The Nation Newspaper

Category: Shopping

  • Hellofood.com berths in Port Harcourt

    Hellofood.com berths in Port Harcourt

    Residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital can order food from their favourite restaurants in Port Harcourt courtesy of Hellofood.com, an online food store, which has berthed in the city.

    Some of the restaurants partnering this facility include The Promise, Pepperoni, Just Relish, Eldorado, Skippers and many more.

    The Managing Director of the firm, James Gibson,  said: “After the phenomenal response in Lagos and Abuja, we are extremely excited to be launching in Port Harcourt. We aim to offer the widest range of cuisines and cover every area of the city.”

    The expansion, according to Gibson, is part of Hellofood’s strategy to increase its footprint across Nigeria. Hellofood Nigeria works with over 250 restaurant partners, which it intends to grow to 500 across seven cities by the end of the year.

    He said: “We plan to expand our services to four cities in 2014, including Kano, Kaduna, Benin City and Ibadan. Apart from reaching out to a wider audience, we are completely revolutionising the way customers interact with restaurants, providing the simplest, fastest and most convenient way to order food”

    The firm with its affiliate brand Foodpanda is the world’s fastest growing online food delivery marketplace. It reaches over three billion people and operates with more than 22,000 restaurant partners across 41 countries. Hellofood helps restaurants to increase sales through online and mobile platforms and provides them with constantly evolving technology and analytics. For consumers, it is a platform that offers an online marketplace with the widest gastronomic range from which customers can order food delivery online or via Hellofood’s iOS and Android applications.

  • Rising crop of small retailers

    Rising crop of small retailers

    There are fears that the informal retail sector may go into extinction as a result of the emergence of big players. Analysts have, however, insisted that rather than be driven out of relevance, small retailers have continued to innovate to increase their market share of the retail shopping business, reports TONIA ‘DIYAN.

    They are called small retailers. They appreciate that profit can be made if consumers are satisfied; hence they are stepping up their game to ensure the satisfaction of customers.

    Of course, they understand that the major goal of production and distribution is to enhance consumption.

    They are evolving strategies to be on top of their game, working to retain their market share through the offer of lower prices that are far lower than those offered by big shop owners that have invested much to achieve international standard.

    One of such rising small retail shop is the Home Store at Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos. It sells gift items. By all standards, it is a small retailing outfit.

    Its owner, Mrs Aina Shobowale, said she relied on her ability to gather intelligence information about what customers want and then order such products immediately.

    The ability of small stores to react quickly and directly to customers is one of the most effective weapons they have, Sander Norman, Centre Manager, Ikeja City Mall, said.

    He said: “They can easily determine what is selling and then place orders without wading through a cumbersome bureaucracy. They don’t have to go to the corporate office, wait for their request to be analysed and then shipped to them. They are finding a variety of creative ways to play up the benefits of their size.”

    Norman said these retailers are also using marketing tactics like the usual extra emphasis on customer service and sales promotions. But their most important step may be that they are trying to make the most of their inherent advantages over larger competitors.

    A beauty consultant, Miss Grace Chinemerem- Israel, said almost daily, she spends a lot of time calling wholesalers directly when popular items get exhausted in my shop.

    Now, she has to go the extra mile, paying extra to get her parcels delivered.

    Similarly, Proprietor, Cake Treat, a cake shop at Omole in Lagos, Mrs Deborah Faleyimu, said she had also been watching sales more attentively than in the past. “After the weekend, we will figure out some items we do not have on Sunday night, and then make them available the next morning. We do this to ensure that our customers don’t come and discover they can get what they need,” she said.

    Also, small store owners say they often hear directly from their customers about new products and then see how the items sell.

    A year ago, Mrs Modupe Shopeju of Delightsome Gifts Concept, said customers began telling her how much they liked an egg shape flower vase called the Arewa vase. So she started stocking it. A week later, she sold all out. She re-ordered, and it sold out again in a week. Now, she keeps a steady supply of the vase “You’ve got to pay attention to the feedback,” she said.

    Small retailers also have an advantage over bigger competitors in other areas, particularly customer services, said Mrs Folashade Akinremi, a home management consultant. “Stores are upping the ante with more personalised customer service, particularly if they’ve depended on that for sales in the past.”

    The General Manager of Green Mount Global Limited, Mr Kenneth Okeiyi, said he makes sure his workers have a list of recommendations they can offer to panicky shoppers. He also offers free gift wrapping services to them.

    Taking advantage of those more personalised relationships, some retailers are also doing more direct marketing, especially through e-mail messages and short message services (SMS).

    Proprietor, Corner Cafe, Ms. Joan Philips, employs this personalised services to her clients. According to her, she mails special promotions to all the people on her email list. “I probably wouldn’t be doing so much direct e-mail marketing if I were expecting a different shopping climate,” she said.

    At Delightsome Books & Coffee Shop, Ilupeju, a gifts exhibition was held for employees and clients to promote sales. According to the owner of the retail outlet, Mrs Juliet Morgan, the promotion could add about five per cent to the revenue of the business.

    Another crucial area for retailers of any size is smart use of the Internet. Consumers are expected to do 30 per cent of their shopping via the Internet, according to the National Retail Federation.

    Executive Buyologist of Buyology.com,Yeye Arogundade, said a web site has become a sine qua non in the retail business.

    She said: “If you don’t have a web site in this business, you’re at a competitive disadvantage.” According to her, in some cases, shoppers make their purchases in the store, but using the Web for comparison shopping, checking out prices and ensuring that products are in stock before making the trip.

    Small retailers are also borrowing a leaf from the big stores through increasing their advert spend. Though they cannot match that of the big stores, they try improve. Many of them now cater to more affluent customers; and stores that sell to that market will most likely do better.

    There is need to stress the fact that “small shops” and “big shops” are rather indistinct and that the classification of a unit of business as big or small is different in different places and has changed significantly with the passing of time.

    A survey of the small and big shops revealed that prices vary according to commodities; some items are sold cheaper in the smaller stores than the big shops and vice versa.

    A shopper, Mrs Chinaka Azuka confirmed that over time, she had discovered that some items cost less in small and traditional open markets than the big modern shops. For instance, she buys serviette tissue paper for between N50 and N100 from a small shop in her neighbourhood; the same item goes for N350 in a place such as Mega Plaza in Victoria Island.

    “It’s not everything that I buy from the big shops. You’ll find out that the smaller shops and open market still sell cheaper than the big shops we have today,” Mrs Azuka added.

    For Mary Ukah, she cannot buy items like children’s toys in the big shops, which she alleged are imported and sold at very exhorbitant prices.

     

  • Lagos moves to protect consumers

    Lagos moves to protect consumers

    The Lagos State government has reiterated its determination to tackle headlong the issues of consumer rights protection in the state, its Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has said.

    Represented by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Commerce and Industry, Hon Oluseye Oladejo at the Lagos Consumer forum organised by the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON) in conjunction with the state government, she said protecting consumers is one of the primary duties of the government.

    She said: “As a government, it is our mandate to guarantee the welfare of the citizenry while also promoting the economic development of the rights of consumers to ensure that they get value for money spent on goods and services.”

    According to her, if consumer rights are protected, it would bring economic development to the state.

    “This would no doubt sustain production activities, boost the gross domestic product (GDP), guarantee employment and ultimately engender economic development of the state,” she said.

    The deputy governor said the forum was meant to discuss consumers’ rights in the telecoms industry.

    “The creation of a platform of this nature where consumer rights issues in the telecoms sector is being examined with a view to ascertaining the extent of the level of abuse, exploitation and options available for redress is a step in the right direction,” she said.

    The Lagos Consumer Forum streamlined the consumers’ day to press for value for money in telecoms service.

    According to the deputy governor, the essence of the modification of the theme is meant to address the immediate needs of the people of the state and the country at large.

    “The theme has been modified to ‘Value for Money in Telecoms Services’ in order to address our immediate consumer rights challenges in the state,” she said.

    Mrs Orelope-Adefulire said to show the state government’s commitment to protecting consumers rights, a bill on Consumer Protection Agency had been passed into law.

    “To underscore the seriousness of the state government in protecting the rights of our people especially as they relate to consumer issues and to ensure that they get correct value for their money on purchases, the state governor has signed into law the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Bill,” she said.

    Speaking on ‘Consumer Issue in Telecoms,’ president of CAFON, Ms Sola Salako said the consumer rights to quality service from the telecom providers has been violated by the telecom services providers.

    She said the five-point agenda of the telecoms which are to provide consumer with access to an affordable and reliable service, provide consumer with fair contracts explained in clear, complete and acceptable and accessible language, provide consumers with fair and transparent billing, provide consumers with security and power over their own information, listen and respond to consumers complaint have not been met by the telcos.

    Ms Salako said the telecoms sector must provide the consumer with better service.

    “Consumers deserve better services from the telecoms; the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as a regulator must do better than fines to ensure compliance, consumers must be discerning in signing up for any telecoms services (voice or data) and telecoms service providers must realise communication is not just business, it is an essential service,” she added.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr Wale Raji, in his welcome address, said the forum was meant to address issues in the sector and proffer solutions to consumer rights violations.

    ‘’This forum is meant to address some of the critical consumer rights that are being infringed upon on daily basis by service providers in the telecoms sector. Some of these issues are unsolicited text messages, high drop call rates, poor customer service, high call tariff, exploitation of consumers through lotteries and privacy issues,’’ he added.

    He urged Lagosians to seek redress with the state’s Consumer Protection Committee whenever their rights are trampled upon.

  • ‘I‘m careful of what, where I buy‘

    ‘I‘m careful of what, where I buy‘

    The Head, Lagos Office, Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), Mr Tam Tamunokonbia, speaks with TONIA ‘DIYAN on his choice of shopping places, fear for online stores and advice to consumers.

    Where do you buy from?

    There are some supermarkets and shops that get their products directly from manufacturers. Therefore, I feel comfortable buying from such places because I am sure of what I am buying and one can hardly find fake items in such places.

    How careful are you when making buying decisions?

    I am careful of what I buy and where I buy from. I only go to retailers who get supplies directly from the manufacturers. There is a neighbourhood store close to where I live and I happen to see company vehicles making regular deliveries to them. I patronise them because I know they stock original items.

    How has the way people buy transformed in Nigeria?

    The way people buy has greatly transformed especially with places like Shoprite and other Mega Stores where people visit for sightseeing and family picnics to purchase items and so on. However, majority still buy from neighbourhood organised stores. That is why at CPC, we encourage stores to sell original products, not expired or off the shelf policy items to consumers. The problem with some of these shops is that there is negligence on the part of their staff. Sometimes, in six months they wouldn’t remember to change or replace items on the shelves. But many Nigerians still buy from the open market.

    Do you buy online?

    I haven’t started shopping online. It is a new and upcoming market. It is just emerging and so far, I am not impressed with their services. I have a lot of complaints from consumers concerning some of them. But recently I visited a few and they assured me they are doing something about the complaints.

    What advice do you have for consumers on making decisions?

    Some traders would ask a buyer if he wants the original or the fake of a product because of the slight difference in price. Some products look very similar such that one can hardly identify the original from the fake. It is important to buy from the man you are confident in. But we will continue to check and remove expired products from such places.

    How prudent are you?

    I don’t spend heavily, but I am not a good keeper of money. I am very generous and give out money a lot; as a result, money doesn’t stay long with me. My wife does my shopping most of the time. When it comes to giving I am not prudent, but I am, when it comes to shopping. I am not extravagant when it comes to buying material things.

    Do you buy spontaneously?

    I don’t buy spontaneously and I am certainly not crazy about what is in vogue. I am not fashion-conscious. There are people who are prone to such lifestyle.

  • A village shop without shopkeeper: can it keep the customers satisfied?

    On a sunny spring morning in the quiet village of Clifton in Derbyshire, steady streams of people are making their way towards the cock inn. They are not early-rising drinkers; the pub is not yet open. Instead ,they head around to the car park at the back.

    Here sits the United Kingdom’s (UK) first “automated shop” – a bus shelter-sized giant vending machine selling everything from fresh milk and eggs to umbrellas and cat food.

    Designed to look like a quaint village shop, yet with the advantage of more reliable opening hours, it is intended to lead a quiet, mechanised revolution in rural areas across Britain, filling the gap left by the widespread closure of traditional stores.

    The Clifton SpeedyShop, as it is formally known has been gratefully welcomed by residents, who haven’t had a village shop for more than a decade.

    “They pretty much emptied it on Monday evening. It was great,” says Lorraine Garside, the landlady of the Cock, who admits that she has already fed her hungry customers using a loaf of bread bought from the machine.

    “We haven’t had a village shop for about 13, 14 years and there are no bus services through the village anymore, so if you want a pint of milk you have to walk into town if you don’t drive. It’s very reasonably priced- i think it’s marvellous.”

    The machine is the brain child of peter fox, a 50-year old electrical engineer who used to live in a small village and became frustrated at coming home late from work to find nothing in the fridge. Having spent more than two years designing the prototype, he now hopes that similar machines can be rolled out nationally, but says he doesn’t have the resources to expand as quickly as he would like and is now actively seeking a business partner.”i own all the intellectual property, but i don’t have a factory with 500 people and i cant manufacture hundreds of these a week,” he says. “ i certainly intend to roll it out myself anyway, and i’ve already got other machines in my factory which are almost complete…

    But obviously i can’t instantly start making hundreds of machines and sending them all over the UK. To do that I’ve either got to grow organically, which will take time, or find somebody who wants to jump in with me”

    Accepting cash or credit cards, the machine emails Mr Fox whenever it despenses an item , so he can keep a trak of stock levels. Although he is reluctant to reveal just how good business has been so far, on the grounds that it is “ early dayz”, he says there has been a teady stream” of villagers buying everything from washing powder to toothpaste and bags of sugar.

    Last weekend, The independent contributed to the machine’s coffers by buying that key houshold staple, a can of eight hot dogs (89 pounds). Other items on offer included six eggs (1.75 pounds), bacon (2.69 pounds), a pair of sticky toffee puddings (1.99 pounds) and a book of first class stamps (3.60 pounds).

    Although the machine is attracting more publicity than Clifton has received in years, most customers’ yesrterday seems happier to browse rather than buy. Barbara Goodwin, out for a walk with her husband and their two dogs, was among the window shoppers. “I’m not quite sure,” she says. “There is a general store a couple of miles away. But having said that, late at night, you dont have to go far, and it’s very convenient.”

    The machine carries another benefit for Mrs Garside: relieving the pressure on her pub to act as an informal grocer for naive tourists who rent self-catered cottages, only to be left baffled at the village’s lack of Tesco Express. “You do get some southerners … who come up and think that every quaint village has a shop, and of course it doesnt anymore, “she says. “So, now, we have.”

    • Source: The Independent Saturday

  • Safety: Shelf-life policy takes centre stage

    Safety: Shelf-life policy takes centre stage

    Worried by the preponderance of expired consumer products in the market, particularly edibles, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), has stepped up its campaign to stamp out the sale of expired products by driving the shelf-life policy for consumer products. TONIA ‘DIYAN, reports.

    A few years ago, a lady stormed the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) office, brandishing a particular product she said her family often used. “This does not taste like the product we are used to; it is fake,” she charged at an official of the Council. The official immediately accompanied her to where she bought the product. On getting to the place, the seller did not deny selling the product to her, but said without any remorse: “Well, I am not the manufacturer.” After hot exchanges, the seller was compelled to either replace the product with the original or refund the lady’s money.

    However, the story did not end there. The seller also disclosed where he got his supply from. It was at this point officials of the CPC visited the firm where the product was supposedly manufactured only to discover that it was imported. Alarmed, the CPC officials stormed the market where the products were packed and displayed for sale to unsuspecting consumers. The products were mopped up. The CPC also went on air alerting citizens of the dangers of patronising the expired product.

    Following the incident, the CPC has stepped up the Shelf Life Policy campaign particularly as it relates to consumer products, especially edibles. According to the consumer rights protection agency, the Shelf Life Policy is an international policy that no manufacturer can fault and it must be strictly adhered to. The CPC explained that after the expiration date of a product (i.e. the shelf life span expires), it no longer becomes safe for consumption.

    However, some unscrupulous producers in Nigeria, without recourse to the dangers of selling expired products, have refused to adhere strictly to the policy, according to the Council.

    A case in point is Coca-Cola Company, which, according to the CPC, allegedly does not have a detailed written shelf life policy for dealing with expired products. This was discovered after a thorough investigation by the agency, which also went a step further, reassuring consumers that such products will be removed from the market. “In a case like that of Coca-Cola, the role of the agency is to investigate, draw the attention of the manufacturer and where necessary, make an order as to how there would be standard compliance. That is exactly what we have done. Mr. Tam Tamunokonbia, Head of the CPC, Lagos Office, told The Nation Business Shopping.

    He explained that CPC carried out a full scale investigation where the manufacturers, Coca-Cola was involved. He said that although, the company may have one or two explanations, the reality on ground is what the Council issued to them as an order. “We made an order for them to change their processes and comply with the order,” he said, adding, “I do not know why some companies have refused to have this policy (Shelf Life Policy). All companies are aware of its importance as an international policy. They are also aware that the policy is part of the standard of production in the country. Therefore, as an agency that protects the consumer, we expect total compliance.”

    The CPC official enjoined every manufacturer to be sincere to the consumers and take special measures to ensure that things are done correctly. “Consumers should be taken into consideration while producing products for their consumption. It is because of the consumer that these manufacturers exist in the first place and so, companies involved in production have to carry out their production processes accordingly,” he argued. He promised that the agency would continue with its investigative roles, as well as its surveillance and enforcement activities in the market place with a  mandate to enforce standards, laws, regulations and policies set up by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other sector regulators.

    While SON has the function to set standards, policies and regulations, the CPC, by Section 12 of the CPC Act, enforces them. Every law that is meant for the protection of the consumer is enforceable by the CPC. According to the agency, there are also sanctions for manufacturers who refuse to facilitate the removal of expired products from the market. The CPC has the power to remove from the market place products that are expired, fake or sub-standard, according to Section 2 of its law. This means that once a product does not have its shelf life or meet standard labelling requirements, the Council has the right to remove it from the market and to sanction the manufacturer of such product. The Council can also prosecute offenders, but in most cases, prosecutions come as a last resort. This is usually after its order has been flouted or not complied with.

    However, to guard against consumers’ unconscious purchase and consumption of hazardous items that are off their shelf life, the Council constantly carries out thorough investigations to ensure that such identified products are quickly removed from the markets. For the CPC, this is a responsibility that they will not back down on. They will continue to engage in the removal of the harmful products and also bring sanctions against companies suspected to be manufacturing or dealing in such products.

    As Mr. Tamunokonbia explained: “Consumers can seek redress by complaining to the CPC free of charge. We are available throughout the country; we are in all the six geo-political zones. We have a Liaison Office in Lagos, market desk at Alaba International market and Computer Village. Complaints could be made by sending an email to cpcnigeria@yahoo.co.uk or cpc.lagos@yahoo.co.uk. Most importantly, every consumer owes himself a duty of thoroughly checking the item he is buying before actually making the purchase and if he notices any foul play, he should immediately contact the manufacturer. At that level, in most cases, the consumer may get his money back or a product replacement. If the manufacturer does not want such a case to get to the CPC, he may choose to resolve it diligently. But if such a consumer is still not satisfied, he should seek redress by coming to the Council.”

    He further said imported products without shelf life policy would be traced to where they were bought and who imported or manufactured them. He added that consumers should expect protection in all areas of goods and services.

    His words: “The protection we provide is that the man who buys gets value for his money and if everybody gets value for his money, there will be no need for complaints. But our economy is not yet completely there, so part of the protection is to educate and sensitise Nigerians though it is expensive. We encourage Nigerians to complain whenever they have problems. We also encourage manufacturers and sellers that they have a duty, an obligation to ensure that they explain everything about a product or service to the consumers. If you do not explain to the consumer how to use your product effectively, how would they know?” he asked.

    While insisting that the consumer has a right to education and information, he pointed out that most of the complaints from consumers of electricity, for instance, have to do with estimated billings by the power distribution companies. This was why Tamunokonbia visited the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, O. C. Akamnonu where he said his company buys power and distributes same to Nigerians. He assured the Council that those who had meters (not prepaid meters) are paying according to what their meters read.

    Akamnonu also informed the council that the company, in the next few weeks, would come up with a meter policy, which would address the concerns of consumers using prepaid meters and others including a system that will be able to read meters from a central place. However, Akamnonu complained that some consumers refuse to pay their bills as at when due. The Council however, insisted that Nigerians pay for what they consume.

    Apart from the power sector, the CPC is also tracking the online marketing companies, an emerging market. Two weeks ago, the head of Lagos office took a trip to the office of one of these online marketing companies in Lagos following complaints from consumers. They online marketing companies, in their defence, told CPC that they operate according to strict standards and that they are also working on a strategy to replace, within two weeks, products that did not meet consumers’ specifications. However, if the process take much longer than that, the consumer would have to formally notify them since it takes a longer process to resolve cases that exceed two weeks.

    The CPC has also had course to beam its searchlight on the banking sector following consumer complaints that have to do with the use of the automated teller machines (ATMs), unearned bank charges and non-disclosure to customers. Same for the petroleum sector where the CPC, in some cases, was informed at the filling stations that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is the only agency of government authorised to monitor them, which is why operators of such filling stations refuse to cooperate with the CPC officials.

    The CPC is, however, optimistic that the situation would change soon when people understand the functions of the agency. Already, the National Assembly is currently amending the laws to make it compulsory for every sector regulator to send to them their consumer complaints reports monthly.

  • CPC marks World Consumer Right Day

    Last Saturday was World Consumer Right Day. And to commemorate the day, the Lagos office of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) organised a Road Show during which it visited some areas in the metropolis.

    The Road Show, which started about 7.30am at the Lagos State Television grounds, Agidingbi, Ikeja, ended at the Computer Village also in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Other areas visited were Maryland, Ojuelegba, Mushin and Oshodi.

    The theme of the event was “Fix your phone rights”. It informed the choice of the venue, Computer Village. The aim was to make phone regulators and firms more accountable to the consumer.

    The Head, CPC, Lagos, Mr. Tam Tamunokonbia said: “With the growth of telephone services and the manufacturing of mobile phones, land phones and different smart phones, fakers are getting to know that there are also smarter ways of producing sub-standard mobile devices that are actually passed off to consumers as original brands.

    “So, we want to draw the attention of the world and that of Nigerians to the consumers’ rights to quality phones. Nigerians have consumer rights or what we call telephone rights and these are the rights we want to focus on so that we can bring them into the consciousness that every Nigerian can have their rights protected.”

    President of the Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPGA), Mr. Ike Nwosu, said: “This is a wonderful initiative. We have heard from the horse’s mouth and have also been made to understand the policy of the CPC. We will abide by the policy and work in accordance with the council. However, consumers should endeavour to make purchases from stores located inside the market and not from hoodlums hanging around the premises.”

  • Dubai’s Emaar plans $2.5b listing of shopping mall unit

    Dubai’s Emaar Properties said it would sell up to 25 per cent of its shopping mall and retailing unit in a public offer expected to raise eight to nine billion dirhams ($2.18 – $2.45 billion), making it one of the region’s largest equity offers since 2008.

    The proceeds “will be primarily distributed as dividend” to Emaar shareholders, Dubai’s biggest listed real estate developer said in a statement on Saturday, without giving a timetable for the offer. The shares to be sold will come from the unit’s current equity.

    Dubai-listed Emaar’s flagship mall is the Dubai Mall, one of the largest in the world, which it says attracted more than 75 million visitors in 2013. The firm also built the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building.

    The listing plan underlines Dubai’s recovery from its financial crisis, which erupted in 2009. Before the crisis, Emaar talked about listing its shopping mall operations but was forced to put the plan on hold as the emirate’s real estate and stock markets collapsed.

    Both markets are rebounding strongly on the back of inflows of foreign money, with residential property prices up over 20 per cent last year and Dubai’s main equity index rallying about 140 per cent since the end of 2012.

    Emaar is 31 per cent-owned by the Dubai government, which is set to earn a dividend of about $750 million from the listing – an important windfall since Dubai and its government-related firms face tens of billions of dollars of debt maturities in the next few years, a legacy of the crisis.

    The malls and retailing unit posted revenue of 2.8 billion dirhams last year, up over 20 per cent from 2012, while its gross operating profit increased 20 percent to 2.2 billion dirhams, Emaar said. The firm’s total revenues last year were 10.3 billion dirhams.

    More than 55 per cent of the company’s revenues currently come from its shopping malls and retail, hospitality and leisure, and international operations, Emaar said, indicating that more subsidiaries would be listed eventually.

    “The Board decided that listing of various Emaar subsidiaries, with a view to creating independent companies with their own growth strategies and management structures, was imperative to achieve Emaar’s long-term growth strategies.

    “In the future, listing of other relevant subsidiaries will also be considered as and when appropriate,” it said.

  • Campari rewards distributors with cars

    The sole distributor of Campari in Nigeria, Brian Munro Limited, has rewarded outstanding distributors for their loyalty.

    The awards held at the De Renaissance hotel, Ikej, Lagos with many dignitaries from the industry in attendance.

    The firm’s Marketing Manager, Mr. Abayomi Ajao, said: “The Campari Distributor’s Award is aimed at showing appreciation and encouraging distributors to continue their unwavering loyalty to Campari, a World Class brand.”

    “The Campari brand is not only focused on selling, but also on giving magical moments to its valued customers, distributors and marketers.”

    The awardees expressed joy for the recognition. Mr. Onyenanu, a distributor, said: “I am glad to be recognised and rewarded this day by the Campari Group.

    ‘’This shows that the Brian Munro team truly appreciate and value our efforts in promoting and selling Campari.”  He won the Campari Overall National Awards with a Brand New Kia Sportage.

    Another distributor, Mrs. Odegbami, expressed her excitement on receiving her award, stating that the Campari brand is of great quality and it’s one of her best sellers.

    Highlights of the event were the presentation of brand new cars to eight outstanding distributors of Campari across the country by the Managing Director of Brian Munro Limited, Mr. Paul Wilson while guests were treated to an evening of good music, delightful cuisine and an amazing taste of Campari cocktails.

    The Campari Distributors Award is an yearly event and has over the years created excitement and fulfilment for its distributors.

    Campari is a contemporary and charismatic classic alcoholic liqueur solely distributed by Brian Munro Limited in Nigeria. Most often served as cocktails (mixed with soda, juice, beer and or stout).

    Campari is obtained from the infusion of herbs and fruits in alcohol and water.

  • Firm offers pocket-friendly tablet

    Jumia, Nigeria’s largest online retail store is offering one of the best phone tablets in the market at the lowest price.

    Recently, the online store has seen an increase in users of phone tablets to access various websites, especially Jumia. The phone tablet serves as the fastest way to communicate and access the Internet.

    The store, therefore, is offering the most affordable pocket size tablet with the latest version of the X-touch tablet series, PL71. The PL71 series comes in various colors with the latest android operating system 4.0, 2G, WIFI, 512MB ram, 8 GB storage space, HDD and Bluetooth. It is also able to make phone and video calls. It can also be used to access Facebook, Skype, Twitter and many more.

    The X-touch is one of the best tablet brands available in Nigeria with premium specifications to fit a wide range of tablet users. The X-touch is available in a range of different models with numerous functions from WIFI, a long battery life, inbuilt video call compatibility, fast Internet and much more.

    Chie executive Officer, Jumia Nigeria, Jeremy Doutte, said: “The X-touch is one of our bestsellers in the computing category; it also displays a great quality with technology and innovation. The X-touch is suitable for everyone from students to working class and children; the most affordable high quality tablet in Nigeria is available on Jumia.com.”

    The X-touch PL71 is the most affordable and durable tablet in Nigeria, exclusive to Jumia.