The Nation Newspaper

Tag: mall

  • Growing mall phenomenon and regrets

    Since the debut of The Palms Mall in Oniru, Victoria Island over some ten years ago, the frenzy over the Mall culture has become quite a phenomenon. It has gone wide and wild but how wise?

    The first sets of South African malls were very successful, because they came with inbuilt traffic generators, or foot falls, such as games, film houses. Most especially, the Shoprite chains of retail shops were very, very successful .The success rate was phenomenal. Like most businesses from South Africa in the last 15 years, they all went home reaping bountifully and turned our envious eyes, all into spectators game, safe alone for few local investors who equally smiled to the banks.

    But the feat is yet to be replicated locally, either in neither sales nor duplications but thanks to Senator Ben Murray Bruce’s pioneering efforts and Prince Ebeano who have carved a niche in our neighbourhoods. Nigerians are usually copycats, always imitating in all businesses but hardly original. It was easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for you to secure a space in The Palms. Shoprite, their major anchor tenant that guaranties foot falls, became so successful that it has become the generic name for shopping malls in Nigeria.

    Mall and shopping complexes are indeed Western culture, introduced to Nigeria from South Africa, which completely changed our traditional shopping cultures from local stores and socialising culture became infectious and profitable.

    The Galleria Mall and Mega Plaza debuted first and they grew very successful overnight and it was contagious, sporadically and steadily growing copycats all over successfully until the bubbles bust lately. The phenomenon crashed but not until every building in Lekki Phase 1 and other neighbourhoods got converted to serve the growing needs of the affluent residences with no shopping spaces in the masterplan now reeling in an economy in the throes of recession. No! It feels more like depression actually, nationwide.

    The South African Malls were built on syndicated foreign funds with very stringent and demanding built in surveys, measures   and due diligent processing with absolutely no room for sentiments but success in retail was a prime ace. We are talking hard earned foreign currency here folks, funds to be repaid with heavy interest loans, which leaves no room for upstarts. The number of rejected applicants for spaces was incredibly very high and the built in safety net for failed enterprises were full-proof and insured. No sentiments!!! If you fail, their built in safety net sends you packing.

    In 2007, I alerted the Lagos State government that, Lekki Phase 1 will outgrow its residential status and that Lekki phase 1 is the new downtown in Lagos State; that it will be serving the Lekki-Epe axis, one of the most rapidly developing construction sites in the world. From Mobil House at Oniru, to Epe, hundreds of developments and estates were springing up in dizzying pace and that it will definitely outgrow hi-streets shopping culture. Lekki is a town, not an estate. In fact, there are several estates inside Lekki Phase 1. A mayoral seat should be in the offing.

    The vision of the construction of Ajah toll road and Ikoyi Link Bridge added to the growing commercial demands; all these conspired to create growth unprecedented. The equation completely changed forever. Great foresight on the part of Lagos State governments, spanning three administrations; Ambode is topping the ante in infrastructures, particularly on boulevards and steady power supply. He is growing and focused on hi-streets and night life is coming back. He has reined in incessant local government harassments and double taxations; that is in the best interests of all stakeholders.

    There are no magic wands in recession times than raw hard processed thinking, let alone in depression as things now appear. Before you venture into shopping malls, be very, very careful. There is a massive glut in spaces to let and letted spaces are in deep recession in the continuously growing mega Lagos State. Don’t be fooled by glittering edifices and Hollywood showcases. Your landlord is no miracle maker, he has bills to pay. There are acute shortages of foot falls in malls these days. An average family can’t make ends meet today. These are the times of bare necessities and not luxury of wants and inconsequential goods and services are waning in our vainglorious society now hung on realty notes.

    Most malls’ in Lekki Phase 1 and more are still being built as of this present moment; not to worry, the state government will reap bountifully tomorrow but should consider tax holidays. Most of such investments are all in limbo. No sales or patronages. Running malls on generator and very high electricity tariffs, taxation and other services creates nothing but enemies in these days of our economy in recession. Nigerians are loathful of service charges culture. This is the worst time to try that new business you are coveting or prayerfully in anticipation of debuting; it could ruin your hard earned money faster than anticipated .The gestation period in mall these days is minimal: three years or more! Leave your enemies out of this reality show. It just doesn’t tally right in this recession sinking our economy deeper in seeming depression, coupled with bad political leadership; we are in for a very long night. It will wipe out your investment like in gambling casinos. Be warned!

    These are the worst of economic times. Don’t be lured by elegant windows and finishes; it’s not a money making alternative you supposed it to be today. Keep and fight on a bad but steady job on hand now, but you are about to set up on borrowed funds. If you know little or nothing about that business, you are an upstart, you are plunging yourself into regrets and your money into waste; capital suicide! No refunds in malls, bills are very high, most are built or retrofitted on borrowed funds, and landlords are under intense pressures too. Besides, most businesses are replicated, thousand times all over Lagos uncensored.

    The growing lounge crazy culture is in now in every nooks and corners of Lekki Phase 1.There used to be in the good old days a novel business created as a traffic generator for my upper-crust furniture business. Headmasters Salon and only few others in Lagos State, you can count on the tips of your fingers. Today there are millions of salons nationwide. No more quick money and quick fixes folks.

    In 1990 when Headmasters Salon debuted on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, haircuts were between N2 and N5 and we debuted at between N10 and N50. A bag of cement was selling then for N2-3. In the first six months, we stabilised at N50/100 for haircuts. A bag of cement sold around, but still steadied at N5 a bag! Now thousands are in the business of beauty salons and haircuts hovering between N500 and N2500; none can buy a bag of cement. Economic hard realities you should know in simple logic. Blame not your landlords; curse not your stars but the economy and your lazy mind projections and wishful thinking.

    The bitter truth and question to ask about these new ventures today: Are you trying to impress your family and friends or venturing into uncharted waters which will drown your savings and borrowed funds in a multiple taxation in government consolidated fund drives, leaving you writhing in pains, debts and regrets? If you failed to plan, you will fail miserably in any mall. Your first intake of tenants might be your last card. Don’t touch that dial; they hardly renew! Caveat emptor! My Xmas presents to all and sundry. Merry Xmas.

     

    • Prince Omisore sent in this piece from Lekki, Lagos.

  • ‘Cost a major disparity between high street, mall’

    The disparity between the high street and malls topped discussions at the West Africa Property Investment Summit (WAPI)  in Lagos.

    Participants agreed that the choice of the high street or mall for retailers is determined by cost.

    For long, the debate on high street or retail malls has been a burning issue for retailers as it impacts profitability.

    Retail Portfolio Executive/Head of Property Management, Broll Nigeria, Mr. Gavin Cox, in a paper titled: “High street versus mall,” noted that the retail environment has changed.

    “Starting with two malls that existed in Lagos and Abuja, that covered only 30,000sq metres, there has been an exponential increase in the retail industry. This has resulted in competition between high street and the mall. Retail is once again competing with the high street due to cost. Cost is significant and important. That is why high street challenges the mall,” he noted, adding that the increase in mall square meterage in stands at 1000 percent in the last 12 years.

    Cox noted further that rent service is higher in the malls and that justifies why some retailers don’t want to be in the malls, making indigenous retailers to want to operate from the high street to save cost.

    “The debate on high street and the mall has always been an interesting one and this is a good platform to talk about it where we have experts giving their perspectives on the topic. I believe that the insights given will help stakeholders from all sides get more on the issue,” the CEO Broll Nigeria, Bolaji Edu, added.

  • Gridlock takes toll on Apapa Mall

    Gridlock takes toll on Apapa Mall

    Sales have dropped drastically at the Apapa Mall, Lagos. This is a sharp contrast to its record two years ago, when it was opened. Then retailers jostled for spaces. Shop owners and customers blame the problem on the gridlock in the area, TONIA ‘DIYAN reports.

    Apapa mall situated at Park lane in Apapa-Lagos, means different things to different people. For the high and middle class, it presents an ideal shopping rendevouz, while for the lowly placed, it is an opportunity to get into a life of comfort, including an avenue to experience a good ambience money can provide.

    The mall is managed by Top Services Limited, owners of Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall (AOSM) in Surulere-Lagos and Cocoa Mall in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    The percentage of the mall’s space occupied by top brands, which was forecast to increase yearly has  decreased drastically no thanks to the frustrating traffic gridlock on Apapa Road. The ultra-modern retail centre used to offer its tenants an ideal platform to showcase their products to shoppers, create awareness for their brands, and take advantage of the tenant mix to compete with international brands now settling in Nigeria markets.

    Apapa Mall, which was once a home to departmental stores, is  deserted because of the perennial traffic gridlock on the Apapa Road.

    The steady drumbeat of store closings is like a death knell for the mall, a source lamented.

    The Nation Shopping observed that more than half of the shops in the mall have closed. Even the Cinemas have left. Only few shops are remaining. Residents lay the cause on the bad road, which has been neglected over the past two decades, and now has become nightmarish, for mall owners and commuters. The incessant gridlock has brought economic and other activities in Apapa to a standtstill, besides inflicting untold hardship on residents.

    With the daily intense economic activities going on in Apapa, and tankers, trucks, trailers and lorries arriving the area for evacuation of goods for delivery to other parts of the country, the road is not helping  matters.

    No fewer than 1,000 trucks ply Lagos daily to lift petroleum products to various parts of the country, thereby  leading to chaos.

    A shop owner in the mall, Mrs Omoshalewa Ogunleye, who sells  home appliances, such as bathroom, dining, kitchen, laundry machine, storage and interior decoration, said moving out of the mall is the best thing that happened to her dying business.

    With mall vacancy rate at 35 percent, she said her business had been suffering. Before moving into the mall, Mrs Ogunleye had listened to experts,  who provided answers to her questions. They included: Would the mall offer the best sales volume potential for my kind of products? Can I produce the appeal that will make customers come to my store? Can I deal with the competition of other stores within the mall? How much space do I need to handle the sales volume I expect to have? Where do I need the space (location within the mall)?

    Few years later, it turned out that the experts did not take the effect the road would have on businesses into consideration.

    Yet, home appliances’ shops are not the only losers at the mall. Cinema houses planned to provide entertainment have moved just as  clothing stores have also jumped boat.

    For start-ups eyeing the mall, the issue would not be to raise funds to be in the mall, it will rather be to experience huge foot traffic and make profit. Even top brands with the financial war chest are leaving the mall.

    The Nation Shopping found out that most of the tenants in these stores no longer generate reasonable rate of returns on such investment and are  being forced to quit staying in the cozy building.

    It is, however, not phenomenon as some tenants continue to report good returns on their investment as the lease renewal factor in some malls say it all.

    But Mr Ini Archibong, Public Relations Officer, Chastest Consult Limited, the firm in charge of Shoprite, said: “I am not aware of stores leaving the mall as a result of the gridlock in the area, but again Shoprite has no plans to exit mall; instead there are plans to open more stores in Lagos and the country as a whole. What matters most to Shoprite is to offer a world-class shopping experience to its customers with lower prices you can always trust.”

    According to our source, additional department stores will soon be empty. He, however, said the reason for the trend is the heavy traffic.

    Unlike other places, owners of the mall lament the low demand for retail space as human traffic remains low and sales dropping daily. They say no brands want to move in. They move out daily  instead. According to them, 99 per cent of tenants have terminated their lease agreement in the mall.

    “We’re no longer experiencing demand from grocery stores, cinemas, innovative entertainment venues, the fitness centre and  others.

    “As an owner of retail real estate, we must evolve as it is in our leasing and the evolution of our tenant roster. Mall tenants have an emotional connection with their customers. Thus, they stay in malls where they are profitable, operating from, a source said.

    He however attributed the cause of the problem to the heavy traffic. He argued that brands that have left the malls were those that did not meet customers’ needs on price, variety, type and size of merchandise.

  • Midnight fire razes ultra-modern shopping mall in Edo

    Midnight fire razes ultra-modern shopping mall in Edo

    A four storey ultra-modern shopping mall in Benin City, the Edo State capital popularly known as Phil Hallmark located along Sapele Road has been razed by fire.

    Scores of sympathizers including Governor Godwin Obaseki, lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly and political bigwigs in the state have visited the scene to commiserate with the owner, Mr Philip Edigin.

    The burnt mall which is the only ultra modern shopping mall in Benin is known as the ‘Shoprite’ of the state capital.

    Sources said the fire started at about 12 midnight and lasted till about 8am Sunday morning when the fire was finally put out.

    Goods worth billions of naira were destroyed in the fire as all the four floors, including an extension used for administrative purposes were affected.

    Employees of the firm were seen around discussing what would become of them especially during the Yuletide celebration.

    Some fire service men who pleaded anonymity said preliminary investigation showed that the fire was caused by an inverter that was wrongly connected.

    Governor Obaseki who was at the scene at about 9am expressed shock that the State Fire Service claimed that they could not respond on time because of lack of materials like diesel.

    Obaseki said investigation would be conducted into the activities of the state fire service to ascertain their level of preparedness for disaster.

    According to him” This incident happening at this time of the year is a catastrophe. I have asked for written report and investigation into the cause of the fire. We will also investigate the claim by an official of the state Fire service on the allegation of lack of equipment.

    “Because I understand that trucks were distributed by the NDDC and the State Government during the last administration”.

    Managing Director of the Super Mart, Mr Philip Edigin, told the Governor that all efforts to get the State fire service to come to their rescue proved abortive as the fire service told him they have no diesel to work.

    Mr. Edigin said help came from the Nigeria Air force fire service, IDSL NPDC and UNIBEN and that the State fire service came at about 6am.

    A supervisor in the State Fire Service, Mr. Franklin Agbonlahor appealed to government for urgent upgrade of facilities and equipment of the fire service station.

    The lawmaker representing Egor constituency in the House of Assembly, Crossby Eribo said, “It is very sad. Even if we had a very good and controllable fire service, it still would have been very difficult because it is large shopping mall. ”

    “It is a massive loss at this festive period when people are trying to shop with the recession. In fact, I was in tears when I came.”

    One of the ‎staff said he heard about the incident through the radio and he was shocked when he resumed office to see that it was Phill Hallmark.

    “When I came down to the place, it was very terrible. It was still burning then and everybody was shouting.”

    “‎It is a big supermarket. We are just so sad. Nobody was expecting it; many of us were even supposed to resume after church.

    “I think there was a wrong connection. There is an inverter there and it was not connected well‎. It think it caused the fire.”

  • Abia inaugurates mall

    Abia inaugurates mall

    Abia state has inaugurated  the first phase of the Aba Mega Mall shopping complex project.

    The project located at Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area on the outskirts of the commercial city, according to reports, will help to change the trading pattern and manner in which economic and trading activities are being carried out in the city.

    •Orji cuts the tape to flag off the facility. With him are other dignitaries
    •Orji cuts the tape to flag off the facility. With him are other dignitaries

    The mall was flagged off by former governor Theodore Orji, who said at the the event that the facility was part of his administration’s commitment to leave behind a good legacy and infrastructures that will stand the test of time.

    Orji recalled with bitterness how the state lost out the citing of a Guinness Breweries plant to Enugu State, blaming his predecessor for the missed opportunity.

    He added that his government could not resist the temptation of handing over the land for the purpose of the mall when Greenfield Assets Limited, the company in charge of the project came calling.

    He thanked the people of the Osisioma community on whose land the project was cited for cooperating and showing understanding with the state government in ensuring that the project was a reality and expressed hope that the incoming administration would step up and ensure that the project was completed.

    Orji called on the Aba and southeast business community to buy into the project, adding that it would change the face of the state.

    The Group Managing Director Greenfield Limited, Mr. Paul Obanua said that he had hesitated to come to Abia to cite the project, but was grateful to Orji for making their job easier tha he had thought.

    He also thanked the people of Osisioma for their hospitality since   construction work started.

    Obanua added that the project when completed would serve not only the Aba business community, but will also serve the southeast eastern states and beyond.

    Greenfield GMD who highlighted the benefits shop owners at the mall stand to get on completion and of the project, disclosed that a lot of business owners from other parts of the country have equally indicated interest in owning shop and warehouse facility there.

    He said that the idea of the Mall was to change the trading pattern of the people of the area and to stimulate urban renewal and to harness the ingenuity and industrial prowess of the Aba people.

    In their speeches, Okey Ezeala, the Regional Head Southeast-South-south of First City Monument Bank (one of the major financial Institutions funding the project) and Elder Emmanuel Adaelu, a business mogul expressed hope that the facility when completed would be a business choice destination for shoppers within Aba, Abia and southeast.

    Ezeala said that they embarked on financing the project because the state government was in support of the project and expressed the willingness of the financial institution in assisting the state government to promote trade and investments that would lead to economic growth in the state.

    According to Adaelu, the Mall “will promote the modern way of doing business in Aba like other it is being done in other climes” and hope promised the management of Greenfield the patronage of Aba people as soon as the project was completed.

    High points of the event were the commissioning of the project and laying of foundation for the commencement of the second phase of the project by  T. A Orji.

  • Aba Mega Mall for inauguration

    Aba Mega Mall for inauguration

    The first phase of the $300 million Aba Mega Mall project, expected to stimulate economic activities in the Southeast and Southsouth is set for inauguration.

    The project, which seats on 28 hectares, on completion, would consist of 5,830 ultra-modern shops, in four sizes of 12sq meters, 16sq metres, 24sq meters and 48sq metres.

    The facility will also have provision for banks, security post, 25,000sq meters climate-controlled warehouse space, restaurants, entertainment centres with six cinema screens, children play area and a massive parking space for over 5,000 cars.

    The South East Amalgamated Traders Association (SEAMATA),  an umbrella body of traders in the Southeast region, has endorsed the project, which they described as laudable. Consequently, it has urged its members across the country to support the project, arguing that it is good for the Southeast region, as it is providing the needed infrastructure to ensure that the region regains its pride of place in commerce in Africa.

    Group Managing Director, Geenfield Assets Limited, promoters of the mall, Paul Obanua, while  hosting Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, on a pre-inauguration inspection of the facility, explained that when completed, it would be the first mall with a dry port in Nigeria and Africa as well as the biggest mall on the continent.

    The dry port, according to Obanua, will be a 30,000 square meter bonded warehouse, which affords people of the Southeast the opportunity of clearng their goods on time. This means that they would no longer suffer time wastages due to perennial port congestion at the nation’s various sea ports.

    Obanua said: “We are also going to offer good storage facilities, automated climate controlled facility. So, this mall is going to be a one-stop-shop. And by the second phase, you are going to have a 100-room hotel come up here at the Aba Mega Mall. We are going to have a section that will be called the Aba Business Resort, so that you have your events here, like conferences and when you are in the Southeast, you can also lodge in and do your business. The other aspect of this mall is that we are going to have Aba Mega Mall online. So, the e-commerce of this mall will commence operation at the commissioning.”

    He said what this meant was that shoppers who couldn’t come to the mall to shop could shop online in any part of the country. “Even if you are in Lagos or Abuja, you can shop from anywhere and it will be delivered to you at your door steps by the Orji-led administration that encouraged the company venture into the project,” he said.

  • Apapa Mall: a tourists’ haven

    Apapa Mall: a tourists’ haven

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also, an entertainment centre 

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

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

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

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

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

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

     Does the mall have all the shoppers’ desires? 

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

    Does the mall house international brands? Who are they?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    What is the mall’s statistics?

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

    Shops in operation 82%

    Total number of Shops is 93%

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

    40 tenants are in the Mall:

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

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

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

  • Shopping mall for Aba residents

    A new shopping mall is on the way for Aba residents, the commercial hub of Abia State. Situated at Osisioma  Ngwa Local Government Area, the mega mall built on a 28-hectares of land and has about 100,000 square metres leasable space. The mall is said to become an Ultra Modern Mega Trade and Distribution Centre with e-commerce facility.

    The mall upon completion will have: fire station, cinema automated warehouse, gas station, continuous power supply, parking space for both shoppers and sellers among other facilities.

  • ‘The mall is a place to meet young people’

    ‘The mall is a place to meet young people’

    The popular Rythm and Blues (R&B) artiste, Tuface Idibia, has taken his ‘Vote Not Fight’ campaign to the Ikeja City Mall, Lagos.  He spoke with TONIA ‘DIYAN on the importance of the campaign. Excerpts:

    Tell us what brought you to Ikeja City Mall?

    Today is the last day of the Triple Trek Campaign tagged: ‘Vote Not Fight’, which I am headlining. Election no bi war! I want to talk to the youths to shun violence during elections. I am also marking the release of my Face to face Album. The album is 10 years old this year and Kennis Music will be releasing it. I have also done a compilation of some of my songs, which I will be releasing soon. I remixed them and uploaded the sounds.

    Why did you choose Ikeja City Mall for your campaign?

    So many people patronise the mall, particularly, young people. And if you want to pass a message across to people, who are young ,  a shopping mall as this, is one place you can do that successfully. Therefore, I have found Ikeja City Mall more conducive to pass my message. I have walked round the mall with my colleagues, it is a massive place.

    What do you think about the response?

    I think Nigerians really want peace. They want free and fair elections. People are tired of politicians using them to win elections and after they get into power, forget about them. The response here today is an indication that people, especially the youths, want peace.

    Are you looking forward to doing a song for the election?

    Yes, I might do a song. I’m not sure yet. I can’t say for now, but I’m looking forward to something.

    Aside the campaign, what do you think of the mall?

    The mall is a welcome development in Ikeja and its environs. It is big, massive and I like it.

    Do you go out to shop and how often?

    I go out to shop once in a while, its fun.

  • Mall for Africa: Bridging merchant-buyer gaps

    Nigerians willing to purchase items from European and North American markets will now have the opportunity of doing so from the comfort of their homes, courtesy of a new online mall called ‘Mall For Africa’ (MFA).

    The mall, which recognises that local purchase of goods from foreign markets is not entirely a new concept, has come to bridge the numerous merchant-buyer gaps noticeable in many of the existing platforms.

    It is said to be the world’s first virtual mall and promises to act as a channel between the online shopper and the merchant, spanning more than 80 shops in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). In all, a prospective buyers can select from more than 8.5 million items, which will be delivered between 10 and 15 working days.

    The Mall’s chief executive officer, Tope Folayan, said: “We have built what I believe is the world’s first virtual mall where the merchant rejects payment options (debit/credit cards and so on). MFA will accept these options and complete the transactions. Where the merchant blocks out Nigerian transactions, we accept them. Foreign companies usually don’t accept individual transactions via local credit cards, but because of MFA, they now do and the entire process of shopping via Mall for Africa is very easy,” he said

    Noting some of the challenges in the industry as willing buyers against merchants unwilling to sell to Nigerians, blacklisting of Nigeria by merchants and rejection of Nigerian payment system– credit/debit cards by merchants, Folayan said: “The consequence is that online retail alternatives are limited to shopping at the local open market or mall or from a few select online stores, where they run the risk of settling for overpriced purchases, fake/inferior purchases or just managing what is on offer.

    Another option, he said, is to keep a list of items and wait to get a visa, and then travel abroad to purchase items and bring them back. Or to look for a willing friend or family member living abroad, who will purchase the items and find another friend or family member to bring them back on their trip back home.

    ‘Mall For Africa’ is saying this excess-luggage nightmare can be avoided.