The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MALLS

  • More Spar Shopping Malls for Port Harcout

    More Spar Shopping Malls for Port Harcout

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • ‘Malls, allied businesses must engage security outfits’

    ‘Malls, allied businesses must engage security outfits’

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

    How often do you visit our malls?

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

    How do you do your shopping?

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

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

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

    What advice do you have for shoppers this period?

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

  • 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.

  • Plazas, malls: preferred outlets for merchants

    Plazas, malls: preferred outlets for merchants

    Old retail market setting is losing its merchants to shopping malls, complexes, plazas and ultra-modern markets where shoppers now prefer to shop for convenience, TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

    Prior to the entry of foreign retailers into the retail market, Nigerians did their shopping in small retail outlets and road-side make-shift shops.

    But all that is now changing with the coming of South African, Asian and Middle-Eastern retail giants operating chains of supermarkets in well established plazas and malls, across the length and breath of the nation.

    Since making inroads into the country, creating unique offerings which shoppers hardly enjoyed in the past, the retail mall business has continued to attract more merchants who believe that setting up sales-shops in the malls will drive their business better and faster.

    From grocery, clothing, food, beauty places, healthcare to children’s corner, fashion, night clubs, bars and more, observers of shopping mall business believe these facilities have become a hub businesses are rushing to in order to connect with shoppers who have become used to the retail mall shopping experience. As a result, the excellent service delivery in all areas, impressive architecture, adoring interior as well as good maintainance culture of the malls, have become an allure to merchants who are gradually quiting the old retail places for the new system.

    With big departmental or high street stores as the anchor tenants in major shopping malls today, the availability of effective e-payment systems, stable and uninterrupted electricity supplies have also been highlighted as the reasons merchants chose to sail with the global wind.

    “They create an environment where retailers and shoppers prefer to buy using credit or debit cards instead of carrying around loads of money. Merchants are assured of necessary infrastructure to support a cashless society when in any of the modern facility,” a merchant affirmed.

    For Adenike Ogunlesi, owner of Ruff ‘N’ Tumble, an indigenous company that specialises in children’s clothing, a merchant’s presence in a modern shopping facility is one major strategy to attract customers and make more sales.

    She said: “Regardless of the exorbitant rent charges these facilities extort from us, more merchants swim like bees to these places not only for profit making, but because of the societal value attached.”

    She added that her decision to move to malls was not sudden as she had been on the streets for long before becoming a brand name in the fashion industry. “I started selling from the boot of my car in 1996 before I became a brand name. Ruff ‘N’ Tumble used to be a tiny shop that has turned into an instantly recognisable brand situated in major malls. These malls have built a reputation for my brand over the years,” she said.

    The former Broll head, Mrs Gbadebo Erejuwa, attested to the fact that the demand from retailers to have a presence in any of the modern facilities is high with merchants coming in all the time.  She also said the design of these facilities meets international building regulations.

    He said: “Ideally, today’s shopping facilities cater to all levels of ambulant and visual ability, they cater for children and are easy and cheap to maintain.”

    When President Goodluck Jonathan opened an ultra-modern market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) some years ago, he described it as the lifeline of every economy. He said his administration was poised to doing all in its powers to ensure that markets across the country are modernised with good facilities to complement the urban needs. The ultra-modern market, located in the Wuse District Zone of the FCT, occupies a large expanse of land and is said to be the first of its kind in West Africa. It was constructed under the ‘build, operate and transfer’ (BOT) arrangement.

    Also, during the inauguration of Sapon Ultra-modern Market in Abeokuta recently, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said the new project boasts of facilities comparable to those in developed countries. He planned to replicate similar structure in major cities across the state.

    In Ekiti State, the government said it will construct a modern neighbourhood market in each of the 16 local government  headquarters in the state.

    The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Paul Omotosho, said the initiative is to boost economic activities in the state. He added that the design of the markets ensured security of lives and property with the provision of perimeter fence and gate house in each of the markets.

    While some global retail chains are struggling to have footprints in malls, The Palms, Ikeja City Mall, Ceddi Plaza, Polo Park, Kwara Mall, Grand Towers Abuja Mall, Ado Bayero Mall in Kano, the Festival Mall in FESTAC, Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja and Delta Mall in Warri,among others, are running out of space to accommodate new comers.

    As a result, some property investors are working hard to ensure that more malls come in.

  • Demand for spaces in malls rises

    Demand for spaces in malls rises

    A young entrepreneur, who wants to start up a business inside Ikeja City Mall in Lagos, or any of the malls, may find raising the start-up money difficult. This is because, at the moment, it is only big retailers that can become tenants in the malls. They can afford the high rent and meet management requirements.

    Whether or not a small retailer can get a space in a mall depends on the market, management and rent, among other factors.

    Findings have shown that the number of merchants who desire to become tenants in malls, especially the pioneer ones, is increasing by the day. The first set of malls are: The Palms in Lekki, Lagos, which came into the country in December 2005; Ikeja City Mall opened December 2011, Kwara Mall in Ilorin opened November 2012, Polo Park in Enugu opened September 2011 and Grand Towers Abuja berthed in 2000.

    The Palms always has a long queue of retailers who want to own shops there, same with the Ikeja City Mall and the Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall in Surulere.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Broll Nigeria, Mrs Erejuwa Gbadebo, said: “If the major barrier to entry is removed and rent is made affordable to every merchant, then the demand to become tenants in a mall like The Palms or Ikeja City Mall for instance, could be met.”

    ”However, owners of these malls look for successful merchants who are ready to convince them that the new store they are about to house has reasonable chance of success and will help the tenant mix,” she said.

    Mrs Gbadebo added: “If, as a retailer, you are considering a mall for a first-store venture, your financial backing and merchandising experience must be proven. Some small merchants with good business records and proven understanding of the market have a good chance of being considered by a mall developer. So, if a particular merchant has a good reputation in retailing, it might make a strong case for acceptance into his/her choice mall.

    Mall experts said before a retailer moves into a mall, it is necessary to ask: Are the mall’s shoppers my prospective customers? 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? Lastly, where do I need the space; i.e location within the mall? Some retailers prefer the first floor, while others the ground floor and then, close to the entrance or exit, they want to be in the main flow of customers as they move in and out of the mall. The truth is, that as long as a retailer is visible and can catch the shopper’s eye; such retailer will do well anywhere within a mall.

    There are some retailers who wouldn’t mind the location but prefer a spacious store; they would rather go for the big stores. Of course, the amount of space needed will determine the shop rent; for the bigger the shop, the more expensive it is. Merchants need to rethink their space requirements when located in a shopping mall. Because, rents are typically high, so space must be used efficiently.

    Looking at the brand value and the way people shop, it is actually cost effective to be in a mall. Some retailers actually look out for one, because they have seen the value of a mall.

    If costs are high, the stress on retailers is less. They are not bothered on whether they have being provided with fake diesel; electricity is not a challenge, cleaning the mall is the management’s business, the management guarantees security at all times.

    Some store owners at the Ikeja City Mall shared their experiences. Mr Saliu Azeez the owner of Identity, a clothing store, said his being in the mall has made him more popular.

    Miss Moradeke Sholebo, the owner of May Brand, an accessory store also in the mall said: “The fact that people now shop in malls instigated my moving into the mall. Accessory store make huge sales, especially at weekends and people visit the mall more on weekends; so, I make double the amount made during the week. Another benefit is the location of the mall. It very easy to access”.

    Miss Temitope Ashiru, a store attendant at Poise, said the mall is an interactive and business friendly environment. “Sales are better now that we are in a mall”.

    For small retailers who can’t become tenants in a mall, experts believe they should look for strategies to cope. Such people should look at their merchandise rate and see what they can do differently. They could go round their neighbourhood and offer free delivery. They just have to keep moving with the time, they added.