New Year,” this is according to experts of the Retail Metrics, a research firm situated in Victoria Island. They added that they notice that retailers were very aggressive with promotions, trying to clear out merchandise and restock new design for the New Year.”