Demand for locally produced goods and replicas soars high as consumers continue to search for cheaper alternatives to imported and genuine products which are higher in price.
Investigations by The Nation revealed that the request for locally manufactured products as substitute to the expensive foreign goods cuts across most sectors of the economy.
Also, as the purchasing power of consumers dwindles, people are equally showing preference for good replicas as against the original products which prices are higher.
Mr. Akinwole Hassan, the shop manager of Addidie supermarket branch at Surulere Dopemu, while bemoaning drop in patronage, said the supermarket chain has increased their stock of locally manufactured goods which seem to be cheaper.
He, however, noted that there are certain consumers who still insist on buying some of the foreign products which they are used to even though the prices of such products have appreciated.
“There are people who cannot do without certain things even though the prices of such products have gone high. Some people in that category try to limit their shopping but the very rich among them still maintain the same level of shopping.”
At Blenco supermarket, another fast growing supermarket chain, well known for stocking up on foreign goods, the lady manager of the Akowonjo branch, who craved anonymity, said that there was a big drop on sales, adding that consumers demand for indigenous products was soaring high.
Pointing to the shelf, directly in front of her table, she urged the reporter to look at it, noting that everything on that shelf was virtually locally made snacks. The shelf was fully stacked with different brands of chin-chin, cashew nuts, various varieties of popcorn, plantain chips, potato chips, corn chips, cheese balls, amongst others.
At the Ikeja Shopping Mall and Palms Lekki, the story was the same. Shoprite started displaying locally made products as consumers’ requests for them increased.
Though some traders usually display different brands which attract different prices, investigation at various motor parts markets showed that traders now display the genuine product and the replica side by side for consumers to make a choice.
“This is the original Bosh wiper selling for N1,200 a pair, while a pair of pair of the replica costs N500,” explained the trader who thought the reporter was an intending buyer.
On why they were openly displaying the replica and even selling it openly, the trader explained that a majority of the customers prefer the replica, which is cheaper, adding that they usually argue that “Wiper is wiper, both the original and duplicate do the same work.”
But are they the same thing? asked the reporter. “Of course original one will do a better job and last longer but my job is to sell and I can tell you that the fake one sells faster and we make more profit.”
It is the same with fashion products and accessories. A trip to the famous Balogun Market in Lagos Island revealed tons of female and male clothing, which seemed to have been hurriedly sewn, being sold by traders. Some of the traders lined the road with heaps of clothing trying to get the attention of consumers.
Female dresses which looked relatively okay, sold for between N1200-N1,400, and female skirts sold for N600-N800. The American and UK equivalent of the same wears sold for about N10,000 while the skirts went for about N6,000.
In the area of cereals, for instance, most consumers now buy locally made cereals like Daily Delight, Golden Morn, Milo whole grain from the stables of Golden Penny and Nestle Foods Nig. Ltd instead of imported Kelloggs products, etcetera. Also, made in Nigeria corn flakes, and some brands from South Africa, are getting consumers’ attention.
Though far from being the same in shape and taste, those local ones also taste good and are of high quality.
A pack of 900g of Daily Delight cereal was about N750. 1kg of Golden Morn sold for about N1200 while the Milo whole grain, 320g went for N880.
To substitute for imported tea like Tetley, Twinings, etcetera, most people are going for various Lipton variants and Top Tea from Unilever and Promasidor companies.
For imported chocolate drinks like Ovaltine or foreign made Bournvita, etcetera, people now patronise local alternatives like locally made Holicks, Bournvita, and Milo from Nestle Nig, and Cadbury.
Most of our baby foods are imported and packaged in Nigeria. These are Aptamil, 800g selling for N7,600, SMA Gold N3,250 for 400g, Lactogen, Friso Gold 400g for N2,180, Nutistart Cow and Gate 400g selling for N2500; Thrive 400g, N3500 and the others.
For these baby foods, a majority of the consumers now demand different variants of pap, nicely packaged by Grandios and selling at N200 for 100g and N450 for 500g. Of course they also request for custard.
When it comes to women affairs, imported Ultra panty liner and Magnetic Energy sold for N1,700 but most ladies now go for the good alternatives in the form of Dr. Brown panty liners and Always which went for N300 and N350 respectively.
In terms of food items like spaghetti, some imported ones are Bonita, 500g selling at N350. Gino 500G sold for N500 but Nigerian ones of the same size from Dangote and Golden Penny sold for N200.
The good news is that locally manufactured products previously shunned by consumers are now finding their ways into people’s homes.
