The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Konga celebrates 10,000 kids, opens special store

    Konga celebrates 10,000 kids, opens special store

    Nigeria’s online marketplace, Konga.com, in collaboration with Triple X Entertainment and other firms hosted over 10, 000 kids at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos on Children’s Day.

    The event, which came after Konga launched its special Children’s Day store, saw special prizes awarded to exceptional children that participated in the organised Spelling Bee.

    Parents who wanted to surprise their children with amazing but budget items such as books, stationery, clothes, shoes and educational toys enjoyed special discounts on the Konga Children’s Day store.

    Head of Marketing of Konga.com, Gabriel Gab-Umoden, said: “May 27 is a day dedicated to celebrating children all around the world, and in our own little way, we worked with our partners to celebrate over 10,000 children in Lagos. We have also created an avenue for parents to surprise their children with special gift ideas and discounted offers in our children’s store.”

    He added: “Adults are also not left out of the celebration, with a special page created on our websites for them to enjoy discounts this end of the month.”

    It was not the first time Konga.com celebrated children. Last year, the online firm and some companies celebrated 5,000 children at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos with gifts, games and other interesting things that put smiles on the faces of children.

  • Malls strategise for Children’s Day

    Malls strategise for Children’s Day

    This year’s Children’s Day celebration promises to be exciting and rewarding, as major shopping malls and fun spots across the country strategise on how to latch on the annual ritual to host the leaders of tomorrow to increase sales. TONIA ‘DIYAN reports. 

    Children’s Day is four days away. May 27 is set aside by The United Nations (UN) to recognise children worldwide. Ahead of this year’s celebration, the tempo of activities in and around shopping malls and fun spots is high. This is an indication that the celebration will be exciting and rewarding to children, parents and retailers. With May 27 being a school holiday, the management of these fun centers and malls are leaving nothing to chance to ensure that parents spend quality time with their kids. They also hope to drive sales in the process.

    The shopping malls and fun centers are promising a fun-filled celebration for children and their parents, as special celebrations will be held for the kids such that they will always look forward to the annual event. For instance, some owners of fun centers and shopping malls, The Nation Shopping learnt, have concluded arrangements to organize workshops where children would learn wonderful crafts by themselves. Upscale shopping mall such as Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall in Surulere, Lagos, has made provision in this regard.

    The Public Relations Manager of Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Omolara Mumuni, said that on children’s day, kids who will be at the mall will be allowed to participate in different kinds of games.  ”We have made provisions for children to  paint, do photography, dance to  music, perform choreography, mime to their favourite songs, recite poems, current affairs and so on,” Omolara said, adding that children will also go home with gifts that will be useful to them at school.

    Others like SilverBird Galleria, Ozone Center, and Leisure Mall Cinemas are not left out, promising to make available educational and motivational films for the children. Also, the online and offline stores, as well as major markets within the Lagos metropolis are stocked with more gift items for children than during ordinary seasons. For them, the event is an opportunity to drive sales, which is why they won’t stop restocking to satisfy existing and prospective buyers from schools, government parastatals, orphanage homes, religious bodies as well as individuals.

    They also organise funfairs for kids while their parents do the shopping, even if they have to rent temporary equipment that would enhance fun for kids. They see children as their best marketing tools. They are therefore, encouraged to go the extra mile by providing children equipment like bouncy castle, train ride, merry-go-round and favourite mascots to entertain the children.

    On their part, parents are eager to buy choice gifts for their wards, the type that will keep lasting memories. Some parents make cartoon characters, toys, personalise gifts items or greeting cards choices for their kids. Monsurat Sanni, owner of Mo’ Bees Place- a kiddies shop in Lagos said: “It is important to make every May 27 special for children. After all, children will not only remember parents for the material things they provide, but for the feeling of being cherished and how they are taught to share love among their mates. She added that “Children are like precious gems, so parents should understand the significance of the only day set aside for them apart from their birthdays and make them happy.

    For  Stephany Nwanmah, Excutive Director of Tehilla Women and Youths Empowerment Foundation- a non- governmental Organisation (NGO), “Children are adorable; they are divine gifts that parents get from the almighty. Their eyes are full of innocence. They smile when they receive love and admiration; they cry when it is their first day at school away from their parents; they giggle when they mingle with their peers, and they signify nothing but pure and faithful love. They truly symbolise God, therefore, let us as parents and mothers play our roles on their special day.”

    Nwanmah added that childhood memories are the sweetest of all; they can be savoured for a lifetime and that the celebration is fun for the little ones and important for parents too. “Every parent must understand the importance of Children’s Day. Parents should be well aware about the little desires of their angels” she advised.

    The endorsement by parents and the elaborate preparations by fun centers are in sync with United Nations (UN) General Assembly, which about 60 years ago, recommended that all countries institute a universal children’s day to be observed as a day to celebrate children and draw attention to their problems. This was why Nigeria adopted May 27 of every year as its children’s day and has observed the day till date.

    The belief is that the once-a-year celebration is capable of lightening children’s dreams, which is why the fun centers and malls are now wearing new looks in form of cartoon walls. Since last week, some of them have also been creating colourful fairyland and balloon castle to come out with a perfect ambience to celebrate children.

    According to Mrs. Chidinma Nwosu, a parent, “With arrangements like this, I can only spend little to treat my kids and make them happy. Because I understand via hand bills and advertisements by these shopping malls that the whole exercise will be free. So, I love to be part of it.” This perhaps, explains why for children, the event, which comes up Tuesday next week, is the perfect time to make requests from their parents. And their parents usually and immediately oblige them in the spirit of the celebration.

    As Professor Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate put it: “Children decide the future of any country. Therefore, if the children of a particular country are provided with adequate security, proper foundation and development opportunities, they can uplift the nation towards greater prosperity. On the other hand, failure to protect, feed and educate the children ruins all the expectations of any nation.”

    That thought-provoking quote by Prof. Soyinka is food for thought that beyond the razzmatazz of this year’s Children’s Day celebration, government and parents should take a critical look at the plight of the Nigerian child. Will the day serve as a reminder to all concerned to renew their commitment to the welfare of children, protect them and teach them to live by good standards and example? Time, they say, will tell.

  • IDAN exhibition excites Lagos residents

    IDAN exhibition excites Lagos residents

    The second edition of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN)  Exhibition, also known as GUIDE (Gida Una Ile Design Exhibition), which held at  Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, was successful.

    The event, which paraded professional interior designers, played host to over 50 international and local exhibitors.

    The exhibition offered Lagosians  the opportunity to buy breath-taking, out-of-this-world furniture and interiors. Every new issue was packed with the most inspiring interior design trends and the most interesting ideas from the world of interior design.

    Present at the exhibition were Mrs. Y. Amusan, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Lagos State; Mo Abudu, who was sighted in the Blue Mahogany Gold chair and Mrs. Ekua Abudu, Vice President, IDAN. Apart from the organisers of the exhibition who were at the venue, shoppers in their multitude thronged the place shopping and window shopping. There was an array of beautiful interiors, home decorations, furniture, dinning sets, outdoor gardens, Nigerian traditional crafts, indigenous designs and many more to pick from. Items at the exhibition were classy and  affordable.

    The event was also to mark the World Interior Day in a three-day exhibition.

    However, last year, at its maiden edition, IDAN celebrated 50 years of design around the globe bringing interior/ architecture designs to the attention of the public. This year’s edition wasn’t different as the organisers aimed at enhancing knowledge and understanding the profession. IDAN also hoped to encourage co-operation among professionals with a focus on the range of work interior designers do and their contributions to the society.

    Exhibitors at the were Aframero, Agatha’s Interior, Alexandra designs, Aralia by nature, Caxton alile, Blue mahogany,Chair centre,Do II designs, Doshlaps, Essential Interior Magazine, I design, I0 furniture, Mikano, Svengali Designs, Out of Africa, and Roma Fruits of Nature.

    Others are Tope Edu designs, WOW interiors, Zen Decor, Westafco, Southwood, Officeline, Interior specifics, Interior by Anora, Installation limited, Honey world Interiors, Genesis, house to home, design works, colour sense, colours in africa, Baldwin Investments Ltd and Dulux.

    Apart from exhibitors showcasing their designs, they also offered design consultation sessions to exhibition visitors. Visitors to the Blue Mahogany booth experienced signature VIP treatment and were treated to a celebrity style photo shoot in the Gold Chair.

    At the exhibition, people were oriented about Interior Architecture, Interior/Product Design and Decoration to enhance knowledge about the profession.

    Creative Director Omon Anenih-Mordi, the owner of Blue Mahogany Gold chair and the chair person of the  planning committee said: “This year’s exhibition was set up to orient the public about interior architecture, interior/product design and decoration to enhance knowledge about the profession while encouraging co-operation between design professionals.

    ‘’People are advised to look out for the next IDAN exhibition, which promises to be better.”

  • Daleko Market fire: The morning after

    Daleko Market fire: The morning after

    Last weekend’s fire outbreak at Daleko Market, one of the major markets in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, left behind scars.

    When The Nation Shopping visited the market, a popular foodstuff market that attracts buyers and sellers from Nigeria and beyond, business activities had resumed following the reopening of the market. The hustling and bustling that have been the hallmark of the market were gradually returning, as traders tried to pick of whatever remains of their wares.

    Although the market derives its popularity from stocking in large quantity rice, flour, sugar, salt, and all kinds of grains and vegetable oil in kegs and drums, the vegetable sellers were the worst hit by the fire. Only a little part of the affected section escaped the fire. Traders who were seriously affected have opened shop by squatting with colleagues.

    One of the displaced traders, Mrs Muti Komlafe, she said: “I thank God for the warehouse this market provides for us. Few of us still have hope with the small quantity we stock in our warehouses to make space available inside our stalls.”

    She urged her customers to visit the market as buying and selling activities have resumed.  A majority of the displaced traders who do not have reserves in the warehouse like Komlafe, however, said they would seek help from friends, relatives and banks to help them get loans or items for sale until they pay back.

    Visitors to the market said they were not disappointed, adding that they were able to get items to buy from affected traders. For instance, Mrs Ezinne Maduka, a customer, who was at the market to buy some barrels of vegetable oil, said she was surprised to get what she wanted.

    Her words: “Traders in this market are very courageous. They go about their activities as if nothing has happened. None of them will say to customers, ‘I don’t have goods to sell,’ instead they will offer you a seat and get what you want from other traders who have want you want.

    ‘’They are supportive and very helpful to one another.”

    Mrs Maduka, therefore, encouraged people to visit the market, adding: “It hasn’t changed.”

    She said: “The fire is not a barrier and shouldn’t discourage people from patronising the market. Traders are supporting themselves here and can meet peoples needs as usual.”

    The Nation Shopping noted that traders who used to sell trailers of vegetable oil have been assisted by their colleagues  with drums so as not to lose their customers.

    One of the traders, who identified herself as Iya Amina, said she had managed to start life afresh. “I couldn’t recover a litre of vegetable oil from my burnt shop where I had 10 barrels. But, today, I thank God I can come to the market to sell the little I was able to buy on credit. I cannot afford to disappoint my customers, especially those who come from far to patronise me,” she said.

    The Market Secretary, Abiola Lukman Owolabi, also said: “I thank God that the Iyaloja-General, Mrs Folashade Tinubu, and our local government chairman has given us the go ahead to build our stalls ourselves, and not wait for the government.’’

    According to them, it  will only hasten things up and get us back on our feet. He added that traders will seek the help of friends, family and relatives to erect their stalls individually as they have been asked not to wait for the government to avoid delay.

  • Chivita wins Africa’s best juice brand award

    Chivita wins Africa’s best juice brand award

    MARKET leader in fruit juice, Chivita Premium Fruit juice, has emerged Africa’s Best Quality Juice Brand at the Africa Quality Achievement Award.

    Initiated by the Africa Quality Institute (AQI) in collaboration with IBMN Integrated Services, the Africa Quality Achievement Award is organised with the support of South Africa Quality Institute (SAQI) and the Chartered Quality Institute (UK).

    Chivita Premium Fruit juice with 100 per cent fruit juice content from  Chi Limited was adjudged the winner because of its consistency in the market, creativity and value as well as the bespoke packaging of the juice that allows for the best delivery.

    Managing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Roy Deepanjan, said the award did not come to him as a surprise.

    “We are happy to receive this accolade for Chivita Premium from Africa Quality Institute (AQI), as it validates our core values as a responsible and ethical organisation,” he said.

    The award not only underscores Chi Limited’s commitment to and passion for creating the highest quality juice available in the market today, but also to successfully growing an ethical business dedicated to helping people live longer, healthier lives through the consumption of natural, organic fruits.

    Chivita Premium fruit juice, renowned for its 100 per cent fruit juice content without sugar, preservatives and artificial colours or flavours, was awarded Africa’s best quality fruit juice brand amidst fierce competition in the fruit juice category of the fast moving goods sector. Chivita Premium Fruit Juice comes in five variants (orange, apple pineapple, and orange mango and orange pineapple). It is a high quality offering of the best of Nigerian and imported fruit juices.

    The Africa Quality Achievement Awards is a yearly event to celebrate leadership innovation and creativity in quality management in Africa.

    The award is aimed at identifying, recognising and rewarding companies, personalities and products that apply quality assurance culture and quality management best practice to the analysis, planning and implementation and control of policies designed to achieve corporate objectives in both profit and non-profit making organisations in Africa.

  • Why brand loyalty no longer holds the ace

    Why brand loyalty no longer holds the ace

    With retailers dangling the proverbial carrot in form of sales promotions to attract and retain customers’ loyalty, the power of brand loyalty is gradually waning, as consumers now choose what is on offer before their preferred brand. TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

    The survey is revealing. About 50 per cent of a brand’s ‘loyal’ users might not be with them the following year, according to Kantar Worldpanel’s United Kingdom (UK) Shopper Survey 2012. The survey states that shoppers are not quite keen when it comes to brand loyalty, which has been perpetuated by a retail environment increasingly driven by promotions. Price promotions have always been an important part of retail and brand loyalty, but have become more of a concern to retailers recently as the number of products sold on discounts continues to climb and retailers seem not to make much profit. Generally, promotions now account for 40 per cent of branded product sales, which has to be influencing the way people shop.

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

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

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

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

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

    However, experts have advised that retailers should pay close attention to the types of deal they offer because a higher level of discount does not mean higher return on investment.

    They should also consider whether they discount their ‘hero’ brand, the one that performs best in terms of keeping loyal customers regardless of promotions or support a weaker performing brand with the hope of increasing sales. Sometimes, during a one week-long promotion it will be possible for the hero product to perform more than three times better than the smaller brand.

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

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

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

  • Savers Card introduced for shoppers

    The newly introduced Savers Card, which is in partnership with Ecobank, is giving shoppers who are card holders discounts on purchases of up to 40 per cent in over 1,500 merchant locations in Lagos, depending on the merchant location visited. Discount centres include supermarkets, eateries, hotels, Spas, restaurants, boutiques, Laundromats, salons, bookshops, Hospitals, clinics, electronic shops, auto-garages and car shops just to mention a few.

    According to the company’s Business Development Manager, Nnenna Ejiogu, “the Savers Club Discount Card shall soon be Nigeria’s ultimate shoppers’ card as we intend to create a discount merchant location within every 200 meters in Nigeria”. Nnenna also used the opportunity to invite Shop owners to sign up on the discount scheme as it provides them with free adverts and increases traffic to their outlets.

    In an innovative twist to the re-launch of the Cards, Savers Card International also partnered with three leading insurance companies to bundle the card with an electronic Third party Motor Insurance pack called the Gogo pack.

    By this bundle, any buyer of the GoGo pack automatically has both a “self-Service Third party motor insurance cover “ and the Savers Club Card to enjoy discounts in over 1,500 merchant locations in Lagos.

    The Savers Club cards can be bought in any branch of Ecobank in Lagos in what the company’s Business Development Manager, Nnenna Ejiogu referred to as its pilot phase of the partnership with Ecobank.

    Asked to comment on what other advantages the card delivers to the shopper who has the card, Nnenna said the card is the ultimate card for household and online shopping, in line with the CBN cashless initiative. With the Reloadable Savers Club card shoppers will enjoy the triple advantage of saving on every purchase made, spending only within budget and the peace of mind of not worrying about their sensitive account details being compromised when they use their card on third party channels.

    The Savers Club Card powered by Interswitch can be loaded in any Nigerian commercial bank via the quickteller portal. For the more computer savvy shopper in possession of the card, there is a self-service cardload portal on the Interswitch website www.myvervecard.com from where shoppers can easily move money from their bank account to the card for all their online and household shopping.

    This innovation is in partnership with Ecobank the Transnational Bank. It is a re-launched of a premium discount Card by Savers Card International. The Discount Card which comes as a Reloadable Card has all the features of a standard ATM card with all the CBN approved security features.

    The Savers Club Card powered by Interswitch is usable on all ATMs, Mobile Applications and POS Terminals in over 1,500 Merchant locations all over Lagos.

  • New offers for Konga customers

    New offers for Konga customers

    Konga.com, Nigeria’s largest online marketplace, in celebration of its customers and recent recognition as the most innovative and impactful retail brand in Nigeria by the Lagos state chamber of commerce and industry, has introduced free delivery nationwide to all its customers for the month of May.

    This free delivery means that Nigerians nationwide can now receive all orders purchased without having to pay a delivery charge for the month of May. With this offer, KONGA provides a fully customized, convenient and stress-free shopping experience for all its customers on its marketplace

    Konga is also launching a new escrow service that allows for secured and easy payments online without exposing customer ATM/Debit Card details by ensuring that all payments are only made to sellers on its marketplace once delivery has been confirmed by the buyer.

    The Konga Escrow system has been developed working with Nigeria’s leading banks to provide 100 per cent buyer protection. Now, customers can directly link their bank accounts to their Konga wallets and carry out instant credit and debits to and from their bank accounts. With the Konga Escrow system, shoppers can also get amazing discounts and offers available to verified account holders on Konga.

    Speaking about the two new offers for customers, Mayowa Adebayo, Vice President, Customer Experience, Konga.com said; “In continuous demonstration of our commitment to providing better shopping experiences and customer satisfaction,  2014 will be all about providing more value for Nigerians, and will be filled with many innovative offerings from us at Konga.

    Every new offer, such as ‘free delivery for the whole of May’ and our new ‘Escrow Service’, which drives confidence in paying online among Nigerians, will be targeted at rewarding our customers and getting more Nigerians to see the value of shopping online”

    Konga recently won the award for most impactful and innovative retail brand from the Lagos chamber of commerce and industry, beating Jumia Nigeria, Addide and Shoprite. The online outfit  isn’t resting on these laurels, as it is pushing through with more innovative ideas to get more Nigerians shopping online.

     

  • Jumia wins award, supports Nigerian fashion

    Jumia wins award, supports Nigerian fashion

    The ‘E-commerce Website of the Year’ award went to Jumia at the Beacon of ICT awards organised by Nigeria Communications Week media. Jumia took home the award for the biggest and best e-commerce website in Nigeria. The online shopping mall won the award based on its efforts in helping to grow the e-commerce market in Nigeria since its launch. The firm beat other online platforms like Konga and OLX to clinch the award. The award was presented to the trio of Co-CEO Jumia Nigeria, Nicola Martin; Head of Marketing Jumia Nigeria, Jonathan Doerr; and Public Relations Manager, Olamide Amosu.

    “We are excited that our efforts are continuing to pay off with the acceptance of our brand and retail e-commerce in Nigeria. The only way to stay number one is by satisfying customers and expanding our reach. We would like to thank all our customers and all those who believe in us. Hopefully next year we will take home this same award and more,” Mr. Martin said.

    Speaking on the award, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Nigeria Communications Week newspaper, said “the online retailer has endeared itself to Nigerian’s, hence it has become a household name.” He noted that Jumia maintained a leading position during the keenly contested voting period. He praised the ingenuity of the online retailer, especially in the promotion of e-commerce and e-payment in the country, while recruiting many young Nigerians to drive the site.

    The award brought together different players in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. The e-commerce space in Nigeria has grown with a lot of players

    Perhaps, in appreciation of the award, Jumia has decided to promote Nigerian fashion by partnering African Fashion Week to announce the best emerging Nigerian designer. With over 20,000 fashion items in its store, the online retailer recently expanded its reach, promoting more Nigerian fashion.

    Jumia, according to its owners, is said to be the one-stop-shop for fashion in Nigeria, which gives as much visibility as possible to Nigerian designers to showcase their products online and reach their target audience all over the country and beyond. With this latest partnership with African Fashion Week, Jumia Nigeria allows both parties to engage more fashion followers across the continent and discover new talents in the industry.

    Prior to the launch in Nigeria, African Fashion Week has already planned successful events in the UK and other European countries. This year’s edition is powered by Jumia Nigeria and will be hosting some of the upcoming fashion designers in the country and they will be showcasing their collections. Some of the designers are House of Marie, Jedidah, Long Feet Boutique and many more.

    These designers are empowered by Jumia with the opening of a proudly Nigerian store called ‘By-Naija’. Co-CEO Jumia Nigeria, Jeremy Doutte stated, “We are always proud to promote Nigerian Fashion, and following the success of our ‘By-Naija’ online store, we are looking forward to encouraging more creativity in Nigeria with the upcoming African Fashion Week partnership in Nigeria’

    The designers were hosted to a one-day workshop where Jumia educating them on entrepreneurship and how to reach their target audience with online retailers as a sales/marketing option for their brand.

    In her words, founder of African Fashion Week Nigeria,  Ronke Ademiluyi said,  ‘We are really excited to have Jumia as a sponsor/partner of AFWN, and we believe that it is the perfect platform that will act as a retail network and distribution channel for our designers, a platform that will assist in making designers labels readily available to consumers.

    Ticket sales for the upcoming African Fashion Week Nigeria will be available on Jumia.com.ng with delivery options all over Nigeria. Fashion fans can also win free tickets to the fashion week by participating in the conversation on Jumia’s facebook and twitter during the period before the event. To round up the Fashion Week, Jumia will be announcing the next biggest fashion brands to emerge out of Nigeria.

    Also, Jumia’s Mid-month Madness Sales, great deals and amazing experiences are available this month, according to the firm’s Public Relations Manager, Olamide Amosu. The theme for the Mid-month deal is ‘Shop Till You Drop’. It ensures that shoppers get great deals as they compete to become the fastest while clicking those buttons.

    With thousands of products on Jumia website, the Mid-month offer will be highlighting deals from various categories that offer the cheapest. Managing Director of Marketing at Jumia Nigeria, Jonathan Doerr stated: “This is an opportunity for every customer to scout for their wish list with the jumia Mid-month Madness.”

    He added that shoppers can be sure of getting discount on 100s of products at this time on Jumia. Jonathan said: “You can expect to get your deals on favourite clothing brands, 80 per cent off home appliance or even 90 per cent off gadgets all at an unbelievable price, only when you shop from the Jumia Mid-month Madness store here,” he said.

  • Why online shops may not replace malls

    Why online shops may not replace malls

    Despite the growing popularity of online shopping, retail experts say the technology-driven shopping platform may not completely replace the open, traditional showrooms. Rather, both platforms would continue to co-exist and give shoppers more choices. TONIA’DIYAN reports

    Ann Hassrup, a shopaholic,knows only one way and place of shopping, which is the open traditional showroom or market – Isale eko. However, Hassrup who loves exploring new ideas recently decided to try a new thing by visiting jumia.com.ng, an online shopping store. It was her first time. Before the desire to try online shopping, she has always been patronising The Palms Shopping Mall in Lekki, Lagos, which is an open showroom. Now, Hassrup is torn between patronising The Palms Shopping Mall and jumia.com.ng. How do I know where to buy from?,” she asked a retail expert, who gave her some tips on what each of the platforms has to offer. At the end of the tips by the expert, one thing Hassrup came off with is the fact that despite the growing popularity of online shopping, the relatively new fad in town particularly among young and trendy shoppers, may not replace shopping malls any time soon.

    Indeed, retail experts say that although, online stores have come to stay, owners of open, traditional showrooms may not loose sleep over the growing influence of online shopping, as the competition by online stores may not completely run them out of town. Rather, online stores in the mould of jumia.com.ng would continue to exist side by side with open, traditional showrooms. According to the experts, both platforms would continue to give each other a run for its investment, based on the demography and psychology of the Nigerian consumer, who naturally would love to go out with his or her family on a weekend or go to have a firsthand feel of new releases or favourite products.

    One of the experts who spoke with The Nation Shopping said that malls are known to offer a variety of services outside retail thereby, gaining more customer traffic. The expert who declined to be named, affirmed that shopping malls will always have their value in the minds of Nigerians, not based on experiences such as convenience in getting products as seen in online retail services, but in the context of a place where long time memories for friends and family are re-enacted, even though more of this memories might not be retail inclined. He however, said that as time goes on, online stores will get bigger and will probably account directly for bigger percentages in retail.

    This analysis seems to have struck a chord in Hassrup and indeed, many shoppers who now patronize both stores/platforms. Hassrup however, said she would simply take a look at what the online stores have to offer, compare prices with the malls and make the best choice. According to her, buying the right item at the best price is more important than where an item is bought from. “If I surf the Internet and find something I love, I simply check it out in a store and make purchase,” says Mrs. Fatima Braimoh, who owns a boutique at Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. She said these days, virtually all payments are done online.

    Comparing both shopping platforms, Brolls’s former Chief Executive Officer Gbadebo Erejuwa said in an interview, “Most times, the prospect of a shopping mall is explained in the items shoppers could lay their hands on, knowing that they are buying products they can account for. Shoppers prefer to buy items, such as shoes, clothing and the likes from the malls where they can assess their fitness. In online shopping there is no such opportunity because there is no contact except when the goods are delivered.”

    She added that online shopping can never take the place of shopping malls. Hear her: “When people say otherwise to me, I disagree because many want to sample products first-hand, a feature that is not available online. For example, women may want to find out if a dress suits them. In addition, you cannot tell the quality of the material used online. Whilst some may prefer to buy online, as it can be a less stressful experience, there will always be a place for the high street stores and a place for the malls. In that regard therefore, the wise retailer will use the malls and online shopping side by side.”

    Speaking in the same vein, a marketing officer at a mall, Mrs. Adetutu Bankole, said malls are realising the value of the Internet and are also adjusting their range of products and services to take advantage of it. She said: “Some stores also have websites where they offer to deliver items that are presently not in stock as at when needed.”

    Chief Executive Officer, Shop Direct Group, Mark Newton-Jones, also said: “The past decade has seen a transformation in the way people shop, and while many still prefer to take a trip to a mall, increasingly people are also finding all they could ever want online, choices are made depending on what the priority of the shopper is.”

    Findings show that though buying online is becoming popular by the day especially because of its convenience, some people still find it very comfortable going outside the convenience of their homes to buy or window shop. This, some of them say, allows them see and feel items before buying. In other words, the mall allows shoppers come in contact with various choice items. They could make the best choice and go home with the exact items they desired. But with online shopping, one could take the advantage of convenience to shop right from his home.

    Indeed, convenience is one of the major attractions for online shopping. As Afam Anyika, Jumia offline marketing head, put it, “Online platform is selling to people convenience with various methods of payment and most of all providing them with rich quality retail content all at fair prices. It is clear the experiences are better and assortment wider with online retail. More Nigerians are shopping online by the day and in two years of our operations, I can tell you the Nigerian market has been waiting for this for a long time.”

    Whether online or open/traditional malls, the consensus of retail experts is that price and quality of products and services would ultimately determine where the shopper would go.