The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Dubai to build ‘Mall of the World’

    Dubai to build ‘Mall of the World’

    AS there anyone who feels like going shopping in a big way? Dubai, United Arab Emirates is the place to go.

    It  is set to build the biggest mall in the world, one that would house 100 hotels, eight million square feet of stores and retail outlets, a wellness centre, a theme park and other features.

    The emirate hopes to attract 180 million visitors yearly to the proposed Mall of the World to capitalise on “the growth in family and retail tourism,” Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said.

    Plans from developer Dubai Holding call for the mega mall to be temperature controlled for a year-round tourism, shielding those who come in summer from the big heat. But it’s not like there’s a shortage of places to go shopping in Dubai.

    The Dubai Mall, which claims to be the largest shopping mall in the world based on square feet, houses 600-plus stores and retailers, an ice rink, an aquarium, water fountains and waterfalls, a gold souk and more.

    The new mall would up the ante. With 20,000 hotel rooms at hand, you could stay for a week and never have to get into your car. Four miles of streets and promenades — covered in summer to keep it cool, open-air in winter — connect the different elements of the mall.

    Proposed features include: replicas of the world-famous shopping districts like Ramblas Street in Barcelona and Oxford Street in London; the world’s largest theme park (though no further details were released); a theatre district for cultural events; a wellness area that provides holistic treatments, including surgical options and cosmetic procedures.

    No price tag was mentioned, but the Wall Street Journal reports that the mega mall would cost $6.8 billion.

    Dubai will now boast of the largest mall on earth to be named as ‘Mall of the World’ that will add further glitz to the already attractive emirate.

    Mall of the World, which will be capable of receiving 80 million visitors annually, will present an attractive mix of international and regional brands. One of the biggest attractions at Mall of the World will be a park, expected be 30 per cent bigger than Hyde Park of London.

    With an aim to offer top-notch entertainment facilities, Mall of the World will be connected to a family entertainment centre to be developed in collaboration with Universal Studios International. Expected to attract six million visitors annually, the entertainment centre will be the largest in the region. Additionally, the mall will boast of 100 hotel facilities. With tourism in Dubai growing at a rapid pace – 13 per cent annually – and likely to receive 90 million passengers at the Dubai airport within the next six years – the hotel will be equipped to accommodate large number visitors.

    Setting new benchmarks in urban development in the region, the recently announced ‘Mohammed Bin Rashid City’ – that will house Mall of the World – by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, will offer world-class facilities. This large-scale project will be jointly undertaken by Dubai Holding, a conglomerate owned by the Dubai government, and real estate firm Emaar Properties. The development plans for the new city will be segregated along four lines – family tourism, retail, art galleries and a unique area providing an integrated environment for entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.

    Located between Emirates Road, Al Khail Road and Sheikh Zayed Road, the Mohammed Bin Rashid City will be connected to Downtown Dubai and Business Bay through a crossing to be named as the ‘Cultural Crossing’, which will include art galleries, creating the largest area for arts in the region.

    In keeping with the emirate’s vision towards 2030 and to boost the UAE’s economy, this new city will play a pivotal role in placing Dubai as the capital of entrepreneurship, arts, culture and family tourism.

  • Ebola: Sanitary sales rise

    Few weeks after the deadly Ebola epidemic hit Lagos, top online shopping firm Kaymu.com.ng reports a rise in the purchase of sanitary supplies by Lagosians. TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

    Following the death of Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian born American who arrived at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on July 20 and died five days later, the awareness about the fatal virus has spread like wild fire.

    This can be accredited to the prompt actions taken by the Lagos State government to inform Lagosians about the severity of the virus and the continuous coverage of the situation by local and foreign media.

    According to a statement by Kaymu, online search for hand sanitiser on the platform has increased by 130 per cent in the past week and sales of hand washes and lotions have increased significantly.

    Managing Director of Kaymu Nigeria, Evangeline Wiles, said: “It is very encouraging tosee that Lagosians are taking the news of this outbreak seriously.  Lagosians and Nigerians in general are advised to take to the precautionary measures communicated by health officials, such as frequently washing hands, to ensure the virus is contained and possibly eradicated.”

    The Ebola virus is primarily transmitted through contact with body fluids of infected persons, with the skin and mucous membranes being the main routes of entry. As a result, the public is cautioned to sanitise their hands and immediate surroundings as often as possible.

    Meanwhile, supermarkets in the Lekki area of Lagos have recorded massive sale of hand sanitisers so much so that the demand far outweighs the supply.

    According to the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, one of the doctors that treated Sawyer, the casualty of the first recorded case of Ebola in the country, had contracted the virus, while another is showing symptoms and about seven other persons who came into contact with Sawyer, and had developed the Ebola symptoms, had been quarantined while 70 others were under surveillance.

    The virus may be spreading quickly this season, but if sales of hand sanitiser are any indication, germaphobia has already infected every corner of America.

    The nation’s hands are saturated with the ethyl-alcohol-based bacteria beater, studies show. Hand sanitiser sales totaled $173.5 million in 2012, up less than one per cent versus the year before, according to SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago, Ill.-based market research firm.

    That figure — which accounts for purchases made at supermarkets, drug stores and mass market retailers — is actually down 42 per cent from the 2009 peak of $301 million (prompted by the swine-flu outbreak). “We would have to see something pretty dramatic for hand sanitizers to reach those levels again,” says Josh Green, chief executive officer, Panjiva, a company that tracks consumer products imports.

  • OAAN appoints Okorocha patron

    THE Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) has appointed Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as its patron.

    Its President, Mr. Charles Chijide made the announcement during a visit to Okorocha in Owerri, the state capital, to kickstart the association’s 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

    Okorocha donated land to the association on the condition that OAAN builds its headquarters there. He also urged OAAN members to use their platforms to promote good leadership.

    “I want the members of your association to partner the state government by deploying innovative billboards and signages across the state and assist in the implementation of my administration’s transformation agenda by using the billboards to spread the message of good leadership,” the governor said.

    The visiting OAAN members which comprised the executive council and members of the board of trustees.

    Chijide thanked the governor for his generosity, saying the land would be used as the regional headquarters of the association in the Southeast.

    He also thanked the governor for  hosting the association despite the  short notice. He praised the governor for appointing a member of OAAN, Mr. Theo Ekechi, as commissioner for Information.

    During the business meeting of the AGM, the association inducted three new members and upgraded four others. The inducted agencies include Spot On Media Limited, Eminem Global Concept Limited and Giottos Graffix Display Limited.

    Four agencies were upgraded into full membership of the association. They are Spread Out Limited, Ex-Summit Limited, Malleable Communications and Touch Points Limited.

  • Big year for shopping on mobile phones

    As more people become comfortable with the notion of using their mobile devices to shop, families are planning to turn to their handhelds to aid in their shopping. A recent survey in lagos found 30 per cent of smartphone owners shopping for items and researching products using their mobile device.

    The survey also says, one out of five people will make purchases via their smartphones. While many will simply shop online directly through their smartphone, one-quarter will use their device to find information about a physical store.

  • Benefits of financial inclusion, by experts

    FORGING Inclusive growth in payment systems and financial inclusion initiatives in Nigeria’ was the theme of this year’s  Business Day Mobile Money Roundtable in Lagos

    The event, which is in its thirdedition, was organised by Business Day Media Ltd, the publishers of Business day newspapers,; it was an avenue for mobile money operators, regulators, consumers and journalists to come together and dialogue on how to improve mobile money in Nigeria.

    Mr Valentine Obi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of eTranzact International PLC; Mr Sim Shagaya, CEO of Konga.com; Mr Niyi Ajao, ED(Technology & Operations), NIBSS; Mr Olaoluwa Awojoodu, CEO, CashEnvoy and Mr Emmanuel Okoegwale, Principal Associate, Mobile Money Africa, were among those who attended.

    Obi kicked off the discussions. The owner of PocketMoni, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed mobile money service, said: “Financial inclusion without value add will not work, and every day at eTranzact we are working on unique solutions that continue to add value to the end consumer.’’

    ‘’Over the years, we have worked hard to understand and deploy strategies that have truly helped mobile money grow, and though we have been hit with challenges along the way, we continued to invest financial, educational and other resources to ensure we can reach both the banked and unbanked.

    He added:‘’For the potential of mobile money to truly explode, it is important that we begin to see it as more than an add-on, but a truly important part of the future of payments in Nigeria.

    ‘’Right now, teams from PocketMoni are on ground in Kano and Ogun states driving mobile money adoption; the project is done in collaboration with EFInA, and we are happy with the results we have seen so far. We believe collaboration can help in building the industry.”

    Also, Shagaya urged Nigerians to think less of value destruction but more of value creation.

    He cited China as country where finanicial inclusion has been successful, adding that it opened up the economy.

    He said: “Human beings are economic animals, and they want value and convenience. We need to rethink mobile experience even on the hard ware basis, and the power of mobile money will truly come alive. Today, 70 per cent of Nigerians will rather pay on delivery, and even though we do not have a problem with this, most of these people still insist on paying cash, but until we can solve some of these underlying issues, we will not be able to truly unlock the potential of mobile payments.”

    Alao said: “Mobile is a critical technology needed to achieve inclusiveness. Some of the challenges I see are in the way the mobile money solution is communicated to the average man on the street. We, at NIBSS, are committed to ensuring the success of mobile payments in Nigeria, and we have been working closely with providers like eTranzact and the banks to ensure that we truly achieve the set out goals for mobile money.”

    Okoegwale harped on the importance of collaboration among the players to achieve success.

    Iheukwumere, Manager, Conferences/Enterprise and Promotion, Business Day, who served as the moderator of the event, urged stakeholders to help in achieving mobile money goals in the coming year.

  • More Spar Shopping Malls for Port Harcout

    More Spar Shopping Malls for Port Harcout

    Impressed with the patronage from residents of the Garden City, the management of Spar Shopping Mall, which has just opened shop in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, is set to expand to other parts of the metropolis.

    The International Retail Development Officer of Spar International, Mr Evan Christophides and Artee Group Officer, Mr John Goldsmith made this known in Port Harcourt.

    Goldsmith told The Nation: “Our expansion plans are both in terms of width and depth of cities and stores. We would be looking at having multiple stores within the same cities to leverage economies of scale along with spreading across cities.”

    On why Spar  came to Port Harcourt, Goldsmith said Artee Industries Limited, a pioneer in retail business, had been operating  in Nigeria in the past 26 years with the name “Park n Shop”.

    Prior to joining Spar International, Park n Shop stores were in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt but since 2010, Artee Industries opened new stores with the name Spar and  rechristened the existing ones Spar Park n Shop.

    He added: “As a part of the pan-Nigeria expansion plan, we will be covering many key cities across Nigeria, and Port Harcourt is definitely one of them.”

    On the relationship between Artee group and Spar, Goldsmith said Artee Industries took the master franchise of Spar brand from Spar International to Nigeria and that they were working a massive roll out plan of stores under the Spar.

    He also said: “In the coming years, people across many cities in Nigeria will have a first-hand experience of shopping in Spar.”

    On the strength of their workforce and how they are coping with them, the Artee group officer explained: “Retail as choice of career is at its infancy in Nigeria and hence we face multiple challenges in terms of well-trained manpower suitable for retail.”

    They have, however, “worked around it by developing a robust programmed to train and develop the local manpower to global standard”.

    Christophides said the organisation was founded in 1932 in Zoetemeer, Netherlands by  Adriaan van Well.

    Spar has licences operates in Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Georgia, and Greece.

    It also operates in Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

    Despite the presence of the firm in about  38 countries, the management is not resting on its oars; it is planning to open shops in Qatar, Lebanon, Oman and Georgia later this year or early next year.

    On the message they have for Port Harcourt residents, they said  Spar has come to change the way people shop in Port Harcourt “by creating stores which will deliver world-class shopping experience not only to the people of Port Harcourt but to the adjoining places in and around Port Harcourt”.

    This is because “our endeavour is focused around choice, service and value”, they added.

  • Chivita wears new dress

    Chivita wears new dress

    Makers of Chivita, Chi Limited, has launched a new pack of the product, renaming it from Chivita Premium to Chivita 100 %. At the launch of the new Chivita 100% in Lagos, the company said every consumer is expected to embrace because the new trendy, modern and elegant packaging delivers a supreme lesson in brand messaging.

    Speaking on the new design, Managing Director of Chi Limited, makers of fruit juices, Mr. Roy Deepanjan said the packaging changeover is the company’s way of injecting fresh energy into the brand so that it can take its pride of place on market shelves and in households, from living rooms to event halls and in the lives of consumers who cherish healthy living.

    “Chivita 100%, which can be enjoyed by consumers who desire pure, healthy and natural refreshment is available in five variants of real pineapple, real apple, real orange, orange pineapple and orange mango,” Deepanjan said, adding that “in an effort to avail Chivita 100% with more levels of engagement with the consumer, the website address, Facebook page, Twitter handle and LinkedIn contact addresses are featured on the pack.”

    To further drive the consumer’s attraction to Chivita 100%, the variant name now appears as ‘Real Orange’ or ‘Real Apple’ on the pack as opposed to simply writing Orange or Apple. The interactive design features visual elements such as the “shake well” symbol as well as a “variant wheel” that reflects all other variants of the brand.

    Truly, in an increasingly health conscious society, consumers are most likely to choose a brand that lays emphasis on natural ingredients instead of products containing synthetic or genetically modified components. The visual architecture of the brand is even more endearing.

    Nonetheless, the challenge of communicating a clear and effective brand message that will instantly resonate with consumers has always been an intimidating task for brand managers. This is because very few brands are able to effectively match the message with each and every component of their brand or product.

    Experts say that operating in a challenging economy like Nigeria where marketing a brand is a complex and highly competitive task hence, finding a clear message that works with the consumer may be the most difficult part of building a brand identity. That is why Chivita recently solidified its market leadership by renaming Chivita to reflect the most crucial idea at the heart of the brand, which is the 100% pure fruit juice that contains no added sugar, no preservative and no added colours.

    Since brand messaging is about capturing the right language that embodies a brand so that it stands out from the pack, it must be simple, short and, above all, memorable. For effectiveness, it must also parade instantly attractive packaging. This was why boldly written along the length of the new pack is ‘100% Fruit Juice’ while ‘No Added Sugar’ is placed at the heart of the design and written in clear language to give the information greater prominence than before.

    Indeed, behind the Chivita’s title, the package design, and the ad campaigns, is a strong, simple message that effectively communicates the core value of Chivita fruit juice as a pure and natural drink.

  • Driving a robust retail industry

    Driving a robust retail industry

    Nigeria’s retail market is evolving. The Retail Council of Nigeria (RCN) is making efforts to formalise the market and make it safe to enhance Nigerians’ shopping experience in line with international best practices, reports TONIA ‘DIYAN.

    Organised retail business has come to stay. The hitherto unorganised method of retailing is fast becoming more structured. Before the advent of the Retail Council of Nigeria (RCN), it was difficult to record and track transactions and investment in infrastructure. Retail business in Nigeria is steadily moving to an organised platform thatpromises a major turnaround in the fortunes of operators. Much of that turnaround in the industry, which compfises supermarkets, department stores, stand-alone stores, shopping malls/hypermarkets, Mom & Pop stores, street vendors, and the weekly markets, is driven by the council.

    Since its debut in October last year, RCN has been working to ensure that retail business is done in compliance with international standard. Most countries have moved away from the open market system where there is no such process. In an organised retail market, there is audit of suppliers/manufacturers and customer service is high. Besides, investment in infrastructure is high with many windows of employment. There is availability of products and services in an organised retail, a feature which is usually restricted in an open market trade.

    Also, the RCN’s intervention in evolving an organised retail business has since ensured that sourcing of raw materials and finished goods is through international and national sources with a complete regulation of products and services. Today, there is high compliance to standard specification of products and services and when it comes to quality check and assurance, it is always comprehensive with a complete information on products and services. Besides, counterfeiting is strictly controlled and  monitored when a business is organised. By organising the retail business, RCN has helped improve the efficiencies of the value chain, reduce wastage, and increase revenue. This is unlike in the past when governments at all levels  had challenges collecting taxes from the unorganised retail market.

    The successes so far recorded by the Council were not by chance; they were products of well-thought out strategies aimed at repositioning the nation’s retail industry for efficient service delivery. At the launch of the Council in Abuja, last year, Asiwaju Onafowokan, a Member of Board of Trustees of RCN, explained that the body had the target of formulating, facilitating, and propagating retail business practices and processes in line with international best practices. This, he believes, would lead to increased consumption, boost in production, employment generation and ultimately, the growth of the economy.

    Similarly, Haresh Keswani, another Member of Board of RCN, also said organised retail is  related to economic growth. Hear him: “The United States and Britain have organised retail, which contributes over 80 per cent each to economic growth. In Japan and India, the organised retail market contributes about 66 per cent and 10 per cent to economic growth, respectively. But Nigeria receives only three per cent due to unorganised retail market.” He however, said that though Nigeria has the smallest percentage of retail, the Council aims at liaising and co-operating with the government and regulatory authorities for ease of implementation, training and operation in the retail industry.

    Already, the organised retail strategy, The Nation Shopping learnt, is beginning to promote modern retailing in Nigeria and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is facilitating the development of associated/allied sectors of the economy, providing a platform for networking as well as disseminating useful information and knowledge to members and the public to make them educated and be aware of what the entire system entails. The council said it is also creating a database of members and that it encourages members to adopt the right values, imbibe international best practices, wholesome practices and embrace good corporate governance in the conduct of their businesses.

    In doing these, The Nation Shopping learnt that the Council is hoping to replicate in Nigeria the success of more organised and robust retail markets in more developed countries of the world where the platform is contributing to economic growth and development.For instance, experts say that organised retail contributes 27 per cent to the global GDP. Also, across the globe, retail employ 17.1 per cent of the workable population. In the US alone, organised retail market accounts for 14 per cent of employment, while 20 per cent of the US economy is said to be supported by retail.

    Sectorally, the contributions of organised retail are also telling. For instance, it has impacted the finance sector, as banks are now interested in supporting the retail business. The belief is that when there is increase in organised retail, there will automatically be an increase in consumer spend and finance. An increase in organised retail brings about increase in capital investment and project finance. It also provides Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) finance through supply chain contracts with retailers.

    The manufacturing sector is not left out. Organised retail increases the presence of brands in all categories. When new products and concepts are launched to test the markets, it leads to eventually setting up local manufacturing facilities in the country. In other words, the country’s manufacturing infrastructure improves as technology transfer is facilitated.

    Much of the transformation in Nigeria’s retail industry is driven by the revolution in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. The ICT industry has emerged, arguably, the backbone of organised retail. The hardware and software aspect of the IT industry has since caused a boom in the retail business. Increase  in telecoms and IT infrastructure has facilitated a cashless economy where people buy and sell without carrying cash.

    The far-reaching impact of organised retail, experts say, is anchored on the fact that the retail market is not about shops only, but every company that has relationship with consumers, including banks, telecommunications, manufacturing, tourism and consultancy firms. This was why  the Council is determined to create an improved platform for direct interaction with consumers. The Retail Council believes that one sure way to achieve this is by encouraging informal retailers to move to the next level and become formal.

    RCN also operates an open membership system where issues are collectively tabled to the government and to various policy makers for improvement and positive changes. “Organized retail is  helping people think big and start small; it is helping to develop the value chain in the system knowing that value chain entities are SME drivers,” says Kaymu.com boss, Massimiliano Spalazzi.

  • Ikeja City Mall to come alive with fashion, music show

    Ikeja City Mall to come alive with fashion, music show

    Come next Friday, August 9, Ikeja City Mall  will come alive with musical performances and electrifying runway exhibitions. It will be the second edition of the malls fashion and music show. The show is an  event with unmatched glitz and glamour, designed to showcase the summer collections of fashion stores in the mall. It will bring together the best of youthful celebrities, models and artistes to entertain guests and shoppers at the mall.

    Tenant Stores, who will be sponsoring the event right inside the mall, are promising to give the best of fashion display, light and music performances from favourite models, music artistes and comedians. The stores are; Foshini, Markham, Mango, Maybrands, Us Polo, Kidz Country,  Wrangler , Jack& Jones, Black Up, Bruno’s Place, Casabella and Daviva.

    Hugely anticipated through the event is customer patronage and delight especially amongst teenagers.

    Activities at the event  will include electrifying catwalk by top models, music performances by top celebrities, comedy, dance, raffle draws, special sales/auctions and celebrity guest appearances. The event will also host internationally renowned models, Ken Okoli (Mr Nigeria 2010), Adedamola Cruz (best model of the world Africa 2011), Victor Kwen, Francis Chinko, Kelvin Godson, Michelle Udoka(Miss Global Nigeria 2013) Micus Pius (Mr Universe Nigeria 2013), to mention a few.

    The show will begin with red carpet at 4pm and it is free for everybody.

     

  • ‘Malls, allied businesses must engage security outfits’

    ‘Malls, allied businesses must engage security outfits’

    Dr. Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr., a lawyer, speaks on the porous security in the country and the need for operators of malls to engage professional security outfits and other issues.

    How often do you visit our malls?

    I visit shopping malls in Nigeria only when I take my family out to see movies and or shop for groceries and family needs. The Shoprite Chain in Ikeja, Surulere and Lekki are places  I visit occasionally with my Kids.

    How do you do your shopping?

    Most of my needssuch as clothing and allied needs are provided by my clothiers and close salesmen,  so I really don’t visit malls for them.

    With the Boko Haram terrorist attack in major places where one can find crowd, what advice would you give to operators of malls to prevent such incident?

    Considering the preponderance and tense threat of possible terror attacks by the Haramists I advise mall owners and owners of allied businesses to engage professional security outfits, install Close Circuit Television (CCTVs), get bomb and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detectors and diffusers as well as proper surveillance of their facilities.

    What advice do you have for shoppers this period?

    Shoppers must always heed warnings from security agencies and or shop owners because diligence and care are priceless organisms of safety