Three weeks away from February 14, a date commemorated worldwide as Valentine Day otherwise known as lovers’ day, there is already a flurry of activities in major cities across the federation as shopping frenzy for gift items by all and sundry has started.
Interestingly, one gift that seems to have stolen the heart of many is the new branded Coca Cola drink. The drink seems to be the shoppers’ choice.
Shoppers, who were sighted buying the new coke at Shoprite, Ikeja, expressed satisfaction as they bought coke in large quantities with their name written on its acns and plastic.
For Babajide Adebayo, the innovation should be replicated by other brands. “This is a laudable concept. I have always known Coca Cola to set the pace, while other follows. I am not surprised,” he said.
Adebayo added that the innovation would help him spend less this Valentine.
“I will spend less for Valentine this year. All I need do is to purchase a pack or half of the new branded Coca Cola with my girl’s name and I know she would love it. The brain behind this innovation must have had Valentine in mind when they inscribed ‘Share a Coke with Ibrahim’ on its bottle. It could be someone else’s name, he said.
Ikechukwu Nworfor, another shopper who is excited about the innovation said it gives him the opportunity to find affordable gift items for his loved ones. “The timing is right. These people surely know how to arrange things; this is a good gift concept any day, any time.”
Besides serving as gift packs for Valentine, most people also consider them as souvenirs. Sharing his experience with The Nation Shopping, Fred Nwosisi said it is a special collectors’ item anytime, any day.
Justifying the need for the products, a representative of the Coca Cola Company, who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the company, confided in The Nation Shopping that those customers who want branded bottles in large quantity will have to be referred to the company’s head office where the contractor and the producer will take such orders, according to him, this offer is available only to customers who want to purchase hundred cartons and more.
“The unique thing about this whole thing is that the price remains the same despite all the interesting features in designs and labeling,” he said.
The source advised that a customer who is not patient enough to look for a coke can or plastic branded in his name, can decide to pick for his/her spouse, family members or friends. This, he said, is encouraging people to share and show love to others around them which is one of the essences of the idea aside to boosting sales and make profit.
To help the search process easy for the shopper, the item is placed in batches with names from the western part of the country placed separately from those from the east and the north, and English names such as Henry and Ann were on display.
The idea of separating the name came up when shoppers’ complained of how difficult it was for them to identify their names or name of loved ones.
Believe Odiase, a shopper said he gave up after searching for a can of coke with his name branded on it. “When I couldn’t continue with the search to buy a bottle of Coke, because I have other things to do in the mall, I gave up and picked a bottle for my daughter whose name is Cynthia. Perhaps, I will find time to come search for mine at weekend; it is worth the fun and sharing,” he said.
